NATIONAL CONDOM WEEK AND PREVENTION TECHNOLOGIES

THE FEMALE CONDOM

The African Institute has launched the National Condom Week in Nottingham on Monday 21st May and will run till 28th May. 2000 condoms were packed and mass distribution is underway from street, community businesses and live Radio media interview for condoms and lubs collection.

There is an urgent need to expand access to proven prevention methods, including clean needles, female and male condoms, risk reduction counselling, treatment of sexually 

transmitted infections, and other strategies. 

                                                                                              

  Below photo of Cllr Leon Unczur Sheriff of Nottigham then and current Lord Mayor
This year the AISD has made a focus on FEMALE CONDOM or FEMIDOM. "We want women to be in charge of their sexual health and share control, and pleasure with their male partners" said Amdani Juma, the Institute Director. He added that "each prevention technology present possibility of new option for individuals to help reduce their risk of HIV. no one of the interventions on their own can end the epidemic

The femidoms have improved greatly over years and we now have "Softer and more Sensual."

Imagine a tool that can be worn by a woman during sex, that protects against pregnancy, HIV, and other STIs. In case that isn’t enough, it also enhances pleasure for both her and her partner. It is inserted into the vagina before sex, and part of it stays outside of the woman’s body, where it increases the sensation of sex by rubbing against her labia and clitoris. 

It is strong, soft, and transparent, and is excellent at transferring heat. Her partner likes that it doesn’t constrict his penis, making sex feel more natural. And since it doesn’t rely on an erection, it can be inserted hours before sex, getting her in the mood and maintaining the flow of sex. What is this amazing thing? It’s a female condom!

The female condom has been on the market for 20 years and recently new innovations have emerged. The traditional female condom (FC2) – which has an inner and an outer ring – is made of synthetic latex, eliminating the noise that some people found distracting. There are also other female condoms available and under development, including a latex condom that has a firm sponge in the place of the inner ring, and another, Woman’s Condom, that can be inserted like a tampon, expanding during intercourse. 

demand for female condoms grows, we expect to see even more innovation in the market, because as we all know, variety is the spice of life!

Female condoms have several advantages. Women are in control when they use them. The use of male condoms often has to be negotiated over and over again and relies on the cooperation of men. Female condoms have to be negotiated only once. They can be inserted several hours before the sexual act takes place, so foreplay does not need to be interrupted.
Studies report a high satisfaction rate by both women and men who have used the female condom. Originally, the demand came mostly from women, but we see the number of male consumers increasing. In sum, the female condom is a commodity for safety, but also a pleasurable tool that should be accessible for all!

Prevention Technologies

Vaccines: An AIDS vaccine is an experimental strategy that aims to teach the body's immune system 

how to fight HIV to reduce the risk of infection or to reduce viral load in those who get the vaccine and 

go on to become infected. All of the candidate vaccines being studied are experimental; there are no 

effective AIDS vaccines available today. 

Pre-Exposure Prophylaxis (PrEP): PrEP is an experimental approach that uses antiretroviral 

medications (ARVs) to reduce the risk of HIV infection in HIV-negative people. During a study of gay 

men, transgender women and other men who have sex with men, a daily pill reduced the risk of HIV 

by 44%. Additional studies are ongoing in other populations. PrEP is not yet recommended for use. 

Note: PrEP must not be confused with post-exposure prophylaxis (PEP), which is available in the UK 

following exposure to HIV. 

Microbicides: The term microbicide refers to various strategies being tested that may reduce the risk 

of HIV transmission during sex. These include creams, gels, and suppositories that could be used 

vaginally or rectally. The large majority of microbicide candidates in testing today are formulated with 

antiretroviral (ARV) drugs. There is now proof of concept that a topical gel can reduce women’s risk of 

acquiring HIV during vaginal sex. However, more research is needed before such gels are available.

Male circumcision: Medical male circumcision (MMC) is the removal of all or part of the foreskin of 

the penis by a trained health professional. The term medical male circumcision differentiates 

circumcision that is performed by a trained health professional from traditional circumcision, which is 

performed as part of a religious ritual or cultural rite of passage. Adult medical male circumcision can 

reduce men’s acquisition of HIV by up to 65% when they have vaginal intercourse. However, there is 

no evidence that it also protects the female partners of men who are HIV positive and it remains 

unclear whether circumcision could have an impact on HIV transmission among gay men and other 

men who have sex with men. 

Treatment as prevention: Treatment as prevention is a term describing the use of antiretroviral 

drugs that are used to reduce the risk of passing HIV to others. The strategy would function as a 

secondary benefit of antiretroviral treatment after its primary purpose of improving an individual’s 

health. The rationale for this approach is that ARVs reduce viral load. Higher viral loads have been 

linked to increased risk of passing HIV to sexual partners. 

Treatment as prevention is an emerging area and there are different terms and phrases used to 

describe this approach, including "test and treat" and "testing and linkage to care plus" which 

recognizes that voluntary HIV testing and diagnosis is the first step to accessing care.

Sperm Washing: Sperm washing is a technique developed for couples who wish to conceive a child, 

where the male partner is living with HIV and the female partner is not. By isolating sperm from any 

elements in semen which may contain HIV, the risk of transmission of HIV to the female partner and 

subsequently her child is greatly reduced. A variety of assisted reproduction techniques can be used 

to fertilise the female partner with the washed sperm. Numerous observational studies have shown 

that sperm washing has not resulted in any seroconversions when correctly performed, and it is 

currently considered the safest method for serodiscordant couples wishing to conceive a child 

together. 

Sperm washing is available in the UK, however its availability is limited to two clinics and the dramatic 

variability of funding available throughout the country coupled with significant costs is a barrier for 

many couples. 

End of report.

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