WASHINGTON, D.C. - The U.S. Food and Drug Administration gave its stamp of approval Wednesday to the second-generation female condom from The Female Health Co.
The FC2 is similar in design to its predecessor, but is manufactured from a synthetic rubber called nitrile.
In addition to the new material, the FC2 boasts a new price point; nitrile is less expensive, meaning the FC2 will cost about 30 percent less. The FC1, which was approved by the FDA in 1993, costs between $2.80 and $4 each.
With the approval of the FDA, the U.S. Agency for International Development will now start distributing the female condoms globally through HIV/AIDS programs.
The Female Health Co., based in Chicago, markets the female condom as the only birth-control method designed for woman that provides dual protection against pregnancy and STDs.
For more information, visit FemaleHealth.com.
