Condoms: The Wrap

Condoms the wrap

Available in a range of sizes and flavoured, coloured and textured for your pleasure! Condoms are an essential part of a healthy sex life! They remain the only form of contraception that reduces the risk of pregnancy and sexually transmitted infections. They weren’t always so fancy though!

Just The Tip

While modern condoms are stocked in a range of sizes, there was a period of time when doctors were responsible for measuring and ordering custom fits! These made-to-measure prophylactics were ‘glans only’ but didn’t offer complete protection and had a tendency to fall off during use. Some earlier records indicate glans condoms were used in Japan and Italy too but they faced the same issues.

Sick Sea Men

In 1494, thriving naval fleets and nautical trade routes contributed to an international outbreak of STIs, namely, syphilis. The symptomatic pustules contributed to the deaths of many people across Europe and by 1505, large parts of Asia. Doctors and physicians across the world began an effort to popularise the use of condoms to reduce the risk of transmission. This led to efforts to make condoms more affordable. Since they were hand-crafted at the time, condoms were largely reserved for the upper classes due to the cost. 

Rubbers Weren’t Always Made Of Rubber

Before the mid-1800s, condoms were made from a range of materials and their comfort level varied too. 14th century England they were made of animal tissue, sometimes the bladder or intestines. While it seems bizarre now, gloves had been made out of treated intestines since the 1200s.

In Japan, condoms were made of tortoise shells or animal horns; talk about being horny! The Dutch began trading in condoms made of “fine leather” and the Italians experimented with linen condoms that were secured with a ribbon. If you could afford the luxury (and didn’t mind the sticky texture), some were even lined with velvet or silk!

While rubber condoms were first developed in 1855, they still had a lengthwise seam and were about 2mm thick. It wasn’t until 1912 that Julius Fromm dipped a glass bulb into liquid rubber to create the seamless design we all recognise today! Fromm also created condom vending machines!

Like many things, condoms have gone through countless iterations. From bulky linen and animal horn to the seamless, lightweight and sometimes flavoured versions available from corner stores and sexual health clinics today. The development of the modern condom has been essential in helping humanity make the most of their time between the sheets.