<SEC-DOCUMENT>0001042167-13-000078.txt : 20130510
<SEC-HEADER>0001042167-13-000078.hdr.sgml : 20130510
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20130510112935
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0001042167-13-000078
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	4
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20130508
FILED AS OF DATE:		20130510
DATE AS OF CHANGE:		20130510

ISSUER:		

	COMPANY DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			FEMALE HEALTH CO
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0000863894
		STANDARD INDUSTRIAL CLASSIFICATION:	FABRICATED RUBBER PRODUCTS, NEC [3060]
		IRS NUMBER:				391144397
		STATE OF INCORPORATION:			WI
		FISCAL YEAR END:			0930

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		515 NORTH STATE STREET
		STREET 2:		STE 2225
		CITY:			CHICAGO
		STATE:			IL
		ZIP:			60610
		BUSINESS PHONE:		3125959123

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		515 NORTH STATE STREET
		STREET 2:		SUITE 2225
		CITY:			CHICAGO
		STATE:			IL
		ZIP:			60610

	FORMER COMPANY:	
		FORMER CONFORMED NAME:	WISCONSIN PHARMACAL COMPANY INC
		DATE OF NAME CHANGE:	19920703

REPORTING-OWNER:	

	OWNER DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			BETHUNE DAVID R
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001212655

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		4
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	001-13602
		FILM NUMBER:		13831803

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		THE FEMALE HEALTH COMPANY
		STREET 2:		515 NORTH STATE STREET, SUITE 2225
		CITY:			CHICAGO
		STATE:			IL
		ZIP:			60610
</SEC-HEADER>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>4
<SEQUENCE>1
<FILENAME>primary_doc.xml
<DESCRIPTION>PRIMARY DOCUMENT
<TEXT>
<XML>
<?xml version="1.0"?>
<ownershipDocument>

    <schemaVersion>X0306</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2013-05-08</periodOfReport>

    <notSubjectToSection16>0</notSubjectToSection16>

    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0000863894</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>FEMALE HEALTH CO</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>FHCO</issuerTradingSymbol>
    </issuer>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001212655</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>BETHUNE DAVID R</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>THE FEMALE HEALTH COMPANY</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2>515 NORTH STATE STREET, SUITE 2225</rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>CHICAGO</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>IL</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>60654</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>1</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>0</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <nonDerivativeTable>
        <nonDerivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common Stock, par value $.01 per share</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2013-05-08</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>M</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionTimeliness>
                <value></value>
            </transactionTimeliness>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>6250</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>3.92</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>A</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>183665</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeTransaction>
        <nonDerivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common Stock, par value $.01 per share</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2013-05-08</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>F</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
                <footnoteId id="F1"/>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionTimeliness>
                <value></value>
            </transactionTimeliness>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>3032</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>8.08</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>D</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>180633</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeTransaction>
    </nonDerivativeTable>

    <derivativeTable>
        <derivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common Stock Option</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <conversionOrExercisePrice>
                <value>3.92</value>
            </conversionOrExercisePrice>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2013-05-08</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>M</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionTimeliness>
                <value></value>
            </transactionTimeliness>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>6250</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>0</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>D</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <exerciseDate>
                <value>2009-06-29</value>
                <footnoteId id="F2"/>
            </exerciseDate>
            <expirationDate>
                <value>2019-06-29</value>
            </expirationDate>
            <underlyingSecurity>
                <underlyingSecurityTitle>
                    <value>Common Stock</value>
                </underlyingSecurityTitle>
                <underlyingSecurityShares>
                    <value>6250</value>
                </underlyingSecurityShares>
            </underlyingSecurity>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>0</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </derivativeTransaction>
    </derivativeTable>

    <footnotes>
        <footnote id="F1">Pursuant to a cashless option exercise program, the reporting person surrendered to The Female Health Company (&quot;FHCO&quot;) the requisite number of shares subject to the option to pay the exercise price based on the market price of FHCO common stock on the trading day immediately preceding the date of exercise which was $8.08 per share.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F2">Options for one thirty-sixth of the shares vest on the 29th of each month for the 36-month period commencing on June 29, 2009 and ending on May 29, 2012.</footnote>
    </footnotes>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>/s/ James M. Bedore, Attorney-in-fact</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2013-05-10</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>
</XML>
</TEXT>
</DOCUMENT>
</SEC-DOCUMENT>
