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Condoms

Condoms have been around for centuries in some form or another.  But the condoms of today are a lot different than the condoms of earlier years. Condoms have been made with animal horns, animal intestines, silk, tortoise shells, horns, linen, and many other types of materials.  The existence of condoms has been documented throughout history and can be found in cave drawings to literary excerpts.  But at the end of it all, condoms have been used to help prevent the transmission of infections throughout.

Types of Condoms

Condoms come in many different styles and types.  Gone are the days of just one option for style.  The first largely marketed condoms were in the early 1900s with the advent of latex rubber.  Around the 1930s there were 15 major condom manufacturers and they were producing roughly 1.5 million condoms daily, and selling them for $1.00/12 pack.  The first lubricated condoms were produced in the 1957.  Today you can choose between lubricated or non-lubricated condom options, although lubricated is by the far the more popular.  Condoms are available in latex, polyisoprene and polyurethane, or lambskin.  Lambskin condoms are not recommended for use as protection to lessen the transmission of STIs. 

Condom Styles

There is a condom style to meet everyone’s needs!  Condoms come in the following options:

• Straight walled
• Lubricated
• Colored
• Flavored
• Ribbed and Studded
• Glow in the Dark
• Tattooed
• Super Sensitive
• Extra Large
• Hyper Thin
• Snugger Fit
• Non-Lubricated
• Pleasure Shaped
• Tingling Condoms
• Edible Condoms

Most of today’s condoms are to be used for safer sex purposes but there are some that are strictly for enjoyment.  Make sure you know what you are using before you engage in any sexual activity. 

Condoms are Medical Devices

The term medical device referencess “any instrument, machine, contrivance, implant, in vitro reagent that's intended to treat, cure, prevent, mitigate, diagnose disease in man”. Medical devices all have their own license number and protocols to follow for distribution.  In the case of any issues, the devices can be traced through their device license and lot numbers.  Medical Devices can range from condoms to surgical tools, pacemakers to prescription medications. 

Condoms are a Class II medical device.  As such, they must follow regulatory guidelines for production and testing, packaging and labelling.  This is to ensure that they do what they are supposed to do!  Condoms are tested for their strength, tensile (stretching ability), burst tests, leakage, packaging integrity, and size.  Everything is documented and samples of each lot of condoms are kept for future testing if ever needed.  Condoms have their own ISO standards that need to be followed by all licensed manufacturers. ISO is the International Organization for Standardization, an international and non-government organization made up of national standards bodies that develops and publishes industrial and commercial standards. There is a lot of testing and science in the making of your condom, no matter what the type or style!!  Find the one that fits you and your lifestyle!!!!!