Apparently, menfolk have been wrapping it up – in ways you can’t imagine – for close to 11,000 years.
Today’s condom is either made out of polyurethane or latex. The same can’t be said for our ancestors prophylactic measures as they relied on animal intestines, hollow horns, tortoise shells, leather, or linen during sexy times.
- Picture it: Les Combarelles caves, 11,000 BCE in present-day France. Cave paintings depict the use of condom-like sheaths in the form of animal skin.
- Picture it: Ancient Egypt. Historians believe that colourful dyed linen sheaths were in use between 1350 – 1220 BCE.
- Picture it: The Republic of Florence, 1500 CE. Physician and anatomist Gabriele Falloppio (omg, my fallopian tubes are named after him) undertakes the first clinical trial on condom use in the prevention of Syphilis. Falloppio’s contraceptives were chemically soaked linen sheaths designed to cover the tip of the penis. In order to appeal to the ladies, the prophylactics were fastened by a pink ribbon. Why wasn’t I born in the 1500s?
- Picture it: England, 1600s CE. King Charles II’s physician, the Earl of Condom, designs an oiled-sheath condom made from sheep intestine.
- Picture it: United States, 19-20th century. Condoms are originally produced from vulcanized rubber. Following WW2, they are manufactured using skin-tight latex and polyurethane. Nowadays, condom shoppers can choose from a myriad of textures, colours, sizes, and flavours.
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(Image c/o 1)
