Although the female condom has been on the market for more than ten years, the supply and adoption of this device, which protects against both pregnancy and sexually transmitted infections, is still too low to have an impact on the AIDS epidemic. This publication, a follow up to the 2005 Global Consultation on the Female Condom, answers key questions about the female condom. It presents evidence about its effectiveness and impact, identifies challenges to wider use and suggests steps to strengthen condom programming worldwide.