Hindustan Latex Family Planning Promotion Trust

The male condom is the most widely used and the only preventive solution available, against, Sexually Transmitted Disease as well as HIV. Male condoms are cheap, widely available and highly effective. The present condom usage level in India is around 4% and despite a good knowledge on HIV and its transmission modes, only 40% of sex workers use male condoms almost consistently (in more than 95% of sexual acts with their clients).

Factors contributing to low usage of condoms in most urban and rural households, in India, is that men still maintain the dominant role in sexual decision-making, including those decisions relating to contraception and disease prevention, and men often refuse to use male condoms, resulting in a large number of unprotected sexual acts. Female condoms happen to be the only prevention solution for women, for protection against both pregnancy and sexually transmitted diseases (STDs), including the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV).

Female Condom – A HLL Initiative

Launched in February 2002,Female Condom Project is a Joint Initiative of Hindustan Latex Limited (HLL) and Female Health Company (FHC). This project was initiated in response to the increasing needs for intensified, urgent and rapid action towards prevention strategy, for protection against both unwanted pregnancy and STI/HIV infection. The project seeks to increase the number of protected sex acts and thereby reduce the number of new HIV infections and unwanted pregnancies, by expanding access to and use of Female Condoms within the context of dual protection strategies.

Female Condom - Importance

It is felt that the Female Condom could play an important role in prevention of HIV/STD’s in sex workers. The Female Condom is the only Female Controlled method of protection against both pregnancy and sexually transmitted diseases (STDs), including the Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV). The Women could use Female Condom as a back-up option, when their clients refuse to use the Male Condom. The need for Female Condom-controlled prevention technology is clear, and international studies have shown that the introduction of the Female Condom (FC) provides additional protection.