China Daily is reporting the first liquid condom product went on sale today after China’s health and
drugs administration formally gave the liquid prophylactic the
thumbs-up.

Its being called the Nanometer-silver Cryptomorphic Condom and is designed
for female rather than male usage. The condom-in-a-can is essentially
an antiseptic foam spray that the manufacturer claims forms a physical
membrane inside the vagina, protecting it from infection, acting as a
barrier to pregnancy and providing a lubricating effect.

It’s not known who makes the NCC, but Beijing-based Chinese-Canadian
condom maker Blue Cross Biomedical has been touting something along
these lines for a while now. It maintains its spray-in condom "can
effectively kill gynaecological disease pathogens such as
staphylococcus aureus, Candida, coliform bacillus, and can prevent
sexually transmitted diseases.

"It can remain in the vagina for a long time without destroying the
vagina’s chemical balance," the company adds. "Daily use of this
product can help maintain genital hygiene and prevent infection by
pathogens".

The condom’s antibacterial properties presumably arise from the
nano-particles of silver incorporated into the spray. Or do they? In
South Korea last week, the Korea Consumer Protection Board (KCPB)
lambasted local washing machine vendors for claiming their products,
which are coated internally – not unlike… – with a nano-silver spray,
kill 99.9 per cent of germs in the wash.

Not quite, said the KCPB – it’s the hot washing water that’s killing the bacteria, not the coating.

And, judging by the photo, we can’t help thinking at least some customers will find applying
the product more stimulating that actually putting it through its
paces. Making whether it actually works or not a somewhat moot point.