Will a New Female Condom Catch On?
The New York Times has a piece today on a new design for the female condom, which is supposed to transmit more warmth and move “more like a vagina” than the old design.
According to the piece, however, female condoms must pass through a more rigorous process than male condoms to gain FDA approval:
While the F.D.A. designates male condoms as Class 2 medical devices — meaning that a new maker has to pass tests only for leakage and bursting — it puts female condoms in Class 3, the same category as pacemakers, heart valves and silicone breast implants…the Class 3 listing means that any new design must pass clinical trials, which would cost $3 million to $6 million. “That’s a huge, huge impediment, close to a 100 percent block, because no one’s willing to put up that sort of money,” Dr. Free said.
Oh, yes. By all means, invent another method of birth control that is the female’s responsibility.
Because nothing continues to drum “babies=women’s problem” like that. Please can’t someone make a male birth control pill already?
Kat, good point. One thing the article mentioned is that women in some places would like a method of disease-prevention that can be used secretly, and this new version still doesn’t accomplish that.
Ah. I can see the disease angle. (I always forget about disease…one of the drawbacks of having one sexual partner in this lifetime.)
That’s… really annoying. Both the double-standard and the fact that it doesn’t properly prevent disease.
Of course, I doubt I could use it anyway. My vagina violently rejects pretty much everything inserted in it unless it’s attached to a human. Made trying to use a Nuva Ring fun, lemme tell you.
You know, I keep hearing women sing the praises of the ring, but I just don’t think I could get into it. When I tried Instead, it shot out like a rocket when I sneezed. Somehow I think I’d end up fishing the ring out of toilets left and right.
Yep,. that’s exactly what happened to me! I even went to my health center and had them insert it to make sure I wasn’t doing it wrong… by the time I walked to the door, it had fallen out.
Female condoms are the stupidest idea in the world: they fall out, are difficult to use, have a higher failure rate real time, and they kill the mood in ways male condoms don’t. Stick with male condoms. They are easier to use, and safer.
Mucosal immunologists are working on the “secret condom”. The truth of the mater is that any condom needs active consent on the part of the man to use it. Women in many places in the world just don’t have the negotiating power. What they are working on is a spermacide/antiviral gel that can be sqirted into the vagina and activates on contact with semen. It’s theoretically possible, and when they have it, a woman can use it an the man need never actually know.
Personally though, my feeling is that there needs to be a paradigm shift about condoms – especially in society where women have a very low status. Its no surprise that HIV infection rates are higher in societies where it sucks to be a girl.
Scottishboomerang – I think you nicely summed up the problems of the female condom. Thanks for your comment.
Male birth control is on the way.. I’ve read a lot lately about testosterone-based contraceptives for males that are supposed (“supposed”) to hit the shelves in the next few years. I for one will be first in line..
Chris, thanks for your comment. I also keep hearing about a “male pill” – wonder when that will actually happen? It doesn’t solve the disease problem for women in some parts of the world, but would probably we a welcome relief for women elsewhere.
PS-I’m bummed that you’re staying out of the penis talk.
One might even say we’re “dicked off”…
As Convenor of Female Condoms Working Group of ISO TC 157 on Mechanical Contraceptives,Iwould like emphasis that Female condoms are one of the preventive measures in developing countries for HIV/AIDS.Hence there is need for speedy approval with limited clinical trials.
We heard somthing to do with a tablet for men? What ever happened to that.
But women still get infected because of unprotected sex. The problem still prevails.
Kat, It seems that safe sex has always been marketed exclusively to men through condoms. Isn’t it time we gave women some options as well? Particularly in areas with high levels of HIV rates (like Africa) where men are resistant to wearing any form of barrier methods at all, the female condom could be a life saver.