You might be surprised to know that condoms are not exactly a recent invention. In fact, people have been using earlier versions of the condom for centuries. From animal skin in the prehistoric period to linen sheaths in the Middle Ages, condoms have come a long way to reach their present-day latex avatar.
Even people back then understood the need for safe sex to protect themselves from sexually transmitted diseases like syphilis to genorrhea. However, these older forms of ‘condoms’ were considered to be a luxury that only the elite classes could afford. This video by Seekers Network reveals that it was in 1839 when latex was first invented along with the advent of the Industrial Revolution that condoms became more like how we know them today – cheap, comfortable and effective.
Of course, it was only when the HIV/AIDS outbreak happened in the 1980s when using condoms became a matter of life and death. Recently, there’s also been increased awareness about female condoms as a woman’s option for practising safe sex.
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