WASHINGTON, D.C.—After receiving the go-ahead from the FDA in March, the new female condom is now on U.S. shelves and is earning high praises from women.
Sexuality rights activist Audacia Ray recently explained in a post on Akimbo that since the newer version of the FC is made from nitrile as opposed to polyurethane, it is thinner, more flexible and less squeaky than the original version. (The squeaking noise was a major complaint against the initial version.)
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.
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.
