Eva Yuliawati's expression abruptly changed the first time she saw a female condom. The mother of two clumsily held the Fiesta brand condom and observed it closely."Should I put this thing inside? Won't it be painful?" she asked as she observed the soft rubbery object from every angle. "I think it's too big."
The female condom is not a novelty in the country. The contraceptive device, specially designed for women, had been introduced in the 1990s, but due to low market interest and its expensive price tag, the female condom was a rarity in pharmacies and drug stores.
It can, however, be ordered from drug stores and sex shops overseas through the Internet.
Coordinating Minister of the People's Welfare Aburizal Bakrie launched the female condom during the recent HIV/AIDS National Conference in Surabaya, East Java.
The DKT Foundation, affiliated with condom producer DKT International, which had initially distributed the product, worked together with the Sutra and Fiesta condom manufacturers in Jakarta to promote the product.
The foundation is concerned with HIV/AIDS prevention. One of its strategies when promoting male condoms previously was to use the slogan, "Safety can be fun".
The shape of the female condom is different from that of the male condom. It is 17 centimeters long, 6.6 to 7 cm in diameter and made of rubber latex. A vanilla scent sponge is attached inside. A pack, consisting of two condoms, is priced at Rp 20,000 (about US$2.20).
The chairman of the DKT Foundation, Pierre Frederick, acknowledged it was no easy task to introduce the female condom due to several factors, such as the typical notion that condoms are only suitable for men and the displeasure of using one during sex.
"Not to mention the notion that using a condom is uncomfortable and humiliating for the wearer," Pierre told The Jakarta Post.
In spite of that, using a condom can be very beneficial. One of its purposes is to empower women so that they can protect themselves.
"Many of us know that many women are positioned as second-class citizens, whereas in fact they are the ones at the receiving end, such as in rape, unwanted pregnancy and HIV infection," Pierre told the Post.
Women are also not in a strong bargaining position, socially speaking, over such matters as deciding when to have sex and whether or not their partners use condoms.
"So far, the men usually decide whether or not to use a condom during sex, but the presence of the female condom will change this perception," he said.
An official at the East Java AIDS Prevention Agency, Rahmat Haryono, said the most effective way to prevent HIV/AIDS was through the use of condoms, especially among those who faced a higher risk of being infected, such as sex workers.
"Around 20 to 30 percent of HIV/AIDS infections are due to not using condoms during sex, but ironically sex workers (a majority of them women) are not in the position to decide whether or not their clients use condoms," he said.
Rahmat added that it would be very effective if the female condom was promoted to sex workers. "If sex clients refused to use the condom then the sex workers could take the initiative and put on a female condom to prevent HIV/AIDS infection," he said.
The question, however, is whether or not women are ready to use the condom. Eva Yuliawati's indecision may represent the answer to this matter. Eva feels that the female condom is too big, especially the sponge inside.
"In spite of the lubricating gel, I still feel it's too big. I'm afraid it would cause pain when I use it," she told the Post.
A HIV/AIDS activist, Agus, who acknowledged he had tried the condom with his wife, said he met several obstacles during the occasion. These pertained to its length, which he felt was too short, and the discomfort caused by the sponge.
"Mind you, my wife felt pain when using as well as removing the condom," he said.
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