Why are we doing this FC2 campaign?
Did you know that only 1% of all condoms distributed worldwide are female condoms?
Female condom awareness and access are limited even though they are highly effective safer-sex options for women, men, transgender people, and youth,
The goal of the San Francisco FC2 Campaign is to improve awareness, expand access and increase usage of FC2s throughout the city by providing both FC2 education and FREE FC2 Condoms.
Here are a few statistics:
- There are more than 19 million new cases of sexually transmitted infections (STI’s) every year in the US.
- In 2009, three-quarters of new HIV diagnoses in the US were among men and 74% of those infections were transmitted by male-to-male sexual intercourse.
- Among women, heterosexual intercourse accounted for 85% of new HIV diagnoses in 2009.
Despite all efforts, certain communities still bear more of the burden of disease! Women, adolescents and young adults; racial and ethnic minorities; gay men and other men who have sex with men; and people entering jails and prisons all have disproportionately high rates of STDs.
- In the San Francisco area, Africa-American adolescents have rates of chlamydia and gonorrhea more than 7 times higher than white adolescents and African-American adults.
- In San Francisco in 2009, more than 90% of infectious syphilis cases, 56% of the total male chlamydia cases, 76% of the total male gonorrhea cases, and 84% of the newly diagnosed HIV cases occurred among gay men and other men who have sex with men.
Effective, comprehensive STD/HIV prevention strategies, including novel prevention methods, are critical.
The female condom is the only receptive partner-initiated, physical barrier method available that protects against STDs/HIV. Yet, there is still a lack of awareness, acceptance, and access among communities at risk and the providers who serve them, highlighting the need for education and promotion of female condoms!
Studies have shown that:
- Protective sex acts increase when an FC is offered as a prevention choice (more choices = increased number of protected sex acts).
- Consistent and proper use of FCs reduces the risk of HIV infection by more than 90% in one year.
- Because of its design, a female condom can provide increased STD protection by covering external genitalia.
- Effectiveness during anal sex has not yet been evaluated, but several small studies show that some gay men prefer using FCs.
What is the FC2 Movement?
This is a peer-driven, community-based effort to make sure that everyone in San Francisco can access female condoms (FC2) free of charge.
This website has several instructions for use as well as videos and testimonials from people who have used the FC2. You can access links to venues here in San Francsico that give the FC2 condom away FOR FREE.
If you are a provider, you can join our FC2 MOVEMENT and help make it a success by:
- Participating in our FC2 training and become a certified San Francisco FC2 Distributor
- Integrating FC2 promotion and distribution into your current services
- Adapting materials (instructions, presentations) and language to best suit the people you serve
Click here to acces our training.
DISCLAIMER
We know there is dialogue about the name of this condom. The fact that it is called “female” condom, means that it doesn’t feel applicable to everyone. There have been many suggestions for a new name: internal condom, universal condom, receptive partner condom etc. However, the name is attached to its FDA approval and cannot be changed AND we are here to talk about the use and benefits of the FC2. In the United States, there is only one female condom product on the market: the FC2.
