History of Condom

The condom is one of the oldest forms of contraception. Its history and use can be traced back thousands of years. It is believed that a form of modern-day condoms were used by the Egyptians as far back as 1,000 B.C.

The oldest condom in the world, made out of pig intestine, was found in Sweden. The prophylactic dates back to 1640 and was found with its Latin instructions. The manual suggests that users immerse the condom in warm milk prior to its use to avoid diseases (ancient spermicide?). The condom will be on display in the Tirolean County Museum in Austria with many other sex-related antique artifacts. (Picture is the oldest condom in the world)

The antique, found in Lund in Sweden, is made of pig intestine and is one of 250 ancient objects related to sex on display at the Tirolean County Museum in Austria this summer.

The history

The earliest evidence of condom use in Europe are scenes from cave paintings at Combarelles in France. Dated 100 to 200 AD.

The first known published description and trials regarding prophylactic condom use were recorded by the Italian Gabrielle Fallopius in the 1500's. He claimed to have invented a sheath made of linen and conducted trials amongst 1,100 men using the condom - none of who became infected with syphilis.

The origin of the word 'condom' is still unknown. Folklore attributes the invention to Dr. Condom or Conton, who was at the court of King Charles II in the 1600's. It is more likely, however, that the name derives from the Latin 'condus', meaning receptacle.

The condom, made of animal gut, became well known and increased in popularity in the 1700's. Literature of that time suggests that the condom's contraceptive (rather than just prophylactic) properties had already been realised. By 1766 many shops were producing handbills and advertisements.

Japanese are known to have used two types of condom. The 'Kawagata' or 'Kyotai' was made of thin leather and the 'Kabutogata' was made from tortoiseshell or horn.

Documentation also suggests that legendary 19th Century lover Casanova was a regular user of this type of contraception. He referred to condoms as 'Redingote Anglaise' (English Riding Coat).

The rubber condom was developed shortly after the creation of vulcanized rubber in the 1840's, by Goodyear and Hancock. Vulcanisation is the method or process of treating crude rubber with sulphur and subjecting it to intense heat. This process turns the rubber into a strong elastic material.

In the 1930's liquid latex manufacturing superseded crepe rubber. It is still the basis for manufacture today.

In the 1990's new technology considerably improved the condom and enabled the production of far more sophisticated versions.

The story of the New Condom Revolution begins with the invasion of the Japanese condoms on the US market in the early 90's. New condoms like Beyond Seven, Crown condoms and Kimono Microthin condoms started ruffling the feathers of the big boys like Carter Wallace and Ansell. These new condoms were much thinner than the condoms of old. Why these new condoms actually felt natural like a skinless skin, people were finally feeling pleasure when they had sex.