Female condoms

CBAS does not manufacture or distribute products; we provide descriptions of these products and information about their availability in this section. CBAS does not provide medical advice and we encourage you to speak with your health care provider about which methods are right for you.

The Female Health Company is the sole manufacturer of the FC Female Condom®. The FC Female Condom® is a safe and effective female-initiated option for both contraception and HIV/STI prevention. The FC Female Condom is a barrier device designed to protect the cervix, vagina, and part of the vulva and perineum. It is highly acceptable to some women and men, and offers good protection against both HIV and other STIs. For more information on the FC Female Condom,® visit www.femalecondom.org.

FC Female Condom®

Female Health Company
The FC Female Condom® (formerly known as Reality in the U.S.) uses a soft, flexible, polyurethane sheath to line the vagina. The sheath is strong but very thin, and each end of the sheath is anchored by a firm, flexible ring. An attached ring on the outer end holds the opening of the sheath outside of the vagina, and a free-floating inner ring aids insertion and holds the device in place during intercourse. The FC Female Condom® comes in only one size. It is available in the United States and in over 100 countries throughout the world.

In March of 2009, the FDA approved a new version of the Female Health Company's female condom—the FC2. The FC2 is made of synthetic rubber and its design is the same as the original female condom. This second generation product has shown in trials to perform statistically similarly to the first generation FC Female Condom but will be available at a much lower cost. The UNFPA has begun procuring these for use in developing countries, and they should be available in the United States very soon.

Other female condom products are currently being developed, but none of these have been approved for use as either contraceptives or HIV/STIs prevention methods.