| CONDOMS
AND THE ANCIENT EGYPTIANS
The condom can be traced back over 3000
years to when the ancient Egyptians used what was probably a condom
made from linen. It is unclear however, for what purpose the condom was
worn, whether for sexual or ritualistic reasons or maybe both.
HOW DO WE KNOW?
The earliest evidence of condoms comes
from paintings in caves in Combarelles, France..
WHO FIRST SPOKE ABOUT CONDOMS?
The first recognised public description
of condoms was during the 16th century when there was a syphilis
epidemic throughout Europe. Gabrielle Fallopius in Italy, advocated the
use of linen condoms - which he claimed to have invented - to protect
against the disease. He noted that linen condoms prepared with herbs and
salts prevented the spread of disease.
Later during the 1500's an
advancement was made to the condoms which was an early form of spermicide.
They would soak the condoms in a chemical solution and dry them.
CONDOMS IN THE 17th CENTURY
The first condoms physically found, were
in the foundations of Dudley Castle in England. The condoms dated
back to about 1640 and were made from the intestines of animals and fish.
It is believed they may have been worn by soldiers to prevent sexual
disease during England's civil war led by Oliver Cromwell in 1642.
CONDOMS IN THE 18th CENTURY
During the 1700's, condoms made from
animal intestines continued to be used but were quite expensive so were
often re-used. The infamous lover 'Casanover' was known to have used
condoms to stop infection and pregnancy.
In the early part of the century Mrs
Phillips, a London brother keeper was the first person to start making and
selling condoms on a professional basis. By the end of the century shops
in London were openly selling condoms and it was becoming a thriving
business.
The technical advancements of the 19th
century saw changes made to the manufacture of condoms. The
vulcanisation of rubber was discovered by Charles Goodyear. This turned
rubber into a strong elastic material. In 1844 condoms made from rubber
were being mass produced which was when the term 'rubbers' was first used.
In America in 1873 The Comstock Law was
passed. It was part of a campaign for legislating public morality in the
United States. The Comstock Law was meant to stop trade in obscene
literature and immoral articles such as condoms. You couldn't give
information on sexually transmitted diseases and was used to prosecute
those who distributed information or devices for birth control.
It also allowed the postal service to confiscate condoms and other items
sold through the post
CONDOMS AND THE 20th CENTURY
Until the 1920's most
condoms were made by hand dipping from rubber cement. Then in 1919
Frederick Killian from Ohio USA discovered Latex. He found that by hand
dipping them from natural rubber latex meant they didn't age as quickly,
they were easier to mass produce and they were thinner and odourless.
During the mid 1900s lubrication
was added to the condoms and was launched in the UK in 1957 by Durex, a
famous manufacturer of condoms.
In the early part of the 20th century
the American social hygiene association fought to stop condom use. They
believed that if someone put themselves into a situation where they caught
sexual diseases they deserved the consequences. During the First World War
the American servicemen in Europe were denied the use of condoms and those
troops had the highest rates of sexually transmitted diseases.
During the sexual revolution in the
1960's the use of the condom declined due to other forms of
contraception such as the pill and the coil. Their popularity rose again
however, during the 1980's when HIV and Aids was recognised. People
started to realise once again that condoms protected against disease as
well as pregnancy which other forms of protection didn't. Condoms started
to be sold everywhere such as clubs, pubs and even the local supermarket.
In the 1990's the female condom
was introduced to Europe but has been nowhere as popular as the male
condom. The rest of the decade saw the introduction of
delay ejaculation condoms, coloured condoms,
flavoured condoms, even
glow in the dark condoms.
CONDOMS NOW
Due to even more advanced technology you
can now buy condoms in different shapes and sizes. They are getting
thinner and more comfortable to wear, and the lubrication used has also
improved.
Condoms are even made especially for girls in pretty
colours and cases.
WHY IS IT CALLED A CONDOM?
There are disagreements about how the
condom got its name. It may get its name from the physician of
Charles II of England, Dr Condom or Quondam, who made the King sheaths of
animal gut.
They were intended to stop the King
fathering illegitimate children or catching sexually transmitted diseases
from prostitutes. It is probably more likely the word condom comes from
the Latin, Condus, meaning receptacle.
CONDOM SAFETY
Although condoms are not fail proof,
studies have shown that if a condom is properly used every single time you
have sex, it is highly effective against unwanted pregnancy and catching
sexually transmitted diseases. Studies have shown that the main
reason a condom may 'fail' is if it has been used incorrectly rather than
a fault with the condom itself.
Use condoms EVERY time you have sex
and ALWAYS use a new one.
Use the condom as soon as an erection
starts. Do not allow any sexual contact before the condom has been
applied correctly.
Ensure you learn how to apply a condom
properly. Read the instructions supplied with the condoms very
carefully.
Use plenty of lubrication with your
condom. Only use water based lubricants on latex condoms as oil
based lubricants damage the latex.
Condoms can be torn so take care
not to damage them with long fingernails or teeth. Condoms can also be
damaged when exposed to too much heat or sunlight or by age.
After ejaculation remove the
condom carefully to ensure it doesn't fall off during withdrawal.
Condoms are good to use with
artificial vaginas as they can avoid getting the device too messy.
If a man you don't know very
well tries to get you to have sex without using a condom don't listen.
Today's condoms are so thin that men cannot complain they can't feel
anything. Taking a risk just isn't worth it.
All products sold on this
site including condoms are from high quality manufacturers. We do not
sell imitations.
Condoms
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