VARIETY
One of the goals of UAFC Joint Programme is to make sure there will be a price reduction and an increase in variety of female condoms on the market. More variety will lead to more demand, which in turn will spur producers to develop and supply more and better products. Different types of female condoms will lead to competition and lower prices for women and men in developing countries.
Variety is needed so that women will be able to choose a product that suits their lifestyle and physical needs. Male condoms are available in every size and colour imaginable. The same should apply to female condoms. More choice will lead to increased usage.
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FC2
The most well-known type of female condom is the FC2 made by the Female Health Company (FHC), procured in large quantities by UN agencies. The FC2 consists of a pouch made of synthetic nitrile rubber and contains an inner ring that aids insertion and helps to secure the device in place during intercourse, while an outer ring remains outside the vagina. Unlike the first generation version of the product (FC1), which was made from polyurethane, the FC2 uses nitrile which is as effective as polyurethane and latex rubber but is less costly to make and thus allows for significant reductions in consumer price.
The FC2 dominates the global market, but there are other manufacturers that have been developing their own female condoms to compete with FHC. In this regard, UAFC has been supporting three different products as a means of increasing choice, availability and accessibility: the Cupid Condom, the Reddy female condom and the PATH/Dahua Woman’s Condom.
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Cupid Condom
The female condom manufactured by Cupid has gained WHO pre-qualification in July 2012, and is now available for procurement by UN agencies. The condom is made out of natural rubber latex and consists of a polyethylene donut-shaped inner sponge that is inserted into the vagina and a soft outer ring that protects the outside of the vagina. Studies have shown that the inner sponge has been preferred by some women as it is softer than a ring and adapts to the unique shape of each individual. The condom is currently on the market in Brazil, India, Indonesia, the Netherlands, South Africa and Mozambique.
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Reddy female condom
The Reddy female condom is made by an Indian manufacturer and is currently available in India, Brazil and Cameroon. It consists of a pouch made from natural rubber latex, a soft inner sponge made of polyurethane foam that anchors the condom during intercourse, and an outer V-shaped frame. The tip of the outer frame’s V–shape is designed to stimulate the clitoris during intercourse.
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Woman's Condom
The Woman’s Condom has been developed by PATH (an international non-profit organization) and public sector research partners with feedback from couples. The Woman's Condom is manufactured by Dahua Medical Apparatus Company in Shanghai, China. The product has the CE Mark and Shanghai Food and Drug Administration approval, which allows for marketing and distribution in the European Union and China, respectively. The Woman's Condom, branded O'lavieTM for the China market, has been available in China in limited distribution channels since late 2011. The product has innovative design features. The condom is a polyurethane pouch that is partially enclosed in a dissolving capsule, which helps make insertion easier. After insertion in the vagina, the capsule dissolves quickly, allowing the pouch to expand. Four foam shapes attached to the outside of the pouch then cling lightly to the vagina and help hold the pouch stable during sex. Unlike all other condoms mentioned above, the Woman's Condom does not come pre-lubricated. Each condom is packaged with a small sachet of water-based lubricatn to be applied at point of use.
UAFC is working closely with these manufacturers to complete clinical trials necessary for consideration for WHO pre-qualification and eventual global bulk procurement and distribution. UAFC has supported Cupid LTD in the pre-qualification processand is very happy that ther is now more female condom variety on the market. It is expected that at least one more type of female condom will be WHO pre-qualified in the coming years and then can begin to have a wider international presence.
The FC2 is available through the public sector and distributed by public health organizations and donor groups in over 100 countries worldwide; for further information and procurement please email Female Health Company. It is also available through the commercial sector in the US and many other European countries, ask your pharmacist or local drug store for details.
For more information on Cupid’s female condoms email Cupid.
If you are interested in procuring Reddy and PATH/Dahua Woman’s Condom please contact i+ solutions
