The FINANCIAL — Georgia imported 33.2 tons of condoms in the first three quarters of 2013, which is 3.2 tons more than the figures of the same period of last year.
The total amount of investment in import increased from USD 547,500 to USD 696,600 in the nine months of 2013 compared to the same period of 2012. The number of imported condoms was 33.2 tons in the three quarters of the current year, while in 2012 it was 30 tons. The number of imported condoms was 14.5 tons in 2011.
Condoms are imported mainly from Germany, China, Armenia, Russia, Turkey, the USA, France and Malaysia.
Minimizing the risks of spreading sexually transmitted diseases is the main reason for using condoms among the majority (55%) of male respondents (out of 50) interviewed by The FINANCIAL. Meanwhile only 4% of respondents had never experienced sexual intercourse without a condom. Acknowledging the health history of a potential partner with a medical certificate is still an absurd prospect for 89% of respondents.
Only 12% of respondents welcome the decision to present a medical certificate, even if they have never demanded it from their partners. Many males (50%) not only denied the importance of health certificates but also added that they consider the prospect to be humiliating.
Quality is the main criteria when choosing a condom, according to the results.
Condoms are sold at all the main supermarkets and pharmacies. Their price varies from USD 0.5 to USD 3 per piece. Chinese condoms are the cheapest and cost GEL 0.5 per piece.
In December 2012, a group of Georgian lawmakers initiated unprecedented changes making some kinds of condoms illegal. Namely, those which according to the initiators enhance sexual pleasure. According to the proposed amendments only the sales of classic condoms could be legal.
The discussions at Parliament did not find a final resolution and the issue was closed.
Issues related to the use of condoms are tabooed even at pharmacy companies. Three pharmacy companies contacted by The FINANCIAL said they didn’t want to comment because of the unpopularity of the theme.
The PR manager of one of the leading pharmacy companies told The FINANCIAL that she feels uncomfortable requesting condom sales figures from the department of logistics.
In terms of how Georgians have started spending less during the last two years, saving on condom spending is not included in the list. In general, an economic downturn is the bestselling period for leading condom producing companies. This is due to the fact that many couples are taking more precautions because they cannot risk the financial burden of more children.
“A condom is a means of contraception. Besides its function as a barrier device it reduces the spread of sexually transmitted diseases. It is the most widespread contraceptive among Georgians,” Archil Khomasuridze, head of the Obstetrics and Gynaecology division at Tbilisi State Medical University, told The FINANCIAL.
Khomasuridze said that out of the various sorts of contraceptives, prices of condoms in Georgia are high. “They are sold by pharmaceutical shops, so the companies list high prices for the condoms the same as they do for every other medicament.”
Khomasuridze said that using contraceptives has reduced the number of abortions conducted in the country and most abortionists have lost their jobs and main source of income. “Doing abortions is no longer a profitable business in Georgia. Gynaecology used to be a very competitive profession as people made lots of money from doing abortions. However, the Zhordania Institute has already refused to perform abortions and I think that in three years’ time there will be no more abortions being done in Georgia,” he added.
Abortion is allowed by Georgian law during the first twelve weeks of pregnancy.
According to the Centers for Disease Control (CDC), since 1973 roughly 50 million legal induced abortions have been performed in the United States. Worldwide, there have been over 1,260,000,000 abortions performed.
A ‘mini abortion’ costs GEL 100 in Georgia. As for a ‘medication abortion’, it costs GEL 147. Through the use of a drug, a medication abortion first causes the pregnancy to terminate and then causes the uterus to expel the products of conception.
In 2013 it was reported that the Levan Samkharauli National Forensics Bureau in Tbilisi issues virginity certificates based on the accurate examination of a patient. The cost of such a certificate is GEL 175, according to Imedi TV.
Surgical restoration of the hymen, which is known in medicine as a hymenoplasty, costs GEL 800 at Medi Clinic.
