|
 Opinion Safe Sex: A Trojan Test Drive with Feminine Elexa Line
By Tango Diva
No more looking over your shoulder while shopping for condoms in the first-aid aisle. The makers of Trojan brand condoms have unveiled their newest line of sexual well-being products, said to be created from a woman’s perspective, and designed to help women realize more fulfilling sex lives.
Is this a step in the right direction for female sexual ownership, or just a marketing ploy to put a feminine face on a product with typically testosterone-pumped advertising? One of Tango Diva’s very own Jetsetters takes Trojan’s new Elexa line out for a spin and gives you all the dirty details.
Last fall, Trojan, one of the primary providers of prophylactics and sexual health products in North America, introduced a unique product line for women everywhere. Elexa is said to be a unique set of sexual well-being products found in the feminine care aisle of retailers nationwide.
Elexa is newsworthy because the product line makes an effort to challenge an advertising world with a traditionally testosterone-pumped market scheme. The commercial sexual-health industry is so dominated by overly masculine imagery and symbols that it can be argued that women today are alienated from the providers of their protection. Trojan’s hope is that through the Elexa line, women will be able to enjoy more intimate and satisfying sexual experiences, and will realize that their long-term health is dependent on practicing responsible, safer sex.
According to researchers at non-profit healthcare agency Planned Parenthood, women account for roughly half of all sexually transmitted infections that occur each year. However, these women tend to suffer more frequent and severe long-term consequences than men.
Historically, women have been incorrectly stigmatized as “carriers” of STDs when in reality, it is more difficult for a women to pass on a genital infection, such as HIV, to a man than it is for a man to pass on the same infection to a women. Statistics show that a woman’s risk of contracting gonorrhea from having sex one time may be as high as sixty to ninety percent, while transmission of gonorrhea from a women to a man is about twenty to thirty percent. In addition to protecting both partners from STDs, condoms are an effective, inexpensive form of birth control. All of these statistics are good reasons for handing women the reigns to their own sexual health.
Before trying the Elexa products for myself, I took a trial kit to an all-female dinner party to gauge the response of a diverse group of women at various ages, of differing sexualities, and in different relationship statuses. Desert seemed as good a time as any to unveil my party gifts, but I wasn’t sure if my friends were more excited about the sex toys or the chocolate cake.
The majority of the women swiftly dismissed the condoms as old news and gravitated towards the lubes, freshening cloths, and vibrating rings. Only a few of us took condoms home in our purses and I felt oddly bashful about doing so. Simply wrapping condoms in feminine packaging does not immediately reverse the stigma that may come with being a single woman on a Friday night, out with a purse full of prophylactics. However, I will admit that I liked the look of the Elexa condoms tucked away in my purse when I went out later that evening. In a way, however subtle, the glittery packaging somehow made carrying protection sexy again.
It wasn’t long before the vibrating ring was unwrapped, switched on, and passed around the room. The small, peach-colored device can be used with or without a condom, during sex, or on one’s own. When pressed against the palm the intensity of the vibration is surprising, and a few of the quieter guests blushed and admitted to wanting one of Elexa’s rings for their own bedrooms. Ultimately, this product attracted the most interest, and got a wink and a nod from my ad-hoc focus group.
Considering the statistics and the actions of my fellow dinner guests, I believe that an effort to get women to use protection even when they are in committed relationships should be at the forefront of Elexa’s mission to improve female sexual health. Once impressions about relationships and sexual health change, women will be less uncomfortable about asking their partners to wear condoms, even when they are committed and monogamous.
Granted, providing successful sexual well-being products specifically for women doesn’t stop at the wrapper. A product advertised as “for women, by women” shouldn’t overlook the functionality of the product itself. Elexa can take further steps towards leading women to more empowering sex lives by adding other products to their arsenal. Female condoms, for example.
Female condoms can be worn up to eight hours before sex and, when used correctly, are as effective as male condoms. Women don’t have to worry about convincing their partner to wear them, and because they can be inserted well before sex, partners don’t have to worry about killing the mood when it’s time to get busy. Some proponents of female condoms swear that while they do not compare with sex without a condom, they offer more stimulation to both partners than male condoms do.
Perhaps the answer to protecting women from unwanted pregnancy and the devastating effects of STDs is cutting out the middle-man, so to speak. If women can don protection themselves, regardless of whether or not their partners want to practice safe sex, then they can be fully empowered. In turn, this freedom to take sexual health into our own hands will allow us to realize a more fulfilling sex life.
In my own arena, I found Elexa to be a breath of fresh air. The reusable “vibrating ring” was new to me, and quite fun. It’s moderately powerful, reusable, and you don’t need to have a partner to enjoy it. The best part about this little toy is that women have access to it without having to comb through the unspeakable number of vibrators at their local adult superstore.
Elexa also offers a lube that heats up on contact with the skin. For those who enjoy extra lubricant, Elexa’s intimacy gel adds a slight warming sensation wherever you apply it. It can be a jumpstart in the bedroom and can be enjoyed during foreplay or sex. I thought that the idea was right on, but the quantity of gel in each package only allows a couple to enjoy about one or two rounds before it runs out. If you like this stuff, I suggest picking up more that one box.
Finally, Elexa’s freshening cloths are an innovative and much-needed addition. They are compact, mild scented, and are great for après-sex clean up. The moist towels can be a lifesaver during a date, and I suggest keeping a few in your purse to use for coffee emergencies or after messy meals.
Overall, I found Elexa to be a bold step in the right direction. It’s finally time for women to claim their sexuality and although there is some room for improvement, but it’s a start. Interested in Elexa?
Log onto for more details: www.elexabytrojan.com.
|
