11 Things You Didn’t Know About The History Of Condoms

Everybody knows condoms are vital to our sexual health. They are a means of birth control and they help prevent sexually transmitted diseases. But how many of you know about how the condoms came into being?

Let’s look at 11 things you weren’t aware of about the history of condoms.

1. Condoms go way back to the years BC

Yes, our ancestors knew how to wrap their bait before cosying up to their mated.. According to an SKYN’s research, the oldest known proof of a “sheathed penis” can be found in cave paintings. What remains a mystery is what material was used.

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2. Sheaths were once made of linen

Condoms were once pieces of linen that were sewn together by hand. These either fit the whole penis or just the tip. But what’s worth wondering is how effective linen proved.

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3. Glans condoms became a thing

Prior to the 1400s, used exclusively by Asian aristocrats, glans condoms covered only the head of the penis. Once again, it doesn’t seem like the most protective choice. Also, they used animal horns or tortoise shells - which sound so uncomfortable, we’d rather not discuss its nuances.

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4. Linen condoms came back in the 1400s

And stayed till the 1700s. During renaissance, condoms were made of linen or goat intestines or goat bladders. Goat intestines still make a little sense given the shape but bladders? How?

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5. Casanova personally checked the quality of all condoms

In the 1700s, Casanova emerged as the sole quality analyst who would blow air into his condoms to check for holes. The legendary lover wrote in his memoir, History Of My Life, “Cultivating whatever gave pleasure to my senses was always the chief business of my life; I never found any occupation more important. Feeling that I was born for the sex opposite of mine, I have always loved it and done all that I could to make myself loved by it."

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6. The first rubber condom was as thick as “bicycle inner tube”

Say what? Though it was a more reliable method of contraceptive, the first rubber condom was as thick as “bicycle inner tube”. Unless a man was exceptionally endowed, we don’t see how any man would have loved to try it on.

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7. Queen Victoria adorned condom labels

Let’s not get ahead of ourselves - this one has a valid reason behind it. In 1897, condom manufacturers printed the Queen’s face on the labels because her children were contracting sexually transmitted diseases. Nothing more nothing less.

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8. Condoms first became legal in the US

1918 was the year condoms were first sold publicly and legally. We can’t say why it took that long for it to happen but let’s just be glad it did. One year later, the first latex condom was introduced to the world.

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9. First lubricated condom was introduced in the UK

39 years later in 1957, the first lubricated condom made its appearance in the UK. It’s safe to assume that it must have been a game-changer, but the kinds of lubricants condom brands now boast of are insane!

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10. Condom use became more prevalent after AIDS

The AIDS epidemic and other STDs made condom use an important necessity. In 1985, LifeStyles Condoms were launched to match the ever-increasing demand for condoms during that decade when AIDS was spreading like wildfire.

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11. The 90s saw more variations in condoms

The 1990s was an era of creativity. Manufacturers came out with a variety of condom flavours, colours, and textures. From strawberry flavour to pink condoms to dotted sheaths, the variations have truly evolved.

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In the end, the most important thing is that you know the importance of using condoms. Period.