A new report released at the XVII International AIDS Conference in Mexico City titled “Failing Women, Withholding Protection” calls for increased use of the female condom to help prevent HIV infections.

According to the report by Oxfam and the World Population Foundation, the female condom is currently the only woman-controlled preventive method against HIV infection. Yet it is poorly funded and has been largely ignored by policy makers, making it far too expensive and often unavailable.

The only version of the female condom approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration is manufactured by the Female Health Company in London.

Other than its cost and availability, another issue related to the female condom is the need for training and practice for its effective use. An advantage is that it can be inserted well in advance and, according to some, does not affect sexual satisfaction.

According to Oxfam, in the last decade, only $6 million has been spent on developing a new female condom. An investment of $20 million would allow new female condoms to be brought to world markets, increase competition and decrease prices.

In India the female condom was introduced in 2007 by the National AIDS Control Organization and rapidly gained acceptability at a price of 5 rupees (U.S. 10 cents).

Governments have been slow to support female condoms with the exception of Zimbabwe, where it was introduced in 1997. In Kenya users say it has enabled better communication about safer sex. In India women say it has helped reduce domestic violence.

[This summary provided by the CDC National Center for HIV, STD, and TB Prevention | Deutsche Presse-Agentur | August 7, 2008 | Sumita Thapar]