Computing Technology, Society, and Culture at Drew University: Condoms are the Best Technology Advancement in History:Science and History of Condoms- How have condoms changed from past to present day?

In 1000 BC Egyptians used something similar to a condom that was seen to be a linen sheath. This is the earliest known visual evidence of the use of condoms that were shown on wall carvings and paintings.

During the 1500’s there was a wide spread use of condoms. Europe was experiencing a widespread outbreak of syphilis. Condoms were made of oiled silk paper, linen sheaths, leather, and very thin hollow horns, some from tortoise shells and other shelled animals. First known recorded descriptions and trials in order to see the effectiveness of condoms was by an Italian named Gabrielle Fallopius in the 1500’s. He said that the trails conducted with 1,100 men. The findings with using the linen sheaths were that none of the men became infected with syphilis. During this time researchers used the first type of spermicidal, by treating the linen with chemicals before it was used.

In the 1700’s the word condom started being used to describe the linen sheath. Some say that the word ‘condom’ came from a person named Dr. Condom who was a member of the court of King Charles II. He provided animal tissue sheaths, such as intestines from cats and dogs in order to keep King Charles of England from having kids, and getting diseases from prostitutes. It wasn’t effective because it wasn’t washed right before it was used again. So more improvement needed to be made.

19^th century condoms were manufactured and sold in America. Often made of rubber cement. This is when the turning point of rubber condoms came. Rubber condoms started being made around 1844 when Charles Goodyear, (yes the founder of the tire company) patented the idea/invention of hardening rubber by using sulfur and other substances giving it resistance, and elasticity. This made condoms more reliable and less expensive. By 1957 innovations of condoms with lubrication made it much more popular and widely used.

1960’s and 1970’s the use of condoms died off because of the other sources of birth control that was invented. This includes the birth control pill, and IUD’s (Intrauterine Device). IUD is a device made from bent plastic or metal that is places through the vagina into the uterus, making it a contraceptive device. This is also the time when HIV became widespread in the 1980’s and people realized that the condom was the best invention/innovation to prevent pregnancy and diseases.

Present Day- Today there are now hundreds of different condoms available. Thee include flavored, colored, and even glow in the dark. There are different sizes and shapes that can be bought. Making condoms to seem ‘fun’ seemed to spread the idea that they really do work, and important to use. Especially in college there is a great emphasis about the use of condoms because there is a lot of experimentation with sex. Posters and pamphlets are always available in college health services, and a lot the time condoms are given out with no charge just to make sure students are using them. This has been stopped at Drew University an can be read in Drew’s campus newspaper, The Acorn, Trojan war: Price of protection rises - The Acorn - News

Friends and other students that I know personally feel that since condoms are not available for free at Health Services they are mad that now the need to buy them at the schoolbook store or stores in town. BIG DEAL… Go buy them. If you’re going to have sex and use a condom people and students shouldn’t rely on others to provide protection. College kids want to have sex but are not ready to have kids, and they are very important to college students in order to protect them from many sexual transmitted diseases. Some researchers say that condoms are 99.9% effective, others say the can be 97 % effective. But all together they are effective and is a widely used product invention used today for sexual protection. The other week there was even a seminar in the Drew University Center showing students the proper ways to use, and to apply a condom. Which I also think is important because it shows that they do work and it isn’t anything to be ashamed about.

From the past to today the advances in the technology of condoms have changed. The reasons for this is the large amount of disease in 3rd world countries, allergies, better feeling condoms, packaging.
In recent years better quality, new research and manufacturers have made more reliable and safer latex condoms used today. Manufactures now make condoms that are more elastic and other chemicals so they do not deteriorate or get ruined. they re now using stronger and better foil packaging, and more tight sealed packaging. These days condoms are made in several different ways in order to stop allergic reactions to powders and latex. the powder is safer and the latex materials are being made with more natural products. Companies are able to make condoms with less latex products for people that are allergic to latex.
Some of these advances and research are explained at this site

From much scientific testing and trials, condoms ultimately became a tool and invention for disease protection during sexual intercourse throughout history.

The inventions and innovations of condoms can be more easily understood from pictures: