Jamaica to launch new female condom as part of HIV/AIDS prevention efforts

Jamaica's National Family Planning Board in the next few weeks plans to launch a new female condom in an effort to provide women with increased control over HIV/AIDS prevention methods, the Jamaica Gleaner reports.

According to the Gleaner, the second-generation female condom has been improved to be more user friendly while still providing protection against HIV/AIDS, other sexually transmitted infections and unplanned pregnancies.

The new version is made from nitrile polymer, which is thin, odorless and stronger than the latex used to manufacture male condoms.

In addition to being stronger, the FC2 is less noisy, hypoallergenic and not tight or constricting, the Gleaner reports.

It also can be used with oil- and water-based lubricants, inserted up to eight hours before intercourse and stored for up to five years with no special storage conditions.

In the coming month, the family planning board will conduct a workshop on the female condom to increase its use and address some of the negative stigma surrounding the contraceptive (Jamaica Gleaner, 4/21).