Health Controversy: The Barbed Condom Women Wear to Injure Rapists–Good Idea or Gruesome?

The statistics are sobering: In South Africa, women are raped every 26 seconds, which means in the time it takes you to read this post, 3-5 women have been raped and possibly infected with HIV in the process. How to stop the horrible cycle of violence? One doctor believes she has a solution. It’s called Rape-aXe and, warning, it’s a little graphic …

Dr. Sonette Ehlers, inventor of the female-worn Rape-aXe condom, plans to pass out 30,000 condoms in South Africa before the World Cup. The idea: to protect women against would-be rapists. She designed the product after hearing from an actual rape victim who told her, “if only I had teeth down there.”

Here’s how Rape-aXe works: You insert the device in the vagina using an applicator (like a tampon). It’s said to be comfortable and safe to wear (in other words, you won’t stab yourself). But, when a rapist forces himself upon a Rape-aXe wearer, small hooks latch into the skin of the penis, causing significant pain.

Critics have serious concerns, namely: a.) since the device draws blood, there’s a chance that the rapist could infect the woman with HIV or other STIs. And, b.) it also could anger the rapist, causing more violence. (More on the debate, here, from Jezebel.)

I don’t know that I can, personally, get behind a product like this for both of these reasons. But I admire Dr. Ehlers mission to do something.

What do you think of this product?

More health controversies:

Bye bye burgers! This city has declared Mondays “meat-free”–could you get on board?

Could you tell your pal she’s gained weight? Crazy, right? One doc says you should! (I don’t agree.)

The new fad: Going gluten-free when it’s not medically necessary–would you?

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