All about condoms

For a start, some people had been asking me where is the Durex advert that I had been saying? Well, its not always there. The advert sometime there and sometimes not, just like Chipsmore.

Anyway back to my topic, I’ve checked wikipedia regarding condoms and to my surprise, it’s a whole lot of information. Who would have guessed that condoms could be used in many ways and so much history in it.

Lets start with some background of the subject. Condoms have histories dated back over 4 centuries ago. The most basic use of it is for pregnancy prevention and also to avoid STD (sexually transmitted disease). Well until here most of us might have knew about it. Its waterproof, durable and elastic. I am sure you knew it too.

The most common material used is latex but some are made from polyurethane, polyisoprene, or lamb intestine. Some history check also shows that in the ancient days, the Chinese used oiled silk paper as condom (glans: a device only covers the top of the penis) or lamb intestine. (Yucks, imagine your sex partner is also doing it with a lamb intestine). In japan, tortoise shell and animal horn is also used. (I could not imagine whether your partner is having sex with you or the animal horn and shell. They are so hard and you might not feel anything.)

Despite the benefit of birth control and avoiding STD, some religion were against the use of condoms. They believe that its immoral to use them. Some also believes that its good to have STD around because it’s the karma for random sex.

Over the years, condoms had been improved in many ways. Today, condoms are more reliable, and also thinner (you can feel more now!)

In March 2003, Switzerland announced that they will produce smaller condoms called “hotshot” specially made for boys aged 12 – 14 years old. (huh, sex at 12? Lucky boys)

Types of Condom:
1) Latex (rubber)
- Most common
- Elastic
- ISO (ISO 4074 Natural latex rubber condoms)
- Used with lubricants ; reduces rubber elasticity
- With Vytex (to remove 90% of proteins responsible for allergy reactions)
2) Synthetic (non-rubber man made)
- Commonly made from polyurethane.
- Other materials: AT-10 resin, polyisoprene
- Better than latex due to better heat conduct, less sensitive with temperature, longer shelf-life, less allergenic, does
not have odor, no protein
- Cons compared to latex: less elastic (more likely to slip & break), more expensive
3) Lambskin
- Good: more sensation
- Bad: Pores on the material allows STD to happen, less allergenic compared to latex, expensive, pores large enough to allow sperm to pass through
4) Spermicidal
- Added with spermicidal, nonoxynol-9
- Study shows that condoms lubricated with spermicidal has no additional benefit in birth control
- Have shorter shelf life
- May cause urinary-tract infections in women
- With frequent use of Nonoxynol-9 increases the risk of HIV transmission
- May have stopped production
5) Textured
- Made to increase sexual pleasure
- Targeted on G-spot & frenulum
- Studded condoms should be avoided because some women experience irritation during intercourse

There are also female condoms in the market where the condom is worn by women. Well I had never seen one before in the market. So its difficult to imagine how to use them

Other uses:
1) Infertility treatment
a. A procedure to encourage child birth for those who may have problem
b. To reduce women’s natural anti-sperm antibodies
c. However no proven clinical test that it could improve pregnancy rate
2) non-lubricated condom over the muzzle of the rifle barrel in order to prevent barrel fouling by keeping out detritus
3) Covering virginal ultrasound probe with a condom reduces the amount of blood and vaginal fluids that the technician must
clean off between patients
4) Hold water during emergency situation
5) Smuggle drugs and cocaine to place the drug in the rectum.
6) Cover microphone to make underwater recording
7) Condoms are used by engineers to keep soil samples dry during soil tests
8) Condoms are used as a one-way valve by paramedics when performing a chest decompression in the field. The decompression
needle is inserted through the condom, and inserted into the chest. The condom folds over the hub allowing air to exit
the chest, but preventing it from entering

Now, the biggest problem now it’s the disposal. If you flush it, it clogs your toilet. If you throw it at the garbage disposal, the rodents will eat it as food. You throw into the sea, it will pollute the environment. What is the best way to dispose it? If you have any idea, feel free to write down some comments.

According to wikipedia, there is also some high-tech condoms in research but still yet to be introduced to the market. Things like spray on condoms or invisible condoms still have some problems to overcome. Well just see whatever future condoms might be.