Just a few hours after the World Female Condom Day, a new panty- like female condom due to go on the market excited the public on Thursday. The condom, which is sold together with a female panty, is going to be introduced on the market as stakeholders continue grappling with the low uptake of female condoms already on the market.
According to Dr Moses Muwonge, the director of Samasha Medical Foundation, the condoms, which are currently available in Europe, are yet to be approved by the ministry of Health.
“The panty condom has a stronger material and allows for change of positions during intercourse unlike the current female condom on market. You can wear it all day and walk with it and when it comes for action, you don’t have to waste time putting it on,” explained Dr Muwonge as he illustrated how the condom works.
Muwonge was speaking during a meeting on soliciting funds for family planning under the project Euro-leverage by Deustsche Stiftung Weltbevoelkerung (DSW).
Kenneth Mugumya, the national coordinator of Uganda Family Planning Consortium, said the condom, which is 10 times thinner than other condoms, is anti-allergic and reduces pressure.
“There are many female condoms on the market but they are not appealing. The panty condom however is discreet and appealing to both women and men. You will not even feel it,” Mugumya adds.
A 2009 situational analysis on female condom use in Uganda by the ministry of health revealed that the available female condoms were mostly being taken up by commercial sex workers.
According to the study the price of the condom which currently stands at Shs1, 500 was identified as a hindrance to the uptake and use of the female condom.
“The female condom is the only available and effective method to prevent HIV as well as STIs that is designed for female control and initiation.
Studies have shown that introduction of the female condom can increase the total number of protected sex acts, increase consistency of condom use among female sex workers and decrease unprotected sex acts,” the study said.
The panty condom in use
According to female-condom.eu, the female panty condom was approved in Colombia and is on the market in Colombia, Panama,
Costa Rica, Dominican Republic, Venezuela and Spain.
The Panty Condom, made by a Colombian manufacturer, Innova Quality, is packaged with a special pair of knickers, which keep the condom in place.
The Female Panty Condom is a contraceptive device made of biodegradable latex.
About the panty-like condom
By description, the panty-like female condom is underwear, thong (cotton or nylon) with a slit plus auto adhesive pocket containing one condom made of polyurethane for one time use (does not cause allergies, is transparent, odourless, solid, pre-lubricated),” the site said.
One pair of underwear plus two condoms costs $5 approximately Shs18, 400 while a refill of three condoms costs $ 3.75 approximately Shs13, 800.
The Monitor
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