Hot on HuffPost Parents:
17 Stylish, Kid-Friendly Storage Options
Bill Sardi: Getting Ahead of the Vitamin D Revolution Curve
Female condom gets a redesign
Filed under: Health & Safety: Babies, In The News, Sex
When the female condom was introduced in the late 1990's, it didn't go over so well. Women talk about these things and I have never known one single person who ever tried one. Apparently, there was a "yuck factor" with couples finding them awkward, unsightly, noisy and slippery.
So now scientists are giving it another go, redesigning the female condom to be softer, thinner and easier to insert. I won't go into all the specifics, but if you are interested in knowing just how wonderful the new female condom is, you can read all about it here.
Even if the newly designed condom were a hit with women, there is still a drawback that cannot be fixed: you can't use it in secret. Apparently, this flaw is a deal-breaker those who could benefit the most from using a female condom - married women in poor countries. According to Lois Chingandu, the director of SAfaids in Zimbabwe, condoms are rarely discussed within a marriage in Africa. "It is something associated with casual sex. If a wife uses a condom, the message is that you have been unfaithful. If she even initiates the discussion, it tips the power scale. Men resist quite a lot, and it can result in violence," she says.
But that isn't the only hurdle preventing the redesigned female condom from appearing on a drug store shelf near you. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration classifies female condoms as a Class 3 medical device, the same category as pacemakers, heart valves and silicone breast implants. That means that unlike Class 2 male condoms, which can be approved after passing tests for leakage and bursting, the female condom must pass clinical trials that can cost from $3 million to $6 million.
If the female condom ever does come to market, I still wonder how many women would use them. Even with the redesign they sound kind of awful
So now scientists are giving it another go, redesigning the female condom to be softer, thinner and easier to insert. I won't go into all the specifics, but if you are interested in knowing just how wonderful the new female condom is, you can read all about it here.
Even if the newly designed condom were a hit with women, there is still a drawback that cannot be fixed: you can't use it in secret. Apparently, this flaw is a deal-breaker those who could benefit the most from using a female condom - married women in poor countries. According to Lois Chingandu, the director of SAfaids in Zimbabwe, condoms are rarely discussed within a marriage in Africa. "It is something associated with casual sex. If a wife uses a condom, the message is that you have been unfaithful. If she even initiates the discussion, it tips the power scale. Men resist quite a lot, and it can result in violence," she says.
But that isn't the only hurdle preventing the redesigned female condom from appearing on a drug store shelf near you. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration classifies female condoms as a Class 3 medical device, the same category as pacemakers, heart valves and silicone breast implants. That means that unlike Class 2 male condoms, which can be approved after passing tests for leakage and bursting, the female condom must pass clinical trials that can cost from $3 million to $6 million.
If the female condom ever does come to market, I still wonder how many women would use them. Even with the redesign they sound kind of awful
Your<span>Voice</span>
Ask Us Anything About Parenting
TheTalkies:RelatedVideos
-
Using Female Condoms
Are there any health risks involved in using a vaginal female condom? Sex therapist Gail Wyatt, provides answers in this video.
-
How Do I Use a Male and Female Condom?
Learn how to properly use a male and female condom.
-
Using a Female Condom
Learn about safe sex and how to use a female condom, to prevent STD's and unintended pregnancies.
-
The Vaginal Condom
Find out more about using the female vaginal condom in order to benefit from safe sex, and whether the vaginal condom is good for you.
SitesWeLove
- Site Map
- |
- Staff
- |
- Terms of Service
- |
- Privacy Policy
- |
- Trademarks
- |
- Advertise With Us
- |
- About Our Ads
- |
- AOL Downloads
- |
- Contact Us
- |
© Copyright 2012 AOL Inc. All Rights Reserved.
Aol Family
ReaderComments (Page 1 of 1)
11-17-2007 @ 9:24AM
Eva said...This was really interesting. What really needs to happen is for people's attitudes to change and for a cure for AIDS to be found, but I don't either either is around the corner...
Reply
11-17-2007 @ 12:47PM
queenoqueens said...I'd love to know why a female condom is classified differently than a male condom and needs to go through more testing. Sounds suspect.
Reply
11-17-2007 @ 3:57PM
Rachel said...I'm guessing that the reason it is classified differently is because it is initially inserted into the body as opposed to being placed over a body part. But since they both end up in the same place anyway, I don't know why it should matter.
It still sounds gross and totally impractical.
Reply
11-18-2007 @ 2:39PM
Catherine said...From the news article:
Um.. no! There will be no adhesive foam inside of me! That sounds like a problem waiting to happen.
Reply
11-18-2007 @ 2:42PM
Catherine said...Sorry - this part of my post got left off:
From the news article:
the new design has dots of adhesive foam that adhere to the vaginal walls, expanding with them during arousal.
Reply