Should we provide information on the re-use of the female condom?
The female condom is being re-used by women's own initiative, indicating there is a natural tendency for its re-use. Re-use does increase the risk of pregnancy and sexually transmitted infections especially when not used appropriately. Responding to this natural and hazardous tendency of re-use by providing relevant information on the re-use is a logical reaction.
However, are outsiders able to provide information on a complex issues with many cultural and biological aspects? Scientific research supporting the re-use in laboratory context does not indicate that the actual re-use will be safe as well. Cultural and biological aspects can never be fully anticipated and understood by people who do not experience these aspects themselves. Also, unspoken and unknown factors may be present (e.g. women who don't own a female condom may secretly use somebody else's). Although practical safeness may not be fully guaranteed, it could be enhanced by providing information. It therefore is interesting to consider how such information should be provided.
Providing information on the re-use together with a bottle of cleaning-solution seems a good proposal. Yet, this should be thoroughly discussed with users of the female condom. E.g. will a bottle more easily disclose the women which use the female condom without the partner knowing)? Will women re-use the condom for ever, despite information?
Unlimited use is a likely scenario, since users of female condom report re-using despite recommendation of single use. Therefore, initial single-use recommendations might not have been sufficient. The latter should be further investigated and taken into consideration when discussing how the re-use should be recommended.
All in all, it is not up to outsiders to decide whether or not to provide information concerning the re-use of the female condom. Decisions should be made at the local level.
