The female condom and HIV/AIDS

This brief Point of View publication from UNAIDS – part of the Best Practice series – provides a brief discussion of the key issues relating to the female condom and AIDS. It begins by providing a statistical overview of the impact and benefits of the female condom. It then discusses some of the limitations of the male condom, along with the benefits of the female condom in terms of safety and reliability, women’s bargaining power, and women’s greater physical vulnerability to sexually transmitted infections (STIs). The paper emphasises the extra protection provided by the female condom, as it covers the entrance to the vagina and base of the penis; and the greater control it gives women over their own bodies.

Issues relating to use and cost are also highlighted. The paper notes that acceptability of the female condom depends on a range of factors including comfort, appearance and perception of safety. However, it emphasises that the female condom is acceptable to many women and men. Evidence also shows that the introduction of the female condom as an additional method of protection further reduces the number of unprotected sex acts and transmission of STIs. The overall message is that the female condom offers great promise for reducing the spread of HIV and AIDS. [adapted from author]