Think condoms are a recent invention? You might be surprised to learn that eco-friendly, washable, reusable linen sacks were used in ancient Egypt to keep the old trouser Sphinx in a state of disease-free mummification.

Perhaps because of their minimal success at doing anything other than getting soggy, linen condoms didn’t really meet market saturation. The sheep-gut condom, invented in the mid 1600s, was more successful. They even got a mention in Casanova’s memoirs – talk about celebrity endorsements. The downside was that these unmanageable gut condoms had to be soaked for a long while before they became supple enough to slide into. Taking the time to make sheep-gut malleable enough to put on your erection worked as contraception, but perhaps not in the way it had been intended.

And then, in 1844, with the invention of vulcanized rubber, “rubbers” were available. Still, they were not widely adopted – they were still expensive, cumbersome, coarse and unreliable. And the Comstock law, passed in 1873, made it illegal to advertise birth control devices. The lowly rubber became a thing of shame.

During World War I, the love glove enjoyed new popularity as a way to help soldiers stop the alarming spread of venereal diseases. Birth control advocates (mostly male) didn’t favor condoms because they were ugly, cumbersome and because men had to actively take part in getting them to work. Despite this, they were the only reliable form of birth control and used until the availability of hormonal contraception in the 1960s.

Since women could take a pill for birth control, condoms went out of favor again. It was until the arrival of the HIV virus in the 1980s did people see the urgency for fluid control. Condoms were no longer just a way to stop women from becoming pregnant – they saved lives.

Since then, condom manufacturers have been working hard to refine condoms and increase variety and value-added features. Condoms have arrived as exciting play toys in their own rights.

How to use condoms, 102.

Okay, you use a “pro”-phylatic, not an “amateur”-phylatic, so you know everything about condom application. But a recent poll showed that most guys were rolling in the dark about these basic safety facts:

If you start rolling a condom on the wrong side, you can’t just flip it around and start again. You need to toss it away. Otherwise you have just smeared the end of the condom with your fluids, which you are about to plunge into your partner.

If your partner has long fingernails, do the rolling yourself. Sharp fingernails are a major cause of tiny tears that could lead to condom breakdown at critical times.

Squeeze the teat before rolling. Little air bubbles in the reservoir can easily lead to unwanted messy explosions after your messy explosion.

Withdraw immediately after ejaculation. Condom meltdown is not uncommon and the longer your test its resistance, the better the chance it will fail.

Don’t ignore the expiration date. They don’t print them to waste ink. This isn’t like that slightly sour milk you still use for your morning coffee. And since lighting is often low during the unwrapping procedure, check your supplies regularly.

Oil-based lubricants are not a good idea. They weaken the condom and can lead to malfunction (i.e. the condom breaks.) Having said that, make sure you lubricate all areas well. This will help prevent breakage.

Keep hold of the condom when you pull out. You’ve stretched that little bugger beyond all repair, so it is possible it can slip off when your penis deflates.

Although it might seem obvious, make sure you thoroughly wash your penis AND your hands before you start playing with your partner again.

Condom Faqs

Condoms are 100% guaranteed to stop pregnancy, right?

Abstinence is the only 100% guaranteed way to avoid unwanted pregnancy or disease spread. Latest statistics suggest 14% of condoms fail, which translates to 1 in 7 condom users having an unwanted pregnancy. What’s worse is that this is often the result of misuse rather than an intrinsic fault with the condom. (Check previous page for usage tips.)

Okay, but they’ll stop me from catching any STDs, right?

Same story. Don’t even consider sex without them, but be aware that they’re not 100% reliable. They do drastically lower the risk of sharing many STDs including HIV and gonorrhea, are less effective against chlamydia and herpes, and offer little protection against genital warts.

But if I use spermicide, all will be well, right?

There’s no evidence that spermicide increases the effectiveness of using condoms. In fact, spermicides can irritate the vagina and anus and lead to more trouble. This irritation factors means that spermicide with nonoxynol-9 is no longer considered successful in killing the HIV virus. A good condom and lube selection coupled with common sense are your best defense.

Can I be allergic to condoms?

If you or your partner is allergic to latex condoms, you’ll know it. Symptoms include rash, difficulty breathing, loss of blood pressure, swelling. The good news is that there are new polyurethane condoms (check out the new types section) that will not cause an allergic reaction.

All condoms are the same, right?

Have you been living in a cave? Condom choice used to be limited, but now it’s like buying coffee – the alternatives are staggering. You need to check out the new types section of this article to learn of some of the new styles of condoms that will add to your pleasure.

But I see a lot of porn movies that don’t feature condoms.

Yeah, well, you’re going to see a lot of stuff happening in porn movies that you might not want to emulate. Think of it like those warnings at the beginning of episodes of Jackass: don’t try this a home!

Don’t forget the lube.

Okay, don’t scan over this section. Too many people buy condoms and forget the lube, assuming … what? That their partners are self-lubricating? Matching the right lube with the right condom with the right occasion is like choosing the right wine to go with dinner – do it right and you’re partner will be very impressed. Choose wrong and you’ll look like a dud.

Water-based lubes with glycerin:
(Wet, Probe, Astroglide.)
Glycerin will give the lube a little more viscosity. That means it will last longer. It also helps give the lube a sweeter flavor. The downside is that it gets sticky quickly and people with sensitive skin might find it irritates them. It does not degrade the quality of the latex so leads to fewer breakages.

Water-based lubes without glycerin:
(Slippery Stuff, Maximus, Sensual Power)
Without the glycerin, these lubes are less sticky and don’t last as long. They are less sweet to the taste but can be much creamier in texture.

Silicone-based lubes:
(Wet Platinum, Body Fluid)
These have an oily texture. They are light, long lasting and can be extremely slippery. They don’t cause allergies and are also safe for all condoms. The upside is that they won’t wash off easily. The downside is that they won’t wash off easily.

Oil-based lubes:
(Massage oils, lotions, vaseline.)
These will degrade the quality of latex condoms and possibly lead to breakage. Use them only with polyurethane condoms. Since they can be so abrasive and invasive, there are plenty of better choices out there, but in an emergency on a deserted island …

New Types

Remember when a condom’s sole purpose was to stop your partner from getting pregnant? No, neither do we. Condoms have become such an integrated part of our sexual lives that it’s impossible to imagine any kind of penetration sex without them. Or at least it should be.

Unfortunately, too many of us rely on “tried and true” choices when condom shopping. I know, I know – if it ain’t broken, don’t fix it. But your sexual pleasure deserves something more than a condom that doesn’t break. Few of us keep up with new trends or try new designs or styles, but you owe it yourself, your partner, and that monster rod between your legs to get with the program.

Here are some of the new condom options, which are all available from Ultimate Adult Sex Toys.

The Good:

Durex Avanti is a condom made out polyurethane, a plastic based material that many consider to be better than latex. Polyurethane transmits heat, so sex will literally feel a lot hotter. It’s thinner than latex, stronger, and also colorless, odorless and allergy-free. Unlike latex, polyurethane will not degrade with oil-based lubricants. The downside – they lack the elasticity of latex so they’re more of a struggle to slip into, and tend to break more often than latex condoms.

Both Durex Performax and Trojan Extended Pleasure have a “climax control” lubricant that will magically keep you going for hours. The magic? They’ve included benzocaine in the lubricant, which will desensitize your dick so it’ll take you longer to come. Does it work? Reports suggest it does, so if you want to go the distance, then this might be a condom worth trying.

The Bad:

Pleasure Plus is a latex condom that includes an empty pouch of rubber that sits under the condom near the head. Why? The idea is that the loose piece of rubber rubs against the sensitive area of your dick during sex, heightening your pleasure. The downside, of course, is that fumbling around in the dark won’t work. You need to position the extra flap precisely if you want the effect.

Inspiral decided to take the concept one step further. Instead of just a small pouch of latex under the condom, they decided to add a spiral of latex around the entire head of the condom to increase the pleasure in all areas. Reports suggest that this actually works at providing a greater sexual sensation, but it looks like you’ve developed some strange growth.

If added-value condoms are your thing, you can also try Kimono Sensation, a condom that has raised dots along the inside surface. The idea here is that the little dots rub against your shaft. Yeah, it does sound a little painful, but the dots are latex and the reports are that they do help increase stimulation.

And The Ugly:

Trojan Magnum and Kimono Maxx have hit the market with super-sized condoms for the especially well-endowed men. If you or partner has trouble squeezing into regular-sized condoms, these big boy alternatives might be what you’re looking. Please note that nobody has made micro-condoms yet – perhaps they realize that no man is going to toss a box of “tiny-tuggers” on the supermarket conveyer belt.

All these condoms are available from Ultimate Adult Sex Toys If you’re still using the regular, no-nonsense condom, now is the time to try something new.