Urge FDA to Approve Female Condom!
by Pamela Merritt, RH Reality Check
December 9, 2008 - 8:00am (Print)
Here is a time sensitive opportunity for individuals and organizations to take action in support of HIV prevention! This week the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) advisory committee on Obstetrics and Gynecology Devices will decide whether to recommend approval of the FC2, the second generation of the Female Health Company's female condom. The Center for Health and Gender Equity (CHANGE), on behalf of the AIDS Foundation of Chicago and the National Women's Health Network, is circulating a letter for organizations to sign that urges the FDA to consider the importance of female condoms when deliberating the approval of the FC2. Individuals are also encouraged to sign-on in support of this effort (click here).
The female condom is a proven HIV and pregnancy prevention method that can be inserted independently and well in advance of intercourse. As Lauren Sisson points out in her article Female Condoms: Freedom Doesn't Come Free, the lack of access to and availability of female condoms has nothing to do with their effectiveness and everything to do with a lack of investment. Female condoms can reduce the rate of HIV transmission among women having sex with an infected partner by more than 90 percent and studies show that effective promotion and programming of the female condom results in a significant increase in the total number of protected sex acts between partners. Misconceptions and biases against the female condom have delayed international investment and, as a result, there is a high cost-per-unit price. National governments, bilateral aid agencies, and international donors could drive down the price of the female condom by making bulk purchases, as they have done with virtually every reproductive and sexual health technology, including male condoms.
The FC2 has been approved by the World Health Organization and the United Nations Population Fund for distribution by HIV/AIDS and family planning organizations. FDA approval would enable USAID to purchase larger quantities of female condoms and distribute them to non-governmental agencies providing services to the millions of women living in nations with high HIV/AIDS infection rates.
For more information about this issue and CHANGE visit the Prevention Now! web site. Again, individuals are encouraged to sign-on in support of this effort (click here) and representatives from organizations wishing to sign on to the letter are asked to email Jessica Terlikowski at jterlikowski@aidschicago.org no later than 5:00pm Central Time on Wednesday, December 10 to endorse the letter. Take action now and sign on to urge the FDA to approve the FC2!
Follow Pamela Merritt on Twitter, @SharkFu
It's about time. What is the delay, fear of women making independent decisions about their own health and reproduction? The FDA has approved massive numbers of drugs that have proven to be harmful to people, even to cause cancer so it would seem that this non drug should be rushed through, and yet it is not. Smells like politics to me.
In today's world, we are faced with numerous problems. Climate warming, over-population, genocide, was throughout the Mideast, terrorism and AIDS. Some of these difficulties are hard to deal with, but we can help in some cases if we choose.
A simple but effective method of preventing AIDS, is, by the use of the female condom. If we are as humanitarian as we like to tell everyone, then help make this simple step by helping to save women from becoming infected by AIDS.
Reproductive freedom for women world-wide is a necessity if we are to advance as a society. The Republican anti-birth contrtol "knuckle-dragging" demogogues of the far right have held sway in this counrtry for almost thirty years. It's time to throw them in the trash bin of history.
YES to the female condom!
it's another way to cut down on abortions
It is amazing that the United States is so behind the times on issues of women's reproductive rights. Why on Earth would a modern, supposedly Democratic government be opposed to birth control? The fanatics on the far right are not satisfied with trying to prohibit abortion, now they are going after women's access to condoms and birth control pills to PREVENT the pregnancies that would lead to abortion! It is INSANE. Please make all legitimate forms of birth control for woman available to them and make the insurance companies cover it! This is a humane and necessary step! No more excuses, just do it!
please support this
Since men refuse to take responsibility for protecting oneself in many aspects, we will have to.
This must be approved!
Give women the same privaleges that men have.
Although President Bush's time in office is limited, he can still take a few positive actions for women. Please read and sign the petition on female condoms at:
http://www.thepetitionsite.com/takeaction/586281150. Thanks!
If women are to have full autonomy over their own bodies, as men already have, this particular measure must be approved as but one option for maintaining reproductive freedom and responsibility.
This is something that may help prevent the spread of disease and pregnancy, it's about time someone get off there hands.
One of your links reports:
The Female Health Company ("FHC" or the "Company"), based in Chicago, IL, manufactures, markets and sells the female condom (FC), the only product approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) under a woman's control which provides dual protection against unintended pregnancy and sexually transmitted diseases ("STDs"), including HIV/AIDS.
Is the FDA really at fault? I don't understand why you are blaming the FDA.
a sensible and necessary solution
This will help many people. Do what is right. APPROVE THEM!
It is quite interesting to find a sensible solution as soon as possible and to realize it.
