VenusGuard

Do you remember in the early 2000s, when South African doctor Sonette Ehlers invented Rape-aXe? She spent 40 years developing the anti-rape condom in hopes to provide women with a means of self-defense and perpetrator identification in high-risk environments. Preparing this post today, I learned that she was not the first to attempt it. From Wiki:

Jaap Haumann

An early prototypical anti-rape female tampon was invented in late 2000 by Jaap Haumann, a South African man, for the purpose of preventing rape.^[5] Haumann’s device was designed to resemble a tampon for ease of insertion, and consisted of a hard cylindrical plastic core containing a tensioned spring blade primed to slice when pressed against by the tip of a penis. Following activation, a portion of the tip of the penis would be removed, in effect performing a minor penectomy.

Rape-aXe

An anti-rape female condom using a different design was invented by Sonette Ehlers [Wikidata], a South African doctor.^[6] Ehlers was motivated to create it while working as a blood technician with the South African Blood Transfusion Service, during which time she met many rape victims. Ehlers mentioned that she was inspired to create RAPEX (later renamed to Rape-aXe) when a patient who had been raped stated, “If only I had teeth down there,”^[7] suggesting the myth of the vagina dentata. Initially called RapeX, the name was changed in 2006 upon discovering that RAPEX is also an EU warning system against dangerous goods on the market.

The Rape-aXe is a latex sheath embedded with shafts of sharp, inward-facing barbs that would be worn by a woman in her vagina like a female condom. If an attacker were to attempt vaginal rape, his penis would enter the latex sheath and be snagged by the barbs, causing the attacker excruciating pain during withdrawal and giving the victim time to escape. The condom would remain attached to the attacker’s body when he withdrew and could only be removed surgically,^[8] which would alert hospital staff and police. Like most condoms, Rape-aXe also usually prevents pregnancy and the transmission of HIV and sexually transmitted infections.

Rape-aXe was unveiled on August 31, 2005, in South Africa. There have been objections to Ehlers’ invention, describing it as “vengeful, horrible, and disgusting” and its planned sale in pharmacies has been opposed.^[9][10] Concerns were raised that use of the device could possibly enrage an attacker and further jeopardize the victim.^[11] Ehlers responded saying that “many women have been killed over time, as nobody can guarantee the outcome of any rape” and that the pain caused from Rape-aXe will temporarily disable the attacker, giving the victim time to get away.

Although media coverage at the time implied that mass production was due to begin in April 2007,^[12] the device has never been marketed to the public and it remains unclear whether the product will ever be available for purchase.

Today, VenusGuard is on the scene, and trying to bring that product to market. They are currently fundraising.

If you would like to see this much needed product come to market like I do, you t0o can donate, like I did. Here is the link. Don’t be surprised if it does come to market, that men will legislate to ban it. But for now, let’s get this thing out there, doing what it was made to do!

In the United States, nearly 1 in 6 women and 1 in 71 men have experienced attempted or completed rape in their lifetime. About 127,527 rape cases were reported in 2024, with roughly 60% of cases committed by acquaintances, not strangers. Most victims are under 30, and only a small percentage of cases result in conviction. 

Key U.S. Statistics (via RAINN)

• Frequency: A sexual assault occurs in the U.S. roughly every 68 seconds.
• Perpetrator Relationship: 80-85% of sexual assaults are committed by someone known to the victim (acquaintance, intimate partner, or family member).
• Victim Demographics: Over 90% of victims are female; 54% of victims are aged 18–34.
• Reporting Rates: Only about 25% to 40% of sexual assaults are reported to the police, according to different studies. 

Key Data Points

• Lifetime Impact: Nearly 1 in 5 women (18.3%) and 1 in 71 men (1.4%) have experienced rape.
• Age Factor: 79.6% of female victims experienced their first rape before age 25.
• Child Victimization: Approximately 63,000 children are victims of sexual abuse per year, with 34% of victims under age 12.
• Conviction Rate: Only 2% of rapists are convicted and imprisoned.
• Legal Outcomes: Average sentence for sexual abuse offenders is 178 months (roughly 15 years), with 54.9% sentenced within the guidelines. 

Global Context

• A UN report indicated over 250,000 cases of rape or attempted rape are recorded by police annually across 65 countries.
• Globally, 1 in 3 women has experienced physical or sexual violence in their lifetime. 

Resources
For confidential support, contact the National Sexual Assault Hotline at 800-656-HOPE or visit RAINN.