The Sunday News
Tinomuda Chakanyuka in Ivory Coast
SEX workers have been tickled by revelations that women who are on their monthly menstrual periods can comfortably have sex using the FC2 female condom, without fears of spoiling themselves and their partners.
Explaining advantages of the FC2 training on the sidelines of the International Conference on Aids and STIs in Africa (Icasa), which ended here yesterday, manager at The Female Health Company Ms Maya Gokul said the FC2 can block menstrual flow to allow a menstruating woman to enjoy sex.
Ms Gokul said the FC2 offered better protection than the male condom during menstrual sex, but was quick to urge dual use.
“The FC2 covers a wider area and if inserted correctly its base can block menstrual discharge from flowing. It works a little like a tampon. With a male condom it only covers the man’s manhood but doesn’t stop blood from flowing,” she said.
Ms Gokul was, however, quick to add that the FC2, for menstruating women was ideal for shorter versions of sexual intercourse commonly referred to as short time or a quickie.
“Of course it has to be a quickie and one can only use it once then they can clean themselves up,” she said.
Some sex therapists encourage menstrual sex, arguing that it helps reduce menstrual cramps.
However, for some sex workers who attended Icasa, being able to have sex while on menstrual periods means extended working hours and more money.
Ideally, a sex worker loses about four to five days a month of business when they will be on their monthly menstrual cycle.
Ms Naturelle Aicha, spokesperson of Blety, an NGO that represents interests of sex workers in Abidjan said the revelations on the FC2 were exciting news to many sex workers.
“It makes a lot of business sense to most sex workers to be able to transact while they are on their period.
“It’s quite exciting to hear that the FC2 can actually have such an advantage,” she said.
Ms Aicha said the latest revelation may lead to an increased uptake of the female condom among sex workers.
“Some sex workers take days off when they are on their period and in those four to five days they will be losing money.
“With what we have just heard, I’m sure a lot of sex workers would want to take advantage of the FC2 to extend their working days in a month.
“This might actually lead to an increased uptake of the FC2 and in the same vein increase protection for sex workers against HIV and STIs,” she said.
Head of the TB and Aids unit in the Ministry of Health and Child Care, however, felt that most sex workers in Africa may opt to take days off during their menstrual cycle instead of maximising on the FC2.
He said the FC2’s enabling of menstrual sex was more useful in European countries where sex work is organised and is an industry.
“In Europe where you have organised sex work, with pimps and so on, sex workers need to maximise on every chance there is to make money.
“Those couple of days of menstrual cycle are a huge loss hence they can opt for that sort of mechanism.
“However, in Africa it’s different. In most, if not all African cultures, it’s actually taboo to have sex while one is on their monthly cycle.
“So I don’t quite see the discussions of such a nature really gaining traction in Africa,” he said.
Uptake of the FC2 female condom is generally low compared to the male condom in Zimbabwe, with authorities working on various strategies to promote the FC2.
Authorities also encourage dual use of the FC2 and the male condom to enhance protection. -@irielyan
