Search PubMed⌕ Search

SEARCH · Search PubMed

Results for “Female Condom”

Search indexed PubMed citations on genomics, clinical trials, systematic reviews and public health. Explore titles, authors and supplied subject terms, then open the PubMed record.

Quote a phrase for an exact phrase match. Source license links do not imply unrestricted reuse.

At least 217 records · Page 12Linked to original sources
PubMed2004

Relationship violence and women's reactions to male- and female-controlled HIV prevention methods.

This study examined the association of relationship violence and preference for three HIV prevention methods among 104 African American and Hispanic women who were at some risk for heterosexual transmission of HIV and other sexually transmitted diseases (STDs). Women completed a brief questionnaire on sexual behaviors and history of relationship violence. All women then watched a video describing three HIV/STD prevention methods (male condoms, female condoms, and vaginal spermicide) that included a discussion of method effectiveness, how to use each method, and their benefits and limitations. Participants then completed a questionnaire assessing their reactions to each of the three HIV prevention methods discussed in the video. Women in violent relationships indicated less likelihood of using male condoms and greater likelihood of using female-controlled methods, particularly vaginal spermicide, than women in nonviolent relationships. In addition, a higher percentage of women in violent compared to nonviolent relationships expected their partners to prefer the vaginal spermicide and a lower percentage expected partners to prefer male condoms. These data suggest that the current focus on finding alternative HIV prevention methods for women in violent relationships is warranted and that a vaginal microbicidal product may be the preferred alternative for this group of women and their male partners.

Adolescent↗
PubMed2000

Sexual behaviour and negotiation of the male condom by female students of the University of Ibadan, Nigeria.

This study explored the sexual behaviour of unmarried female students of the University of Ibadan, Nigeria, and assessed the extent to which those who were sexually active negotiated and used the male condom. Four focus group discussions were conducted followed by a survey of 354 students. The results show that the mean age of the students was 22.5 years 55.1% had had sexual intercourse; the mean age at first intercourse was 16.5 years. The number of lifetime sexual partners ranged from 1 to 20 with a mean of 3.4; 75% of those who had had sex reported ever using condom; 16.9% and 39% used it during their first and last sexual episodes respectively; only 34.3% used it consistently. Seventy-three per cent had ever negotiated condom use with a partner, but only 41% did so during their last sexual encounter. A significant association was found between condom negotiation and number of sexual partners: Students with fewer life time partners (3.2) had less frequently negotiated condom use than those with more partners (4.3) (P<0.05). Condom negotiators also scored significantly higher (4.6) on a 6-point AIDS Knowledge Score than those who had never done so (4.0) (P<0.05). About a quarter (26.7%) had ever bought a condom, while 38.5% had ever carried it. We conclude that although many female students had sometimes used a condom only a few used it consistently and are therefore at risk of the unintended outcomes of unprotected sex. We propose appropriate interventions to address the problem.

Journal Article↗
PubMed2003

Use-effectiveness of the female versus male condom in preventing sexually transmitted disease in women.

BACKGROUND: Data are limited on the female condom's effectiveness against STDs. GOAL: The goal was to compare STD rates between women given small-group education on, and free supplies of, either female or male condoms. STUDY DESIGN: Female patients at an STD clinic (n = 1442) were randomly assigned to condom type and followed via medical records for STDs (gonorrhea, chlamydia, early syphilis, or trichomoniasis). RESULTS: In an intention-to-treat analysis, the odds ratio for a comparison of STD occurrence between the female and male condom groups was 0.75 (95% confidence interval [CI], 0.56-1.01), and it did not change with adjustment. In a second analysis among women returning for subsequent screening, incidence rates for the first new postintervention STD per 100 woman-months of observation were 6.8 in the female condom group and 8.5 in the male condom group (rate ratio = 0.79 [CI, 0.59-1.06]). CONCLUSION: Compared with those provided with male condoms alone, women counseled on, and provided with, female condoms fared no worse and experienced a nonsignificant reduction in STDs.

Adolescent↗
PubMed2000

An acceptability study of female-controlled methods of protection against HIV and STDs in south-western Uganda.

We aimed to assess the acceptability of a variety of formulations of female-controlled methods of protection against HIV and STDs among men and women in south-western Uganda. Pilot interviews were carried out with 50 men and 55 women and 25 focus group discussions (FGDs) were held with 138 women and 42 men. The female condom, foaming tablets, sponge, foam, gel and film were demonstrated to 146 women and 35 of their male partners, who then tried out 2 of the products. They were interviewed 7 times during the course of 5 months. At the end experiences were evaluated during a second series of FGDs. Sixty-five (45%) women completed the trial. The main reasons for non-completion were related to geographical mobility. Product preference after the initial demonstration was similar to that at the end of the trial. The most popular formulations were the sponge (25% of the women), foaming tablets (23%), and the female condom (19%). The foam was of medium popularity (16%). The gel (9%) and film (7%) were least popular. Ten per cent of the women and 14% of the men reported products interfering with sexual enjoyment; 24% of the women and 67% of the men said products increased enjoyment. 'Dry sex' is not popular in this area and increased lubrication was an important determinant of acceptability. Age, level of education and location did have some effect on preference. Although secrecy was a dominant theme in the FGDs, 87% of the women had informed their partners by the end of the trial. The products were generally well received. Female control was an important issue for both sexes. Male attitudes were ambivalent because female ownership of products increased women's control. Although they have clear preferences, women appear to accept the products generally and might use a single available product just as readily if choice was limited, as long as it conforms to general cultural preferences, such as those relating to wet/dry sex.

Adolescent↗
PubMed2000

Partner type and condom use.

OBJECTIVES: To examine the association between type of sexual partnership and condom use consistency. DESIGN: A prospective follow-up study of women attending two urban clinics for sexually transmitted diseases (STD). METHODS: Sexual diaries recording barrier method, partner initials and partner type for each act of intercourse were kept by 869 women. Condom use by partner type was evaluated in three ways in the entire group: among women who encountered multiple partners, during months in which women encountered multiple partners, and within sexual partnerships that changed status during the study. RESULTS: Consistency of condom use was higher with new and casual partners than with regular partners in the entire group and among women who encountered multiple partners. In months in which partners of different types were encountered, condom-use consistency was higher with new and casual partners than with regular partners. Consistent condom use decreased in partnerships that changed status from new to regular. The female condom was used more often with regular partners than with new or casual partners in the entire study group, among women who encountered multiple partners, and during months in which a woman achieved consistent use with her regular partner. CONCLUSIONS: This study provides strong evidence that condom use behavior is modified by partner type. Observations about condom use and partner type made in cross-sectional or retrospective surveys also hold in the present longitudinal analyses of individual women and of partnerships that change status. The female condom may be an important option for achieving consistent protection within stable partnerships.

Adolescent↗
PubMed2001

Female control of sexuality: illusion or reality? Use of vaginal products in south west Uganda.

This paper reports on a trial of vaginal products that were distributed and used by 131 women and 21 men in south west Uganda. It focuses specifically upon the issue of female control in heterosexual relationships and examines whether methods which are ostensibly under women's control, will in practice give women greater control of their sexual health. Participants were invited to select two from a range of vaginal products that included the female condom, contraceptive sponge, film, tablets, foam and gel, and use each for five weeks and their favourite product for a further three months. They were interviewed up to seven times over a five-month period. Although the women perceived that a major advantage of the products (with the exception of the female condom) was that they could be used secretly, less than 40% were using the products without their partner's knowledge after one week and this proportion declined over time with only 22% using the products secretly after ten weeks. In the main male partners were told as women felt it their duty to inform them. In general the women were very much more positive about the products than they were about the male condom, as were the men. A contributory factor to their popularity among women was the greater control they gave them. Even though, use of these products in practice often involved negotiation with male partners, the fact that use was contingent on women's action was empowering and increased somewhat their ability to control their sexual health.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1999

Influence of cycle variability and coital frequency on the risk of pregnancy.

Researchers have cautioned against generalizing results from contraceptive trials because these studies rely on self-selected participants meeting strict selection criteria who may differ from typical users. Using information collected on daily diaries, we reanalyzed data from the recently completed Reality female condom clinical trial to evaluate factors that influence the probability of pregnancy. Noncompliant women, women with less variable menstrual cycles (17-43 days), and women engaging in intercourse frequently (> or = 11 acts per month) were more likely to conceive during this 6-month trial. The adjusted hazard ratios and 95% confidence intervals for these three covariates were 6.1 (2.0-18.7), 7.2 (1.0-54.3), and 2.0 (0.7-5.3), respectively. The strict selection criteria used in this study failed to recruit a homogeneous cohort with respect to factors that influence the risk of pregnancy. The overall pregnancy rate does not pertain to individual study participants, but rather represent average effects for a population with the particular mix of characteristics found in this study. In particular, we not only confirm the well known importance of compliance and the obvious role of frequency of intercourse, but also demonstrate that women with cycles outside the range of 17-43 days appear to be at a much lower risk of pregnancy.

Adolescent↗
PubMed2004

Hierarchical messages for introducing multiple HIV prevention options: promise and pitfalls.

In battling HIV, many interventionists advocate the use of hierarchical messages that present multiple prevention options in order of decreasing effectiveness. The purpose of the present study was to determine if hierarchical messages provide women with additional prevention options without reducing the perceived efficacy of and willingness to use the primary method mentioned (in this case, male condoms). African American and Mexican American women between 18 and 32 years of age (n=112) at risk for HIV were randomly assigned to receive either a male-condom-only message (use male condoms) or a hierarchical message (use male condoms; if not, use female condoms; if not, use spermicide). Compared with women in the male-condom-only condition, a significantly smaller percentage of women who received the hierarchical message perceived male condoms as highly effective against HIV. Women currently not using male condoms who received the hierarchical, rather than the male-condom-only, message were less likely to consider using male condoms in the future. Among current male condom users, however, the hierarchical message did not influence intent to use male condoms. These data point to the need for examining both the intended and unintended effects of hierarchical health care messages.

Adolescent↗
PubMed2006

Incorporating adolescent females' perceptions of their partners' attitudes toward condoms into a model of female adolescent condom use.

The highest rates of sexually transmitted infections in the U.S. occur among adolescent females. One prevention strategy promoted for sexually active adolescents is condom use: therefore, influences on correct and consistent condom use are worth examining. Because interventions and observational research into predicting and increasing condom use have yielded mixed results, we hypothesized that a theoretically driven model incorporating female adolescents' perceptions about partner sentiments along with their own perceptions, intentions, and behaviours would improve condom use predictions. We also measured condom use errors and consistency for a more precise estimate of effective use than is common in the literature. In three structural equation models tested on a sample of 519 female adolescents, we found that intentions were associated with both correct and consistent condom use; that females' expectancy beliefs about condom use were associated with intentions; and that females' expectancy beliefs about partners' sentiments reduced the impact of their expectancy beliefs about condom use. The implications of these relations upon condom use correctness and consistency are discussed with respect to informing interventions, among other future research.

Adolescent↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Heterosexually active men's beliefs about methods for preventing sexually transmitted diseases.

CONTEXT: Most research on heterosexual transmission of HIV and other sexually transmitted diseases (STDs) has focused on women. However, heterosexual transmission of STDs cannot be prevented without a better understanding of men's, as well as women's, sexual beliefs and behaviors. METHODS: Heterosexually active men's beliefs about four methods of STD prevention--abstinence, mutual monogamy, use of male condoms and use of female condoms--were elicited through open-ended interviews. A survey based on these responses was administered to a random sample of 486 heterosexually active men, and scores were calculated to examine their beliefs about each behavior. Additional analyses explored how these beliefs were related to men's characteristics and to their actual behavior. RESULTS: The men held both positive and negative beliefs about the outcomes of using each method and thought that their partners, close friends, health care providers, family members and, to some extent, friends at church had opinions about whether they should use each method. Multiple regression analyses showed that the men's beliefs were related to their marital status and, to some extent, their race or ethnicity and education. Beliefs about the outcomes of practicing abstinence, practicing mutual monogamy and using male condoms with steady partners were significantly related to these behaviors; beliefs about whether they had support for practicing monogamy or using male condoms with steady partners were significant predictors of doing so. CONCLUSIONS: Encouraging safer-sex practices among heterosexually active men will require addressing their beliefs and perceived norms about alternative methods of preventing STDs.

Adult↗
PubMed1999

Condom use in young blacks and Hispanics in public STD clinics.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Young blacks and Hispanics are an emerging risk group for contracting HIV. The goal of this study was to assess the most salient correlates of condom use for young Hispanics and blacks in Los Angeles county sexually transmitted diseases (STD) clinics as a first step toward designing a short clinic-based intervention. STUDY DESIGN: Face-to-face interviews were conducted with 376 patients younger than the age of 27 years at six STD clinics operated by the Los Angeles County Department of Health Services. Assessment included several attitudinal variables and AIDS risk behaviors. RESULTS: Condom use at last intercourse ranged from 40% among Hispanic females to 48% among black males. Among females, condom users were more likely to report high self-efficacy regarding condom use, peer norms supporting condom use, and more sexual communication than respondents who did not use a condom at last intercourse. Among males, no relationship was found between condom use at last intercourse and these attitudinal variables, except for sexual communication. The most important correlate of condom use among males and females was the frequency of carrying condoms. CONCLUSIONS: Our findings suggest that offering educational group sessions and attractive means for carrying condoms to patients in STD clinics may have the potential to increase condom use. The efficacy of these intervention strategies should be explored in future studies.

Adult↗
PubMed2001

Urban women's negotiation strategies for safer sex with their male partners.

Heterosexual transmission of HIV is growing at an increasing rate. One primary prevention strategy is to consistently use condoms. With the exception of female condoms, women do not "wear" condoms and therefore must negotiate condom use with their male partners. This present study examines the strategies women believe they would use in a safer sex negotiation with a male partner including (1) initiating negotiations, (2) resolving conflict, and (3) maintaining the intention to practice safer sex. The findings highlight the importance of understanding women's patterns of negotiation as well as their repertoire of negotiation skills prior to their exposure to behavioral interventions and prevention programs.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1994

Contraceptives of the future in the light of HIV infection.

The AIDS and sexually transmissible disease pandemics have helped to focus the world's attention on the need for good protection against transmission of infections during sexual intercourse. Most of the highly effective modern contraceptives provide only limited protection against STD transmission, although recent progress with the development of loose-fitting plastic male condoms and new spermicides gives some hope. Urgent attention must continue to be given to contraceptives with STD protective qualities which are under the woman's control. Refinements of the female condom and vaginal sponges with new spermicides and microbicides may be a step in this direction.

Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome↗
PubMed1993

Update: barrier protection against HIV infection and other sexually transmitted diseases.

Although refraining from intercourse with infected partners remains the most effective strategy for preventing human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection and other sexually transmitted diseases (STDs), the Public Health Service also has recommended condom use as part of its strategy. Since CDC summarized the effectiveness of condom use in preventing HIV infection and other STDs in 1988 (1), additional information has become available, and the Food and Drug Administration has approved a polyurethane "female condom." This report updates laboratory and epidemiologic information regarding the effectiveness of condoms in preventing HIV infection and other STDs and the role of spermicides used adjunctively with condoms.

Condoms↗
PubMed1999

Experiences of 100 men who have sex with men using the Reality condom for anal sex.

A self-administered, anonymous questionnaire examining opinions and experiences of using Reality, the "female" condom, for anal sex was completed by a convenience sample of 100 men who have sex with men (MSM). Eighty-six percent of respondents said they would use Reality again; 54% would rather use Reality than penile condoms. Acceptability was higher among MSM who were HIV positive, in nonmonogamous relationships, or who had serodiscordant partners. Negative experiences included: difficulty inserting (33%), irritation (17%), bunching up (12%), unpleasant texture (10%), and noise (9%). Breakage was reported three times in 334 episodes of use. Although no available data compare preferences and efficacy of Reality to penile condoms, Reality is a welcome alternative for some MSM who have difficulty consistently using penile condoms and probably reduces HIV transmission compared with unprotected anal sex. Research to more definitively assess Reality as a risk reduction method for MSM is greatly needed.

Attitude to Health↗
PubMed2002

Does semen have antidepressant properties?

In a sample of sexually active college females, condom use, as an indirect measure of the presence of semen in the reproductive tract, was related to scores on the Beck Depression Inventory. Not only were females who were having sex without condoms less depressed, but depressive symptoms and suicide attempts among females who used condoms were proportional to the consistency of condom use. For females who did not use condoms, depression scores went up as the amount of time since their last sexual encounter increased. These data are consistent with the possibility that semen may antagonize depressive symptoms and evidence which shows that the vagina absorbs a number of components of semen that can be detected in the bloodstream within a few hours of administration.

Condoms↗
PubMed2003

A condom skill scale: assessing condom skills among female drug users.

Use of latex condoms is a primary form of sexual risk reduction, and consequently many intervention programs have focused efforts on increasing condom use among high-risk populations. Use alone, however, will not fully protect the individual if condoms are not used correctly. The objective of this study was to describe the development and properties of a scale measuring demonstrated condom use skill using a sample of 261 drug-using women. Guttman's coefficient of reproducibility and Jackson's Plus Percentage Ratio (PPR) were used to determine the scalability of the Condom Skill Scale (CSS). Analysis of scale scores revealed high levels of condom skill among the population, although there was reduced performance for three items. Preliminary analysis suggests that the CSS is a potentially valid and reliable instrument, and may have application as a tool assessing condom skill level.

Adult↗