S.F. Distributes Female Condoms to Gay Men

On Valentine's Day, San Francisco became the first city in the U.S. to distribute free female condoms to gay men, KGO News reports.

The condoms, handed out at City Hall and other public places Monday, were courtesy of the San Francisco health department. They are made of nitrile, a material typically found in protective gloves.

The female condoms, marketed under the name FC2, have been approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration only for use in heterosexual sex. However, the FDA may consider approving them for gay men as well, according to the health department, which said they could be a better option than traditional condoms for preventing the spread of HIV.

Soon, local buses will show advertisements promoting the use of female condoms for both women and gay men.