Structural integrity of the female condom after a single use, washing, anddisinfection

The Reality(R) female condom is approved for use during a single act of int ercourse, but is expensive relative to other barrier methods. Re-use is a p otential strategy to reduce its per-use cost. We tested the structural inte grity of female condoms (n = 318) after a single act of vaginal intercourse . We also measured the impact of laboratory washing (1, 5, or 10 times) wit h and without disinfection on the structural integrity of unused condoms. S tructural integrity was measured via 5 tests: seam tensile strength, water leakage, air-burst, tear propagation, and device dimensions. No degradation in device structural integrity occurred after a single use when compared t o control for seam tensile (16.0 vs.15.7 mPa; p = 0.558); water leakage (1. 9% vs. 0.9%; p = 0.618); air burst (3.9 vs. 3.6 kPa; p <0.001); or tear pro pagation (344.6 vs. 336.8 psi; p = 0.313). Mean length was slightly increas ed [single use vs. control (177.9 vs. 172.5 mm; p <0.001)1. No consistent p attern of structural degradation emerged across all wash/disinfection group s. Our data suggest the structural integrity of the female condom remains i ntact after a single use and cleaning. (C) 2000 Elsevier Science Inc. All r ights reserved.