Male Condoms: A Quick History

condoms, contraceptive, feature 2, sexual health - By dryvonne on Monday, November 22, 2010 - 17:18

Keeping his penis protected from sexually transmitted infections (STIs) and from fathering a child is nothing new. But what a ‘long, strange trip it’s been’ when it comes to the condom’s history! The first ever record of a condom being used can be traced back to the ancient Egyptians in 1000 BC, with cave paintings in Combarelles, France, dating back to 100-200 AD, providing the first visuals of a condom being donned.

When it comes to the world’s oldest surviving condom, we find that it dates back to 1640, is from Sweden, and made of pig intestines. Its original user’s manual was, however, written in Latin. Unlike today’s male condoms, it was possibly meant to be reusable. In preventing disease, the user was to soak the condom in warm milk first.

Historians believe that loin cloths likely led to the first condom. These penis sacks were originally worn to protect against sunburn, sand, and bug bites – none of which, understandably, sounds too appealing on a man’s prized possession.

According to The Humble Little Condom, these sacks were held on by a strip of cloth or a leather thong and then tied around the waist. What became early glans condoms were small sheaths of oiled animal intestines or bladders that covered the top of the penis. May sound totally unappealing, but consider the alternative. In early Egypt, male castration was recommended as a means to preventing conception.

When it came to being useful beyond pregnancy prevention, the condom was not recognized as a way to prevent STIs until the 1500s. During this time, a syphilis epidemic was sweeping across Europe, and the linen sheath was found effective in preventing infection, and encouraged for such. Also at this time, the use of spermicides became one of the first improvements to the condom, with the loin cloth sheaths soaked in a chemical solution and then dried prior to use.

With the 1700s, rubbers made of animal intestines became available, but it was developments in the 1800s that revolutionized condom manufacturing – including mass production – and effectiveness. By 1855, the condom had a rubber component, thanks to the discovery of rubber vulcanization (which turns it into a strong, elastic material) by the tire company Goodyear and Hancock. Users were advised to wash and reuse the condom until it crumbled.

By 1912, the condom industry had introduced cheap and disposable latex condoms, which went on to become thinner, lubricated, odorless, and more form-fitting by the 1950s. Condoms with a reservoir tip, to collect semen, were also made available by Durex in 1957. But then, after decades of improvements, the condom industry became seemed to hit a wall in light of other forms of contraceptives that became available, like the birth control pill.

It wasn’t really until the development of the polyurethane (plastic) condom, in 1994, that the prophylactics industry offered lovers anything really new and exciting. And it was with the 1990’s that an entire smorgasbord of condoms hit the market, including those of the flavored and colored variety, as well as those of different sizes, shapes, lengths, and widths.

As of 2010, according to a new report by Global Industry Analysts, Inc., predictions are that the global condoms market will reach 27 billion units and six billion U.S. dollars by 2015. This is largely due to the emerging economies of Asia, Africa, and the Middle East, with countries like China and India consuming more condoms. Such growth is not only due to increasing population and strong economies, but heightened public awareness about the condom’s ability to protect against pregnancy and STIs, including HIV, the virus that causes AIDS.

This is great news given that, according to researchers with UNAIDS and the Kaiser Family Foundation, it is estimated that only 9% of sexual acts around the world involve condom use. Yet 19 to 24 billion condoms are needed to prevent the transmission of HIV and other STIs. Perhaps with all of its continued improvements, and greater educational efforts, more people will use this device in practicing planned parenthood, preventing disease, and saving lives.

Author: Dr. Yvonne K. Fulbright