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Standardized definitions of failure modes for female condoms.

Beksinska M, Joanis C, Manning J, Smit J, Callahan M, Deperthes B, Usher-Patel M

Reproductive Health and HIV Research Unit, University of the Witwatersrand, Mayville 4091, South Africa. m.beksinska@rhru.co.za

Definitions of male condom failure modes are now well documented, and failure events are usually reported as the proportion of the total number of condoms used and the proportion of men/couples who experience an event. The lack of standardized definitions for female condom (FC) failure has led to variability in reporting and hence difficulties in making comparisons across studies. As a result, the World Health Organization convened a technical review committee meeting in January 2006 through which the members compiled and agreed to a standard list of terms and definitions for each of the failure modes. These failure modes apply to FCs currently marketed or in advanced stages of clinical testing. They were designed to assist in the review and comparative assessment of different FCs.

Published 16 March 2007 in Contraception, 75(4): 251-5.
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