The change of condoms from ancient times to today – Life Health

The use of condoms throughout history has a lot to do with changing our perception of sexual health.

Ancient condoms

Around 3000 BC, King Minos of Crete used the outer membrane of the goat’s bladder to prevent sperm from having sex with his wife. In Asia, before the 15th century, Chinese condoms were made from oiled paper or sheep intestines, while in Japan, they were made from turtle shells or animal horns. But this type of condom is not much different from condoms in 18th century Europe, made from linen and animal intestines.

Animal membranes have been used to make condoms for hundreds of years

Penis shells, penis bracelets, finger caps, dildos in Japan (all made with turtle shells)

Woman condom

Marie Stopes, a 20th-century birth control activist and advocate of active eugenics, advertised one of the first female condoms in 1923. It was made of saved rubber. thickened with steel and has coil rims. Like other latex contraceptives at the time, it could be washed and reused. However, this female condom is not liked by many women because it is difficult to “fit” and create an uncomfortable feeling when used.

Female condom model

Origin of the word “condom”

The word ‘condum’ was first written in a poem in 1706 and then, ‘condom’ appeared in a literary magazine in 1709. In the following period, condoms became known to many different names, such as: men’s coats, gloves, armor, English riding jackets, etc.

Popularity of condoms

Condoms became more popular throughout the 18th century. Despite many objections, the condom market grew steadily and rapidly. They are even sold in pubs, theaters and barbershops in Europe.

Until the 19th century, the use of condoms often only occurred among the upper classes, but not with the working class because this is the class that is not provided with much knowledge about sex education.

The discovery that AIDS is a sexually transmitted disease, and that the only way to protect against the disease is condoms, has led to a spike in their use.

Production method of condoms

In 1839, Charles Goodyear invented the vulcanization process of rubber. The first condoms were produced in 1855, and by the 1860s, these condoms were in mass production. Even so, leather condoms are still more popular because they are cheaper.

In 1920, rubber was produced using a process with rubber suspended in water. Condoms were then cheaper and easier to manufacture, so they gradually replaced leather condoms.

During World War I, the United States and Great Britain were the only countries in Europe that did not provide condoms to their soldiers, and by the end of the war, cases of syphilis and gonorrhea in The US military has skyrocketed.

At the time, syphilis killed more people each year than it did at the height of AIDS. Learning from its mistakes, the US military during World War II distributed a lot of condoms to soldiers.

Soon after, the use of condoms gradually spread in communities and around the world, with 42% of those who had sex between 1955-1965 relying on them for birth control.

Up to the present time, both male and female condoms have undergone revolutions to reach the level of safety and convenience they are today. This is considered the leading contraceptive method without much harm to health, trusted by both men and women.