ATLANTA, Sep 06 (Reuters Health) -- Use of the female condom is associated with relatively high rates of exposure to semen, according to researchers attending the recent National HIV Prevention Conference, in Atlanta. The finding suggests that the device may not be as protective against HIV and other sexually transmitted diseases as previously thought.
These exposures occurred even in the absence of "user problems" (incorrect usage of the female condom), explained lead researcher Dr. Ann Duerr and colleagues at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) in Atlanta.
The female condom has been promoted as a tool to prevent sexually transmitted disease like AIDS.
In their study, Duerr's team trained 210 US women at low risk for sexually transmitted diseases (STDs) to use the female condom. The women were also supplied with a sampling device to assess vaginal semen exposure, and each completed diaries and questionnaires regarding condom use.
Overall, subjects used the female condom over 2,300 times during the course of the study. Duerr and colleagues found that 25% of uses resulted in at least one reported mechanical or non-mechanical problem.
Mechanical problems -- reported in 17% of uses -- included condom breakage or semen leaking from the condom.
Non-mechanical problems, such as discomfort of either partner, were reported in 5% of uses.
The overall rate of semen exposure associated with female condom use ranged from 7% to 22%. The researchers estimate that user-reported problems accounted for 59% of the instances of semen exposure. This means that 41% of semen exposures occurred during episodes where women reported no obvious problems with usage.
"Unfortunately, studies comparing male and female condoms and semen exposure have not been conducted yet," study co-author Dr. Louise Lawson noted. These types of studies "would answer a lot of questions about condom use, STD exposure and pregnancy rates."
