Dear Friends,

When female condoms were approved in the United States, we celebrated the addition of a new prevention option that women could use.  

Female condoms make it possible for women to initiate action to prevent HIV transmission and other sexually transmitted infections and at the same time protect themselves from unintended pregnancies.  Because female condoms are sometimes used at times when male condoms wouldn’t be they can increase the total number of protected sex acts when both are promoted.  And women using them report that female condoms enhance their ability to negotiate safer sex in their relationships.  Some women using the female condom say it also increases their sexual pleasure and their partners report increased pleasure too!  These are unique and important advantages.

But many women still don’t have a reliable, affordable way to get female condoms.  Now a few women’s health and HIV/AIDS advocates are coming together with public health leaders to conduct a survey to learn more about people’s attitudes, access, and use of female condoms.  They intend to use the survey results to improve community education, availability, and access to female condoms.

The NWHN shares those goals, so we’re sharing information about the survey with you – our supporters and allies – and encouraging you to take the survey!  If you’ve had vaginal or anal sex at least once in the last 12 months, you can take the survey.  It takes approximately 10 minutes to complete.  No identifying information is requested or recorded.

The NWHN's interest in female condoms is driven by the way that they can improve women's health.  But we know they are used not just by women but also men and transgender people.  We appreciate that this survey is intended for people of all genders and sexual orientations.

Please go to Female Condom Survey and take the survey.

Thank you for your activism and support for women’s prevention options!


Cindy Pearson
Executive Director

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