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Female condoms: Empowered prevention

AIDS Alert

May 1, 2011

Market rapidly expands, use triples

Since its introduction in 2009, use of the non-latex FC2 Female Condom (Women's Health Co., Chicago) has grown. In fact, the number of FC2s distributed in the United States  tripled in the past year.

The cost of a pack of three FC2 Female Condoms ranges between $5.99 and $7.99.

The FC2 is enjoying success in Washington, DC, where all 55 CVS drug stores carry it, and public heath officials in San Francisco kicked off a new FC2 awareness campaign on Feb. 14, 2011. Houston public health officials followed suit in March 2011 by initiating their own awareness campaign about the barrier protection method.

However, options in choice might encourage more women in selecting a prevention method. Two new female condoms are on the horizon: the Woman's Condom developed by PATH in Seattle, and the Origami, under research by Strata Various Product Design in Culver City, CA.

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Knowledge Base

Tags for this article

Prevention
  • FC2
  • Dates in this article

    2011-05-01

    What else to look for

    Why use it

    Imagine a device that can be worn by a woman during sex...

    How to use it

    Instructions on the use of the female condom

    The facts

    Why female condoms should be accessible for all

    Acceptability

    Acceptance levels vary from 41 to 95 per cent

    Effectiveness

    Making female condoms available prevents HIV infections and unwanted pregnancies

    Variety

    We need an increase in variety of female condoms