Female Health Co. gets patent on improved condom for women

Female Health Co., a maker of condom devices for women, received a European patent on its second-generation product, the Chicago-based company said in a statement Nov. 12.

Applications for the technology are pending in the U.S. and Japan, and have been issued in Canada, Australia, China and South Africa, the company said.

The FC2 condom is the only product approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration controlled by a woman that offers protection against unwanted pregnancy and sexually transmitted diseases, including AIDS.

Female Health Co. received FDA approval for the product Oct. 1, and is available through two public-sector distributors and a Web site, www.fc2femalecondom.com, according to a company statement.