Flickr: DFID-UK Department for International Development
I haven’t thought about female condoms since high school health class. People, myself included, are more familiar with the “regular” male condom. However, there are good reasons to remember to include female condoms when talking about family planning, especially when it comes to access in the developing world. But before getting into the big picture, here are some basic questions you might have about this lesser-known type of contraception.
1.) What is a female condom?
The female condom is similar to a male condom. It provides a physical barrier that protects partners from being exposed to each other’s bodily fluids. This means that the female condom, like the male condom, prevents the transmission of sexually transmitted infections (STIs) as well as preventing pregnancy. The condom is made of similar materials as a male condom, but with two flexible rings on either end. One ring is inserted into the partner to keep the condom in place.
2.) Why may you never have heard about it?
Condoms aren’t usually a casual topic of conversation to begin with. Sex is a topic that many people are uncomfortable talking about openly. However, the male condom is the type of condom that most people know and use. Part of the reason why female condoms aren’t the norm is that it is inserted into the vagina. There is a powerful stigma against most things having to do with female genitals. Also, since the male condom is currently more common, more people have an idea how to use it. There is already a demand for male condoms so female condoms continue to be overlooked. It’s a self-fulfilling problem.
3.) Why should they be used?
Female condoms may not be as well known as male condoms, but they are just as useful when used properly. The importance of family planning in general cannot be overemphasized. The ability for a woman to choose when and how she has children has a huge impact on her health and well-being. Having access to family planning increases a girl’s chance at education and reduces the chance of infant and maternal deaths. The female condom is just as effective at preventing STIs and pregnancy but with the added benefit of being female activated. This means that even when a guy refuses to put on a condom, a woman can put in a female condom on her own. A female condom gives a woman more control over her reproductive health.
4.) How is this helping women in the developing world?
Research shows that for every dollar spent on this kind of birth control, $20 is saved by preventing disease and the use of health care resources. That doesn’t even include the economic impact of women completing their education by having children later and on their own schedule. But who is going to invest that first dollar?
This is a picture of the director of the training division of The Female Health Company, Lucie van Mens, doing demos at a market in Zambia. Even though most people think of international aid as a government or non-profit thing, The Female Health Company is a private company committed to helping those in developing nations. They are investing up to $14 million over the next six years in reproductive health and HIV/AIDS prevention education and training, in collaboration with global agencies. On top of that, they are awarding public sector purchasers with free product, equal to 5 percent of their total annual units purchased. Private sector companies can do amazing things when they step up and increase funding towards reproductive health. Convincing people that the female condom is a viable option, and educating people on their use, is just as important as providing the condoms themselves. Female condoms are only one option in family planning but they can be instrumental in empowering all women around the world.
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