AIDS specialists have long realized that effectively fighting the disease requires empowering women. That's why medical researchers and activists alike are excited about the possibility of microbicide gels, a topical treatment that women can use to prevent contraction of HIV. Unfortunately, microbicide trials have yet to result in an effective, marketable drug. So some attention is shifting to a second generation female condom, the New York Times reports, one that supposedly adheres better to the inside of a woman's body and transfers heat between partners. But here's the catch -- unlike microbicide gels, the female condom can't be used by a woman without the knowledge of her partner; after all, rubber feels like rubber. “Condoms are almost undiscussable within a marriage” in Africa, Lois B. Chingandu, director of Zimbabwe anti-AIDS organization SAfaids, told the Times. "It is something associated with casual sex. If a wife uses a condom, the message is that you have been unfaithful. If she even initiates the discussion, it tips the power scale. Men resist quite a lot, and it can result in violence.” That's one reason why the original female condom, which was noisy to boot, was adopted mostly among prostitutes. Another potential benefit of microbicide gels over the female condom is that the gels can be contraceptive or non-contraceptive, allowing couples to protect themselves against HIV while still attempting to get pregnant. That's very important in many cultures, since pregnancy and childbirth is understood to be a natural and sometimes almost continuous part of a marriage. But part of empowering women is educating both women and men about the benefits of planned pregnancy. Doing that will help to decrease the stigma against condom usage. --Dana Goldstein
