WHO approves China-made female condom

A condom for females, produced by a Chinese company, has been approved by the World Health Organization and the United Nations Population Fund, allowing worldwide distribution of another safe and effective form of contraception.

The prequalification of the condom's safety and quality marks a critical step forward in expanding options for women seeking to protect themselves from pregnancy and sexually transmitted disease, including HIV/AIDS, developers said.

In 2014, there were 2 million new HIV infections globally, according to the WHO. Women account for slightly more than half of all people living with HIV in low- and middle-income countries.