FDA approves new female condom

When I was a teen (in the dark ages), the most women had to worry about if they were sexually active was getting pregnant or catching a treatable sexually transmitted disease (STD). Because of the pregnancy concern, the Pill was a major breakthrough for women, changing their lives.

Unfortunately, the world has changed significantly since the 70s. Now, sex without a barrier method of protection is like playing Russian Roulette. I don’t think we should even call barrier protection birth control. That’s a misnomer, in my mind. Those barriers are life-savers. They prevent the transmission of illnesses like HIV, which may develop into AIDS.

Of course, there’s also the age-old problem of some men not wanting to wear a condom. They don’t like it makes them feel, they say it takes away from the spur of the moment, the don’t like wearing them, and so on. In many cases, the women have no say and they give in.

Talk of a female condom has been around for years. But now the talk is a reality. Although an earlier version of the female condom has been around for a while, it had its critics. This one, the second generation is supposed to be less expensive and easy to use.

According to this press release issued by the Center for Health & Gender Equity (CHANGE):

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) granted regulatory approval to the FC2 female condom, a lower-cost, second generation product manufactured by the Female Health Company — a move widely praised by HIV/AIDS and women’s health and rights advocates globally.

“We join women around the world in applauding the FDA’s swift action to approve the FC2 female condom,” stated Serra Sippel, executive director of the Center for Health and Gender Equity. “The HIV pandemic among women requires increased investment in woman-centered prevention options, and FC2 approval is an important step forward in putting the power of prevention in women’s hands.”

Something like this can help women take charge of their lives; it can have a significant impact.

Every girl needs to know how to protect herself before she becomes sexually active. Hopefully, with new products like an affordable and easy-to-use condom, this will be easier to do.

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Images: Newscom.com