As most men know around the world, using a condom during sex lessens the feeling and stimulus but safe guards both sexual partners from possible pregnancy and eliminates the spread of a STD. Preventing an unplanned pregnancy and stopping the spread of itchy or possibly deadly diseases makes the use of a condom and its minor negative side effects well worth it...right? Not in all populations and that's what the Gates Foundation wants to change.
As the Gates Foundation Grand Challenge Website puts it " When used properly, they reliably protect females from pregnancy and both partners from numerous STIs, including HIV transmission, making them a prime example of a multi-purpose prevention technology (MPT). Their use does not require a prescription, a skilled health provider or in fact any healthcare provider or healthcare delivery system. There are no adverse events associated with their use, a statement that cannot be made for any other contraceptive or STI-preventive product. " It's for reasons the Gates Foundation is looking for the "Next Generation Condom that significantly preserves or enhances pleasure, in order to improve uptake and regular use".
A condom such as this is gravely needed in a world with a booming population and according to the UN World AIDS Day Report 2012, as of 2011 there are 34 million individuals with HIV globally, 2.5 million people were infected in 2011, and even though new cases of HIV were down in many countries, some regions of the world saw a uptick in the spread of HIV rates. North Africa, the Middle East, Eastern Europe, and the Russian Federation all saw dramatic increases in new cases of HIV.
The person or company to come up with such a condom could be rewarded with millions of dollars worth of funding. There are of course some guidelines to what the Foundation is looking for such as ensuring a product that is affordable for individuals in developing countries and that the improved sensation enhancement does not sacrifice any HIV prevention characteristics of the current condom.
Of course a condom with improved sensation will not alone stop the non use of them. In 2000 the UN released a report entitled The Male Condom which gives a variety of reasons why condoms are not used, such as: societal disapproval because condoms aren't considered "macho", implications of infidelity in committed relationships, or individuals just don't have access to them or can't afford them.
Although not a total solution the Gates Foundation has a great idea and if successful will not only lead to a decrease in the spread of HIV but also add a skip in the step for men around the world.
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