The Product FC female condoms is the designation referring to both the original FC1 female condom and the second generation FC2 female condom. FC1 and FC2 have been approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration for distribution in the United States. After review the World Health Organization recommended the products for purchase by U.N. Agencies. FC1 & FC2 have been studied in settings around the world.The World Health Organization (WHO) and the Joint United Nations Program on HIV/AIDS (UNAIDS) encourage the introduction of FC as a method of prevention and as an additional tool in efforts to respond to the needs of women and men regarding sexual and reproductive health.In their monograph The Female Condom:An Information Pack (1997), they concluded that;
"The public health rationale for introducing a method that provides protection against pregnancy and STI/HIV is clear. Globally, health and human rights advocates have been demanding that scientists develop fertility regulation methods that are safe and reversible, under the control of the user, not systemic in action, which protect the user against STIs and HIV, and do not need to be provided by a health service. The female condom comes closer to these requirements than any other family planning method."
Instructions for Using FC Female Condoms
FC female condoms may take some practice to get used to, but they are not difficult to use and have some advantages over a male condom. It is recommended that first-time users review the detailed instructions, insertion diagrams and Q & As and also take time to practice before actually using an FC female condom during sexual intercourse.
The following materials provide detailed instructions for insertion and disposal of FC female condom:
FC female condoms and the male condom are barrier methods that provide dual protection against pregnancy and STIs, including HIV/AIDS, and differ in the following ways:
A female condom and a male condom should not be used together as friction between the two can result in either product failing.
Male Condom
FC Female Condom
Rolled on the man?s penis
Inserted into the woman?s vagina
Fits on the penis
FC2 is made of nitrile and FC is made of polyurethane
Lubricant: Can include spermicide
Can be water-based only; cannot be oil-based
Located on the outside of condom
Lubricant: Can include spermicide
Can be water-based or oil-based
Located on the inside and outside of condom
Requires erect penis
Does not require erect penis
Condom must be put on an erect penis
Can be inserted prior to sexual intercourse, not dependent on erect penis
Must be removed immediately after ejaculation
Does not need to be removed immediately after ejaculation
Covers most of the penis and protects the woman?s internal genitalia.
Covers both the woman?s internal and external genitalia and the base of the penis, which provides broader protection.
Latex condoms can decay if not stored properly
Is not susceptible to deterioration from temperature or humidity.