Female-Controlled Prevention Technologies

Abstract

(from the preface) It can be particularly difficult for women to persuade their primary partners to use condoms. Some evidence suggests that violence-prone men may react violently to condom requests, possibly attributing the requests to female infidelity. In most cultures, women are relatively disempowered in sexual situations and do not make sexual decisions. Because some women are unable convince their male partners to use condoms, research and advocacy efforts have centered on the development and deployment of prevention technologies that are under the control of women themselves. At this time, we have two types of female-controlled technology: female condoms and vaginal microbicides. Unfortunately, while several microbicide candidates are under study, we do not yet have an agent that is effective against HIV in vivo. The present authors review and present the state of the science regarding these technologies. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)