“You Can Insert The Female Condom Hours Before You Have Sex” -Dr. Christian Aminarh

On Tuesday 14th April, the discussion on Culture Daily featured medical practitioner, Christian Aminarh, which sparked an important conversation around sexual health, autonomy and the underuse of the female condom.

Despite being developed to empower women and improve protection against sexually transmitted infections (STIs) and unintended pregnancies, the female condom remains one of the least used contraceptive methods globally.

According to Dr Aminarh, the female condom was introduced primarily to give women greater control over their sexual health.

Unlike the male condom, which depends on male cooperation, the female condom allows a woman to take initiative: it can be inserted hours before intercourse, it acts as a barrier against both pregnancy and STIs and it does not require male participation to be effective.

“This was about giving women power over their own protection,” he explained.

One of the most striking revelations from the discussion was how underutilised the female condom is.

Research cited during the show suggested that female condoms account for less than 1% of the global contraceptive market.

Several factors including:

1. Complexity of Use: Many participants described the insertion process as technical and even intimidating, especially compared to the simplicity of male condoms.

2. Limited Awareness: Unlike male condoms, female condoms are rarely visible in public health campaigns, pharmacies or everyday conversations.

3. Perceived Discomfort: Some users expressed concerns about: the internal ring, the external portion remaining outside the body and overall comfort during intimacy

4. Impact on Sexual Experience: A major theme in the conversation was the relationship between protection and pleasure.

Interestingly, the discussion highlighted a broader behavioural trend:

Many people prioritise immediate pleasure over protection, often relying on emergency contraception (like the morning-after pill) instead of preventive methods.

This raises critical concerns because emergency pills do not protect against STIs, repeated use can have health implications and preventive methods remain the safer long-term option.

Dr Aminarh emphasised the need for better education on how to use female condoms, improved accessibility and visibility and open conversations about sexual health without stigma.

Ultimately, the female condom represents an important option but one that requires more awareness, acceptance and practical education to become mainstream.