February 13th marks International Condom Day – a holiday observed in conjunction with Valentine’s Day, aiming at raising awareness about STDs, HIV and unwanted pregnancies. When it comes to sex education, more is less. So, here are some interesting facts based around the latex sheath that you should know:
1. ‘Wetsuit’, ‘Rubber’, ‘Jimmy’ and ‘Nightcap’.
They are all names for condoms!
2. The first known documentation of the condom was that of King Minos of Crete in 3000 B.C.
King Minos, the father of the Minotaur, was said to have “serpents and scorpions” in his semen. His mistresses died after having intercourse with him. In order to protect himself and his partners, which included his wife Pasiphae, the bladder of a goat was introduced into the woman’s vagina which protected the woman from disease.
3. The Ancient Egyptians were one of the first civilizations to use sheaths.
For protection during intercourse, evidence from about 1000 C.E. states that linen sheaths were used, specifically to prevent tropical diseases like Bilharzia. Furthermore, Egyptian men wore coloured sheaths to distinguish social status within their complex hierarchy.
4. The Chinese civilization, made silk condoms, lubricated with oil!
5. The Japanese civilization utilized the Kabuto-Gata, to cover the glans. It was made out of tortoise shell!
The Kabuta-Gata was also used as a supplement to those who suffered from erectile dysfunction.
6. The use of sheaths was once a sin, in England !
The Jesuit, Leonardus Lessius stated that the use of sheaths was a sin, and was unethical. The Jesuits were known to be members of the Counter Reformation which was set out to re-establish the Church’s influence on personal, cultural, and scientific matters in Christian Europe.
7. Condoms were sold wholesale in the late 18th century.
8. Condoms prior to the 19th century, were for the rich.
This was because, the lower classes were not well acquainted with the knowledge of venereal diseases and condoms themselves could be seen as quite expensive for low incoming personnel.
9. The American and British armies did not use condoms, despite knowing their ability to help prevent venereal diseases.
As a result, during World War I, it was found that the American army had a mass amount of soldiers with syphilis and gonorrhea.
10. World War I saw the deployment of condoms, along with weapons and ammunition for the German army.
11. In more modern conditions, rubber latex condoms can be produced at a swift rate of 30000 per hour and can be lubricated with spermicide, and even flavoured.
12. A forecast of 22 billion condoms is predicted to be used in the year 2016 alone.
13. Cave paintings have indicated that condoms were in use around 15,000 years ago, although whether they were actually used regularly, is a matter of some debate.
15. ‘Victorian era Condoms’ were prominent in the late 18th century.
There seems to be a specific recipe used during the Victorian era, transforming the guts of sheep into carefully produced forms of contraception.
14. ‘Glans condoms’ were in use in some places throughout Asia before the 15th century.
This type of condom, that only covered the head of the penis was made from either silk or lamb intestines in China, and Tortoise Shell or Animal horn in Japan.
17. Condom is said to have been named after Doctor Condom.
Other theories include the Latin word “condus,” which means receptacle or vessel, and the Persian word “kemdu,” which refers to a long piece of intestine used for storage.
16. A manga writer has written a cookbook called “Condom Meals I Want to Make for You.”
The cookbook featured 11 recipes which feature condoms in some form. Thankfully, the condoms are not eaten, but they are used in preparation or encapsulation. Some example recipes include Condom Cookies, Condom Escargot Cooked with Butter and Condom Meat Stuffing!
18. The UK tried to ban condoms in the 18th century.
The members of parliament did not believe that they offered sufficient protection against syphilis and that condoms encouraged sex with unsafe partners.
19. Latex condom only came in to existence in the 1920s.
The London Rubber Company became the first manufacturer of Latex condoms. This brand was known as Durex and is still going strong today.