South African doctor invents female condoms with 'teeth' to fight rape

CNN ^ | June 20, 2010 | Faith Karimi

[DogByte6RER]

South African doctor invents female condoms with 'teeth' to fight rape

Dr. Sonnet Ehlers shows a spiked female condom, whose hooks she says stick on a man during rape.

(CNN) -- South African Dr. Sonnet Ehlers was on call one night four decades ago when a devastated rape victim walked in. Her eyes were lifeless; she was like a breathing corpse.

"She looked at me and said, 'If only had teeth down there,'" recalled Ehlers, who was a 20-year-old medical researcher at the time. "I promised her I'd do something to help people like her one day."

Forty years later, Rape-aXe was born.

Ehlers is distributing the female condoms in the various South African cities where the World Cup soccer games are taking place.

The woman inserts the latex condom like a tampon. Jagged rows of teeth-like hooks line its inside and attach on a man's penis during penetration, Ehlers said.

Once it lodges, only a doctor can remove it -- a procedure Ehlers hopes will be done with authorities on standby to make an arrest.

"It hurts, he cannot pee and walk when it's on," she said. "If he tries to remove it, it will clasp even tighter... however, it doesn't break the skin, and there's no danger of fluid exposure."

Ehlers said she sold her house and car to launch the project, and she planned to distribute 30,000 free devices under supervision during the World Cup period.

"I consulted engineers, gynecologists and psychologists to help in the design and make sure it was safe," she said.

[DogByte6RER]

Rapists beware ...

[tet68]

And the wrath of a woman scorned?
I shudder to think of it.

[LucyT]

Where can I send a financial donation to her?

[wastedyears]

Ehlers said she sold her house and car to launch the project, and she planned to distribute 30,000 free devices under supervision during the World Cup period.

Noble but very costly effort.

[YouPosting2Me]

Watch out B. Clinton...

[Past Your Eyes]

Does Lorena Bobbit know about this?

[piasa]

If she’s got a design that will fit a goat we may catch Osama yet...

[shibumi]

Am I reading too much into this, or is it a tort lawyer’s (wet) dream come true?

[I see my hands]

Rape turns into murder.

[JustaDumbBlonde]

Brushing and flossing should be interesting ...

[Larry Lucido]

I still think a .357 is a better deterrent, but whatever.

[gov_bean_ counter]

Like McGruff used to say...

Take a bite out of crime!

[tet68]

Brushing and flossing ????

Are you sure you have the right thread??

I can however see these fetching quite a price
from the “bitches” in prison.

Surprise!

[tet68]

Oh, I get it, teeth. haha.

[gov_bean_ counter]

Reminds me of a crude joke I heard many years ago about a king, a queen, a miniature guillotine and a mute...

[JustaDumbBlonde]

"Are you sure you have the right thread??"

Yep. Teeth ... brushing ... flossing

I was responding to the title only ... a long-standing tradition on FR that I am proud to honor.

[tet68]

Bill Clinton has been closemouthed lately...

[Think free or die]

Good for her. I hope it helps the women of South Africa and elsewhere.

[battousai]

Can you imagine if she tried this any where in the west, fat chance she would ever get to sell it once all the ACLU types were through with her. Sometimes justice is swifter in the 3rd world.

Here's hoping many rapists DO try and remove these themselves... should solve the problem of repeat offences :)

[DirtyHarryY2K]

LMAO

[Salamander]

Did somebody mention a "toothed rape deterrent"?

Features rapid automatic deployment.

Reusable.

Eco-friendly.

What's not to love?

[Salamander]

“’If only I had teeth down there,’”

Freud wept.

[hinckley buzzard]

Vagina dentata.

[Salamander]

Um, yes, that *was* the ~subtle~ reference I was making....LOL

[apillar]

"It hurts, he cannot pee and walk when it's on," she said. "If he tries to remove it, it will clasp even tighter... however, it doesn't break the skin, and there's no danger of fluid exposure."

Unless, its made of carbon nanotubes I SERIOUSLY doubt the claim that it can't be removed. By the look of it, its heavy latex. Cut off the end with a pair of wire cutters, then work the cutters up the length, then unfold it like a banana peal.

I would stick to a .44 Magnum for rape prevention...

[4buttons]

I think I know the woman she got the idea from...

[gnarledmaw]

It hurts, he cannot pee and walk when it's on..."

...I try not to do those things at the same time even without wearing one. Is peeing while walking common in Africa?

[llevrok]

Boy! Did This Date Go Wrong - ping

[Jeff Chandler]

[Slings and Arrows]

There are more effective rape deterrants.

[Amberdawn]

HA HA HA HA HA-I agree! Just the thought of these things makes me SMILE.

[metmom]

Excellent......

[BykrBayb]

That’s it. I don’t need to read anything else today.

[patriot08]

Wonderful invention.

[Habibi]

I sure hope folks remember to remove this upon returning home.

Perhaps it should start with a warning along the lines of,

“Caution! This equipment is not meant for domestic household use.....”

Perhaps it should have some sort of safety interlock system so it isn’t “accidentally” used. The person that invented this is inviting all sorts of potential lawsuits. Pain and suffering and loss of consortium are but a few of the items she is opening herself up to.

Nah. A concealed carry permit is elegant, and much safer in the long run.

[dfwgator]

Reminds me of a crude joke I heard many years ago about a king, a queen, a miniature guillotine and a mute...

Yep.

[MayflowerMadam]

Love it! It’ll be like concealed carry for weapons. A man will never know who is “equipped” with the item, and who isn’t, so may think twice before taking a chance.

[Jotmo]

Someone's been reading Julian May.