With a rustle and a softer squeak, an undercover agent against the HIV epidemic is being relaunched around the world.
The female condom, or Femidom, is leaving behind its image as an unsexy plastic bag, and instead gaining a racier reputation as a sex toy. Women in developed countries may have crossed their legs at the sight of the Femidom, but their sisters in areas with high levels of HIV and other sexually transmitted diseases are more appreciative.
The Femidom is the only female-controlled barrier against HIV — and is more accepted by men who may refuse to use a male condom. This is possibly because the female condom can be put into place hours before any action occurs, thus removing the ”kill the passion” moment, when a male condom is brought into play.
Recently an as-yet unpublished study in South Africa found that 80% of men liked the female condom, and the same percentage of women agreed. The men commented that female condoms did not reduce sensation as much as the male condom, and were preferable and less constricting. There are anecdotal reports that men don’t always know that a Femidom is being used.
In recognition of the Femidom’s potential to stop HIV transmission, one of the world’s largest Christian organisations has called for the distribution of hundreds of millions of female condoms to save women’s lives.
The World Young Women’s Christian Association (YWCA) boasts more than 25-million members, including two South African Cabinet ministers, in more than 100 different countries.
World YWCA general secretary Dr Musimi Kanyoro says that her organisation believes strongly in fidelity within relationships, and abstinence outside them. But, she says: ”We are hearing the voices of African women that never really get heard. Marriage is not a safe place for women … In one little place in Uganda, 45% of men had multiple partners, and only 5% of women. Female prevention methods are part of our responsibility to women.
”Our faith tells us to value life. People are dying, it would be extremely irresponsible not to use our faith to prevent deaths.”
This contrasts with some other religious groupings, who believe that promoting abstinence alone rather than also providing condoms is the only way to curb the spread of HIV.
The World YWCA has called for governments and donor organisations to buy 180-million female condoms next year — this would be 3% of the number of male condoms distributed.
The Female Health Company, which manufactures the Femidom, estimates that donors and governments distributed just 12-million female condoms — or one for every 250 adult women. In contrast, the same organisations bought between six billion and nine billion male condoms, or roughly three condoms per adult male.
Researchers at the Bloomberg School of Public Health at Johns Hopkins University in the United States have estimated the potential impact of female condoms on the HIV epidemics in Brazil and South Africa. Their findings show that even lowest estimates of use would prevent 2 000 new HIV infections a year, and save millions of rands in healthcare costs.
Even when women want the female condom, cost has been a deterrant. A plastic female condom is many times more expensive to manufacture than the latex male variety.
But the recent launch of the new generation female condom, which is manufactured differently, has dramatically cut the price. Bulk orders from governments would drive the price down further, in turn increasing the accessibilty for women.
The Femidom consists of a sheath of plastic, with two rings: one that is inserted to cover the cervix, and the second that sits outside the vagina. The outer ring covers part of the woman’s external genitalia, thus providing greater protection against sexually transmitted diseases.
The internal ring is a bonus to many men, who find that it rubs their penis and is a stimulant. In Zimbabwe the word kaytec-yenza apparently refers to the extra sensation thus provided. There are reports that in Sri Lanka female sex workers can charge clients more for the opportunity of using a female condom — and especially for the privilege of inserting it.
The Femidom is tougher than a latex condom, and because it is made of plastic, it is also more effective at transmitting heat. Body heat is a major part of male sensation — which is why some experts suggest warming a male condom between the hands before putting it to good use.
For some users, the original female condom had an embarrassing drawback; a tendency to produce a rustling squeak during use. This is less of a problem in the newer version, which has a smoother surface. However, the sound effects are regarded as a turn-on in some places: in Senegal the female condom was sold with erotic beads, which are worn around the hips and when a woman moves, make a similar sound to the condom. Senegalese women are also reported to say that the Femidom is so large, because their men are so well-endowed.