CHICAGO, July 10 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- The Female Health Company (OTC:FHCO) (BULLETIN BOARD: FHCO) announced it has received orders for over 8.5 million FC female condoms to date for delivery in calendar year 2006 from USAID, The United States Agency for International Development. Under an existing agreement between USAID and FHC, USAID has exercised a contract option allowing for procurement of up to 6 million FC female condom units within a calendar year. FHC has now received USAID orders totaling over 8.5 million units for calendar 2006. To date in calendar 2006, FHC has shipped 1,144,000 units for USAID. For many years, USAID has been among the largest international donors of contraceptives and condoms. The Agency developed an operational plan for its HIV/AIDS "expanded response" strategy which includes a Commodity Fund to centrally finance male and female condoms for HIV/AIDS programs and to ensure their expedited delivery to countries. The Commodity Fund began in 2002. In September 2003, a centrally funded female condom contract was awarded to The Female Health Company. USAID provides condoms to Missions for HIV/AIDS prevention as part of the Commodity Fund. O. B. Parrish, Chairman and CEO of FHC praised USAID actions stating, "In increasing FC female condom procurement in 2006, USAID is demonstrating its commitment to supporting HIV/AIDS prevention efforts around the World. This commitment is particularly critical as the Global Community recognizes the increasing numbers of females affected by AIDS." UNAIDS reports that worldwide, 17.3 million women aged 15 years and older are now living with HIV. The Global Coalition on Women and AIDS, a UNAIDS Initiative, is calling for more money in AIDS programs that work for women including closing the funding gap for the female condom and microbicides development. The Female Health Company, based in Chicago, owns certain worldwide rights to FC Female Condom(TM) 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. FC Female Condom(TM) is the only available FDA approved product controlled by a woman that helps to protect against sexually transmitted diseases including HIV/AIDS, and unintended pregnancy. "Safe Harbor" statement under the Private Securities Litigation Reform Action of 1995: The statements in this release which are not historical fact are forward-looking statements based upon the Company's current plan 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 government pressures; currency risks; capacity; efficiency and supply constraints; and other risks detailed in the Company's press releases, shareholder communication 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. For more information about the Female Health Company, dial toll-free via fax, 1-800-PRO-INFO and enter company code "FHCO". Also, visit the Company's web site at http://www.femalehealth.com/ and http://www.femalecondom.org/ . If you would like to be added to an e-mail alert list, please send an e-mail to . DATASOURCE: The Female Health Company CONTACT: Investors, William R. Gargiulo, Jr., +1-231-526-1244, or Donna Felch, +1-312-595-9742, or Business-Product, Karen King, +1-312-595-9123, all of The Female Health Company Web site: http://www.femalehealth.com/ http://www.femalecondom.org/

Copyright