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10 Things You Probably Did Not Know About Latex Condoms

We all take condoms for granted. They come in a foil packet and are used to stop sperm from entering the vagina or the exchange of bodily fluids (and the risk of catching Sexually Transmitted Diseases (STD's)).

I thought it would be interesting to delve into the world of condoms and find out some interesting and unusual facts about condoms!

1) Latex Comes From Trees

I personally thought latex was a synthetic product - a product made in a factory. It can be but the majority of branded condoms are generally made out of natural latex, a product derived from the sap of plants and trees! It is usually a white or yellow substance although some plants produce coloured sap such as lilac or orange.

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2) Condoms Are Electronically Tested

It would be a public relations disaster if all the condoms you manufactured had holes in them!

Condoms cannot be tested by humans as this would render them used and you couldn't test each one. Instead an electronic device checks for microscopic holes and imperfections. Only perfect condoms are then packaged.

3) Condoms Are Water Tested

Durex perform extra measures to ensure that their condoms are perfect. They fill a sample of condoms (2 million a month!) with water and suspend them for a minute. Any leaks would suggest a production failure.

If a condom fails a test, the entire batch (anywhere up to 432,000 condoms) are discarded on safety grounds.

4) Condoms Are Blown Up!

Durex also fill a sample of condoms (500,000 condoms a month) with air to test elasticity and strength. International safety regulations states that a condom should be able to withstand at least 18 litres of air. Durex impose their own stringent levels and manufacture condoms to withstand at least 22 litres. A typical Durex condom can withstand 40 litres of air before popping - more than twice the international safety regulations.

5) Square Foil Packs Are Better Than Rectangular

Because the condom is round, it makes sense to use round packaging - but that's a bit tricky. The next best thing is a square.

Rectangular packaging puts undue stress on the condom as it is being bent unnaturally.

6) Condoms Degrade

The best before date on a condom is very important. It doesn't suggest that you'll have great sex before the date and mediocre sex afterwards.

As latex is a natural product, it degrades. After this date, the latex mixture becomes less rigid and starts to break up, resulting in holes and imperfections. This may not be visible to the naked eye for a while after the date but it still occurs nevertheless.

Always use an in-date condom.

7) Latex Condoms Are Incompatible With Oil Based Lubricants

Oil based lubricants can damage the elasticity of latex condoms resulting in breakages or the condom simply slipping off.

Always use water based lubricants with latex condoms as this doesn't suffer the same problems.

8) 400 Years of Usage

Condoms have been around for at least 400 years according to Anne Collier's The Humble Little Condom: A History. The first ever condom was used by the The Pharaohs of Egypt (although it is unclear as to whether they used it as part of a ritual or sexually).

The manufacturing process has changed since then and safety is paramount today more than ever. Condom manufacturers are depended upon to provide safe, reliable condoms.

9) 24 Billion Condoms A Year

The World Health Organisation estimates that the world needs a staggering 24 billion condoms a year. In actual fact, only 6 to 9 billion are distributed, leaving as much as 15 billion without sufficient sexual protection.

10) Condoms Are Delicate!

Despite their stretchy feel, condoms are delicate products. They can be torn if you are too vigorous at ripping the packaging open. They can degrade if you use oil based lubricants but also if you incorrectly store them or use them after their expiry date. It is estimated as much as 2.3% of condoms split during usage, most likely as a result of the above actions.

Take time to open condom packets carefully. Make sure they are stored correctly as per the information on the product box. Never use out of date condoms and always use water based lubricants rather than oil based.

Where To Buy Good Quality Condoms

Durex and Mates are the best known brands in the UK though there are others. So long as the condom has been manufactured to the minimum international safety regulations, it is deemed safe to use.

You can buy condoms from British Condoms or The Condom Factory.

Many thanks to Wikipedia, Durex, Mates and the BBC for facts and figures

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