|The Female Condom: a guide for planning and programming under
(UNAIDS, 2000, 81 p.)| Source: Mark Schlossman / Panos Pictures
Source: J.C. Tordai / Panos Pictures Source: Piers Benatar/Panos
Source: Anders Gunnartz / Panos Pictures The female condom is
the first and only female-controlled contraceptive barrier
method with the advantage of also providing protection from
STIs. The female condom is safe and effective if used correctly
and consistently and has high acceptability among both women and
men in many countries. Because it is a new method, though, the
way the product is presented to potential users is critical.
Many people will be seeing the female condom for the first time
and, at first glance, the female condom may look strange or hard
to use. Introducing the female condom can be done in groups or
in one-to-one sessions. Group sessions offer a friendly
environment where women (and/or men) can share information,
ideas and experiences. In one-to-one sessions, messages can be
tailored to fit the specifi