Women in Costa Rica observed Global Female Condom Day without having access to this contraceptive. On September 16th, various advocacy organizations conducted awareness campaigns and other activities to teach the world about the use of female condoms; in Costa Rica, however, the day was observed with concern about why these sexual protection devices are not yet on the market.

According to a news report recently filed by Nathalia Villalobos of online news daily El Pais, female condoms have not yet been approved for distribution and use in Costa Rica. The Ministry of Public Health (Spanish initials: MSP) and La Caja (the national public health service) have been working on the investigation and approval process for several months, but no approval seems to be forthcoming.

A spokeswoman from the Central American Investigative and Empowerment Center for Human Rights (Spanish acronym: CIPAC) explained to El Pais that the lack of female condoms in Costa Rica is a matter of concern. Ana Gabriela Solano believes that female condoms should have already been approved in Costa Rica, and that women should be able to purchase them just as readily as the traditional male condoms.

La Caja has already completed an assessment of the female condom and its potential acceptance in Costa Rica. A clinical study involving 1,330 women in Costa Rica indicated that 15 percent of test subjects were interested in using female condoms as long-term solutions for protection. That percentage is enough for the MSP to determine that there is an adequate market in our country, but it still requires official approval, which is being held up by bureaucracy.

Per the organizations that sponsor Global Female Condom Day, this is the only tool currently available designed to offer woman-initiated protection against STIs, HIV, and unplanned pregnancy. Women and men who engage in receptive vaginal and anal sex have limited options for protection.

Female condoms help enable receptive partners of any gender to take greater control of their sexual health. Many women cannot or do not want to use hormonal contraception. Female condoms may be a more viable option for these women because they provide effective, non-hormonal dual protection from unintended pregnancy and STIs, including HIV.