[Female condom: a possibility for autonomy in HIV-positive women]

In this article, the authors report an experience developed in the Specialized Care Sevice on STD/AIDS from Porto Alegre, where one of them works. It approaches adult women, emphasizing sexuality, reproduction and vulnerability concerning STDs, mainly HIV infection. The methodology used is a data survey starting from the return to the service in order to receive female condoms within one year. Subjects are HIV-positive women linked to the service. Results show that the use of this method is incipient and that its adoption demands a change in behaviour from women already in an early stage of their development, prior to adult age, and that there is a huge importance of raising awareness among professionals, either in Education or Health fields.