Press Releases 1999
Press Releases 1998

April 1999 Press Releases

4/14/99--Female Health Reports on Annual Meeting, UNAIDS Program and Names Two New... 4/8/99--The Female Health Company and UNAIDS Accelerate Female Condom Partnership 

FEMALE HEALTH REPORTS ON ANNUAL MEETING, UNAIDS PROGRAM AND NAMES TWO NEW DIRECTORS

CHICAGO, April 14, 1999--The Female Health Company (OTC Bulletin Board: FHCO - news) reported that shareholders voted to overwhelmingly approve the authorization of additional shares, elect directors and ratify the appointment of auditors at its annual shareholder meeting held on Friday, April 9, 1999.

Shareholders approved the three measures by significant margins. Of the total number of share oustanding 9,836,476, or 89%, voted to authorize an increase in the number of shares, 10,058,998, or 91% voted for the election of each of six Directors, and 10,272,429, or 93%, voted to ratify the appointment of McGladrey and Pullen as the Company's auditors.

The highlight of the annual meeting was a video presentation including testimonials from officials working with the Philadelphia Department of Health and UNAIDS. The video stressed the success of the current programmes and the importance of the Female Condom in the fight against HIV/AIDS, STDs, and as an alternative birth control device. In addition, the Company
discussed in detail its recently announced, expanded partnership with UNAIDS. The objective of this expansion is to accelerate the availability of the Female Condom to women in the developing world.

Mary Ann Leeper, Ph.D., President of The Female Health Company noted, ``Preliminary results from five recent studies show that when the Female Condom is available in developing countries, usage ranges from 20% to 30% of total condom usage.  The annual global public sector market for male condoms is estimated at approximately 1.7 billion units. Based on these
factors, the growing popularity of the Female Condom, and the continuing need for this type of product, it is possible the Company could attain sales of 200 million to 300 million units per year within three to five years. Through the operating personnel we have in place, the processes we have established and our partnership with UNAIDS, the future holds exciting potential for The Female Health Company.''

As noted in the proxy, the increase in authorized shares will be used primarily to access the Company's equity-based credit line to obtain capital to purchase raw materials to fill orders for the Female Condom.

The shareholders re-elected five directors and elected one new director. The directors re-elected were William R. Gargiulo, Jr., Stephen Dearholt, David Bethune, Mary Ann Leeper, Ph.D., and O.B. Parrish.

Mr. Michael R. Walton was elected as a new Outside Director. Mr. Walton is President and owner of The Sheboygan County Broadcasting Co., Inc., a Company he founded in 1972. In addition to financial assets, The Sheboygan County Broadcasting Co. owns four radio stations. The Company focuses on start-ups and increasing value of underperforming and undervalued businesses. It has purchased and sold properties in Wisconsin, Illinois and Michigan, and has grown to a multi-million dollar asset base from start-up capital of less than $100,000. Prior to 1972, Mr. Walton was owner and President of Walton Co., an advertising representative firm which he founded in New York City.

In addition, at a Board of Directors meeting held after the Annual Meeting, the Directors elected to expand the Board to seven members. As a result, the Board appointed Mr. James R. Kerber as an Outside Director of the Company to serve until the election of Directors at the next Annual Meeting of Shareholders. Mr. Kerber is currently a Business Consultant to the insurance industry. He has over 40 years experience in operating insurance companies, predominately those associated with life and health. From October 1994 until January 1996 he was Chairman, President, CEO and Director of 22 life and health insurance companies which comprised the ICH Group. In 1990, Mr. Kerber was founding partner in the Life Partners Group
where he was Senior Executive Vice President and a Director. Prior to that he was involved with operating and consolidating over 200 life and health companies for ICH Corporation, HCA Corporation and USLIFE Corporation.

With the appointment of James R. Kerber as a member of the Board of Directors the total number of Directors is seven with Outside Directors holding four or the majority of positions. With the addition of Messrs, Walton and Kerber to the Board, Directors and Executive Officers now own more than 25% of the Company's common stock.

The Female Health Company, based in Chicago, owns certain worldwide rights to the Female Condom including patents which have been issued in the United States, United Kingdom, Japan, France, Italy, Germany, Spain, The People's Republic of China, Canada, New Zealand, South Korea and Australia. The Female Condom is the only available product controlled by a woman that protects against sexually transmitted diseases including HIV/AIDS and unintended pregnancy.

``Safe Harbor'' Statement under the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995: The statements in this release which are not historical fact are forward-looking statements based upon the Company's current plans and strategies, and reflect the Company's current assessment of the risks and uncertainties related to its business, including such things as product demand and market acceptance; the economic and business environment and the impact of governmental regulations, both in the United States and abroad; the effects of competitive products and pricing pressures; currency risks; capacity; efficiency and supply constraints; and other risks detailed in the Company's press releases, shareholder communications and Securities and Exchange Commission filings. Actual events affecting the Company and the impact of such events on the Company's operations may vary from those currently anticipated.

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The Female Health Company and UNAIDS Accelerate
Female Condom Partnership

UNAIDS Urges Expanded Integration of the Female Condom into All Prevention Programmes

CHICAGO, April 8, 1999 The Female Health Company (OTC Bulletin Board: FHCO - news) today announced it is embarking on an expanded partnership with the Joint United Nations AIDS Programme (UNAIDS) to accelerate and expand the availability of the Female Condom in developing countries.

``The need to accelerate the partnership is based on the growing literature showing that the Female Condom is highly accepted by women and men and is extremely effective in preventing STDs, including HIV/AIDS,'' said Mary Ann Leeper, PhD,
President of The Female Health Company. ``In addition, new research supported by UNAIDS shows that the Female Condom is cost-effective in preventing HIV infections and STDs, and actually saves public health money when targeted at
populations at risk to HIV infection,'' Leeper said.

Since 1996, The Female Health Company and UNAIDS have collaborated through the establishment of a public sector price for the Female Condom. This pricing agreement has been instrumental in getting over 6 million Female Condoms into over 30 new countries where it is available either in clinics or small-scale development programmes. The Female Condom is in full distribution in 16 countries through both the private and public sector.

The Female Health Company, UNAIDS and other partners are working aggressively to develop programmes to accompany the expansion of the distribution of the Female Condom in most countries in the developing world and elsewhere.
``Under an accelerated plan, UNAIDS and The Female Health Company will work with National AIDS Programmes, international donors, and non-government organizations to expand access to the Female Condom and further the fight against
HIV/AIDS, especially in the most affected countries,'' said Sally Cowal, Deputy Director of UNAIDS.

The Female Condom and male latex condoms remain the only methods to prevent the sexual transmission of HIV/AIDS among sexually active people. Research indicates the addition of the Female Condom into prevention programmes reduces the number of unprotected sex acts and the incidence of STDs. Further, preliminary studies suggest that when the Female Condom is made available in addition to male condoms, Female Condoms account for 20-30% of total condom usage. This reflects its acceptance and the contribution it can make to preventing HIV/AIDS transmission.

``UNAIDS supports wider availability and accessibility to the Female Condom, and we will mobilize additional resources to make sure that the Female Condom is added to more programmes in the fight against HIV/AIDS,'' said Bunmi Makinwa,
programme communications adviser and focal person for male and female condoms at UNAIDS.

``Through the collaboration we have with The Female Health Company, we should have the Female Condom integrated into condom programming activities in most countries,'' Makinwa concluded.

Makinwa's comments are part of a video presentation that can be downloaded from the FHC web site.

The Female Health Company, based in Chicago, owns certain worldwide rights to The Female Condom including patents which have been issued in the United States, United Kingdom, Japan, France, Italy, Germany, Spain, The People's Republic
of China, Canada, New Zealand, South Korea and Australia. The Female Condom is the only available product controlled by a woman that protects against sexually transmitted diseases including HIV/AIDS and unintended pregnancy.

``Safe Harbor'' Statement under the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995: The statements in this release which are not historical fact are forward-looking statements based upon the Company's current plans and strategies, and reflect the Company's current assessment of the risks and uncertainties related to its business, including such things as product demand and market acceptance; the economic and business environment and the impact of governmental regulations, both in the United States and abroad; the effects of competitive products and pricing pressures; currency risks; capacity; efficiency and supply constraints; and other risks detailed in the Company's press releases, shareholder communications and Securities and Exchange Commission filings. Actual events affecting the Company and the impact of such events on the Company's operations may vary from those currently anticipated.

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