|
New Polyurethane Condom Avanti
CCL, the owner of the Durex brand has launched the world's first polyurethane male condom, Durex Avanti worldwide. The condom already has been launched successfully
in the U.S. and Great Britain. CCL has spent about $20 million
researching and developing Durex Avanti.
Irritation
If latex condoms irritate your skin, the culprit may be the lubricant, the
spermicide or the materials used in processing. Try switching brands. If that
doesn't work, you may be among the small percentage of people whose skin is
sensitive to latex itself. You have two other choices in condoms, each with
pluses and minuses.
"Skin" condoms are made from a natural pouch in lambs' intestines,
and cost several times as much as latex ones. The membrane is especially strong
and may enhance sensitivity. The downside: They have small holes. The microscopic
pores in "skin" condoms can be up to 1.5 microns across. Since sperm
cells are twice as wide as that, skin condoms still make an effective contraceptive.
But viruses and some bacteria are far smaller than these pores. Lab work has
shown that HIV and the herpes and hepatitis-B viruses can pass through skin
condoms. So these condoms must bear a warning that they're not intended for
disease prevention.
CR examined Fourex and Kling-Tite Naturalamb brands. Fourex condoms come folded,
not rolled, inside plastic capsules (the condom is pulled on, like a glove).
We found the capsules surprisingly hard to open. Kling-Tite may be easier to
don because it's rolled, like a latex condom. Skin condoms might slip off some
men during intercourse because both Fourex and Kling- Tite are significantly
wider than the latex condoms we tested: 78 and 68 millimeters, respectively
(latex condoms average 52 millimeters). Fourex has a rubber band rolled onto
the base of the condom to prevent slippage. The Kling-Tite's elastic band is
sewn on more securely.
Last year, on the basis of limited testing, the FDA gave Schmid Laboratories
approval to sell its new Avanti brand, a clear condom made of polyurethane.
The agency justified approving the product because it felt a pressing public
health need to offer latex-sensitive people an alternative that could prevent
disease as well as pregnancy. The Avanti condoms first appeared in the western
United States and should be available elsewhere by summer. But it's unclear
just how much protection they offer.
A label on the Avanti's foil packet declares it "effective" against
pregnancy and sexually transmitted diseases, while the label on the box warns
that "the risks of pregnancy and STDs...are not known for this condom." The FDA says it has noted the discrepancy. The packet label will be changed
to match the box. The manufacturer says it has demonstrated to the FDA that
Avanti does block viruses and neither slips nor breaks more often than latex.
Studies of its contraceptive value are under way.
CR bought Avanti and Avanti Super Thin, which cost us $1.75 each, more than
the most expensive latex condoms. Both products are in fact the same condom.
The Super Thins come with more lubricant. In the lab, it has been found that
the condoms are thinner than any conventional condoms tested, roughly 0.04 millimeters
(mm). They're also among the shortest of condoms but wider than even larger-size
latex brands (60 mm versus 55 mm or 56 mm). That's probably because polyurethane
doesn't stretch as much as latex.
Despite the company's statements to the contrary, it is suspected that some
men might have slippage problems. When we placed the Avanti on a model of an
average-sized penis, the condom could be pulled off quite easily. Since Avanti
isn't latex any lubricant may be used safely. We cannot
comment on the Avanti's strength other than say that it seems to be extremely strong. Because synthetic condoms are so new, researchers
don't know how to compare their performance in standard tests against that of
latex condoms.
When condoms are tested in the factory a few batches are selected for quality
review, after which the test ones are rendered unusable and are destroyed. With
current technology it is not economically feasible to test each condom before
it is rolled and packaged. So the FDA sends inspectors to factories for their
own spot checks. Until recently they relied on a water-leakage test -- if more
than four condoms out of a batch of 1,000 showed leaking, the entire lot was
destroyed. But there is a lingering question that is disputed by AIDS professionals:
because the smallest hole the water test can measure is about 100 times bigger
than HIV, could the virus still pass through an approved condom? Latex or rubber
condoms are generally considered not to have the kind of minute holes that are
more common with lambskin condoms. Consumer Reports wrote: "Lab work has
shown that HIV and the herpes and hepatitis B viruses can pass through skin
condoms."
The Female Condom
Female Condoms The female condom, or vaginal pouch, is an important new contraceptive
option. Approved for use in 1993, it is now available throughout the United
States.
Like the male condom, but unlike other barrier devices, the female condom offers
good protection against sexually transmitted disease as well as pregnancy. Although
the diaphragm and cervical cap help shield the cervix against some types of
infectious organisms, the vaginal walls remain exposed and vulnerable to viruses
such as HIV. The female condom, however, completely covers the inside of the
vagina as well as the cervix. It is the only method of contraception controlled
by the female partner that offers a level of disease protection similar to that
of the male condom.
How it works. The female condom is a thin, flexible sheath with a closed
ring at one end and a slightly larger, open ring at the other. Among typical
couples who use the female condom, 21 percent will experience an accidental
pregnancy in the first year of use, compared to 14 percent using male condoms
in the same manner.
How to use it. To insert the female condom, hold the ring at the inner
closed end between your thumb and middle finger. Place your forefinger against
this inner ring with the rest of the pouch hanging down. Then squeeze the sides
of the ring together and insert it into your vagina as far as it will go. Push
the front edge up behind your pubic bone. It should cover your cervix and be
held in place between the cervix and the rear wall of the vagina -- like a diaphragm.
The outer, open ring of the pouch hangs down outside your vagina. During sex,
the vagina expands, taking up the slack in the pouch, and stretching the outer
ring flat against the labia. Make sure the inner ring completely covers your
cervix, and be careful not to twist the pouch. For added protection, you can
use a spermicide.
The female condom is already lubricated, and comes with extra lubricant in
case you want to add more during sex. Add a few more drops if the pouch makes
noise during sex, if the penis dislodges it, or if the outer ring is pushed
inside the vagina.
You can insert a female condom from several hours to a few minutes before sex.
If you are menstruating, remove your tampon before inserting the condom. Your
partner should avoid using a male condom at the same time.
Although you can leave the female condom in place after sex, you should replace
it with a new one before each act of intercourse. Remove the pouch before standing
up. Grasp the outer ring and squeeze it between your fingers to prevent spillage,
then twist it and gently pull it out. Discard the pouch in the trash; never
reuse it.
Pros and cons. The female condom is the first contraceptive that protects
women against both pregnancy and sexually transmitted diseases such as HIV as
effectively as the male condom. Since it requires no cooperation from a male
partner, it gives a woman full control, and unlike the male condom, it can be
inserted hours in advance, eliminating the need for interruption. In addition,
because the female condom does not have to be removed immediately after intercourse,
like the male condom does, it can be less intrusive in the intimate moments
after sex.
The female condom is made of polyurethane, a material that is thinner and more
flexible than latex. Some couples who have used the female condom report that
it is more comfortable for both partners than its male counterpart.
On the down side, inserting the female condom correctly may take some practice,
and you may feel awkward until you get used to it.
|
