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Male and Female Condoms

Affordable, accessible male and female condoms are fundamental to HIV prevention.

Condoms continue to be an important element of any comprehensive HIV prevention strategy. If used consistently and correctly, they can be up to 96 percent effective in protecting against sexually transmitted infections, including HIV. They are available without a prescription and can be obtained at a variety of outlets (health centers, drug stores, vending machines, doctor’s office, etc.) at little to no cost.

Although both types of condoms usually require some level of partner cooperation, the female condom may provide women with a greater degree of freedom to engage in safer sex. Since the female condom is worn by the woman and can be inserted prior to sexual activity without the male partner being aware that it is in place, women do not have to negotiate its use.

What We're Reading

A Female Condom Can Take Sexual Pleasure to New Heights

Think safe sex means boring sex? Think again — especially if you make internal condoms part of your play kit. South Africa has one of the largest public-funded condom distribution programmes in the world — since 2018 the government has aimed to, each year, distribute 850 million male (external) condoms and 40 million internal (female) condoms to public health facilities.

May 17, 2022
Male and Female Condoms
Mail & Guardian

FDA Grants the First Condom Approval for Anal Sex

For the first time, US regulators have officially authorized a condom to be used for anal sex, not just vaginal sex. The decision, announced by the Food and Drug Administration on Wednesday, has long been sought by sexual health experts, who said it could encourage more people who engage in anal sex to use condoms to protect themselves against HIV and other sexually transmitted infections. The risk of sexually transmitted diseases is “significantly higher” during anal sex than vaginal sex, an FDA official said Wednesday.

February 23, 2022
Male and Female Condoms
New York Times
Featured Resources

20 Essential Resources - Condoms & Family Planning

As recent-day family planning and reproductive health efforts place greater emphasis on innovation, it is important to remember the value of evidence-based family planning tools that have been effective for decades. Since the physical properties of condoms have not undergone substantial change, many people may forget the power of condoms as a family planning tool. This collection was created as a reminder to all of us that some methods continue to work even as innovations arise in Family Planning/Reproductive Health.

November 2021
Knowledge Success
FHI 360
Male and Female Condoms
Website

Internal Condoms: A Tool To Advance Sexual and Reproductive Health and Rights for All

Internal condoms, previously called female condoms, are an important tool to advance sexual and reproductive health and rights (SRHR) for all. Internal condoms are currently the only non-hormonal multipurpose prevention method designed for and initiated by women and receptive sexual partners that provides effective protection against unintended pregnancy and STI acquisition, including HIV.

February 2021
CHANGE
Male and Female Condoms
Fact Sheet

AVAC Report 2019: Now What?

At the threshold of 2020, it’s clear that global goals for HIV prevention will miss the mark by a long shot. Though important progress has been made, the crisis UNAIDS called out in 2016 persists today with new infections around 1.7 million annually, a far cry from the 2020 target of fewer than 500,000. So, we asked ourselves, Now What?, and answered with cross-cutting analysis and an advocacy agenda to match.

November 2019
AVAC
HIV Vaccine, Combination Prevention, Male and Female Condoms, Cure, Hormonal Contraceptives and HIV, Microbicides, Multipurpose Prevention Technologies, PrEP, Treatment, Voluntary Medical Male Circumcision
AVAC Report
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