Just What Women Need--More Choices in Feminine Protection

In the old days, women made do with “feminine protection” rigged from linen and cheesecloth. It wasn’t too feminine and actually did very little protecting. But, hey, that’s the best there was until tampons and napkins with wings and things came along.

Now on store shelves: the Instead Feminine Protection Cup, manufactured by Ultrafem Inc. of New York, and the Fresh ‘n Fit Padette, from A* Fem Medical Corp. in Portland, Ore.

Instead, which has been distributed nationally since last month, looks like what would result if a diaphragm and a condom mated. It costs $2 for six and can be worn up to 12 hours.

Instead “allows comfortable sex during your period,” says Audrey Contente, the New York businesswoman who developed the product.

But not safe sex as large lettering on the box warns: “Instead is not a contraceptive and does not provide protection against sexually transmitted diseases.” Its use also isn’t recommended with a diaphragm, cervical cap or intrauterine device. (Nor is this the first cup on the market.)

The padette, which measures about 2 inches by half an inch and could easily qualify as the world’s smallest sanitary napkin, is “held naturally and securely in place by [a woman’s] anatomy,” according to company spokeswoman.

Does this mean women will abandon their tampons (a $643.8-million annual U.S. industry, according to Information Resources Inc., a marketing research company) and pads and liners ($1.1 billion) for cups and teeny tiny pads?

Says Dr. William H. Parker, chief of obstetrics and gynecology at Santa Monica-UCLA Medical Center: “From what I’ve read I don’t see any health risks, but there is very little patient experience.”

Adds Michael Grant, an analyst with J.P. Morgan Securities: “It’s good there’s innovation, but I don’t think either company is big enough to battle it out.”