The female condom is more expensive than the male condom. If the female condom can be used safely more than once, the cost of each use would decline. Studies have found that the device remains structurally sound after repeated washings and reuse, and that a one-minute soak in a 1-to-20 dilution of bleach in water effectively inactivates the organisms that cause gonorrhea, chlamydia, herpes, and HIV infections. The World Health Organization (WHO) continues to recommend the use of a new male or female condom for every act of sexual intercourse where there is risk of an unplanned pregnancy or of acquiring a sexually transmitted infection, but WHO also stated in July 2002 that "the final decision on whether or not to support reuse of the female condom must ultimately be taken locally."
WHO has released a document together with guidelines and advice for programme managers who may consider reuse of female condoms in local settings. The document 'The safety and feasibility of female condom reuse: Report of a WHO consultation' can be found at www.who.int/reproductive-health/stis/reuse.en.html
Reuse of the female condom?
