COUPLES are being asked to come forward to test brand-new top-secret condoms.

The Chiltern Research Unit has launched a county-wide search to find 100 heterosexual couples to try the contraception -- and will even pay expenses.

The revolutionary new condom can be used by a man or woman.

Chiltern Research Unit, a Stoke Poges-based medical market research company, is carrying out the tests for an unnamed pharmaceutical company.

It has placed adverts in the Bucks Free Press and other media asking for willing partners to take part in the trials.

Dr Chris Kirkpatrick, of Phase One Pharmaceuticals, which is carrying out the studies on behalf of Chiltern Research, said: "It is a new type of condom and we are doing a user-acceptability test on it.

"We advertised for couples in an established heterosexual relationship to use these over a period of a couple of weeks. They make a diary card giving details of how they found the device.

"Everyone that takes part must be using another form of contraception. We do not want a risk of pregnancy."

Dr Kirkpatrick said he could not describe the new condoms, but confirmed: "It is a device that can be used either by the male partner or the female partner."

He added that the company, which has been established since the early 1980s, has carried out similar research before and had not experienced any difficulty in recruiting volunteers.

He said: "It's not a big problem. People are quite willing to get involved."

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