The origin of the condom

Condom , contraceptive and prophylactic device consisting of a sheath that fits over the penis or inside the vagina and that is intended to prevent the entry of semen into the vagina and to protect against the exchange of sexually transmitted diseases acquired through various means of sexual contact. It is made of very thin, flexible rubber or a rubberlike plastic latex. The condom has long been used as protection against venereal infections and other sexually transmitted diseases, and by the 17th century it was utilized as a contraceptive as well. Early condoms were generally made of animal gut or fish membrane and were often inefficient.

The form of birth control with the most nicknames is also one of the oldest types of contraception. Variously called a rubber, prophylactic, raincoat, hat, balloon or French letter, the condom obtained one of its many monikers from the world-famous lover Casanova, who dubbed it the "English overcoat. A drawing that depicts a man using a condom during sexual intercourse, believed to be 10, to 15, years old, was discovered on the wall of a cave in France, according to Planned Parenthood. And a 3,year-old Egyptian drawing shows a man wearing a condom, but it's not clear if he was using it for sex or for ritualistic reasons. Penis sheaths were used in prehistoric times for many reasons not related to sex: protection during battle, decoration, a sign of social rank and protection from insect bites or evil spirits.

Below is a brief bounce thru history of those little latex wonders called condoms. Were there condoms before Jesus? Pull up a chair, get your cup of coffee or pop open a beer cause we're about to dive deep into the land of Rubbers The condom is one of the oldest forms of contraception. Its history and use can be traced back thousands of years.

Created by the American Social Health Association, National Condom Day is a day in which we not only spread the awareness about not just how vital condoms are in sexual health, but teach the younger generations, who are now just starting to experiment with sex, just how essential they are. Instead, we need to focus on the fact that condoms, when used correctly, make a huge and important difference in sexual health. Also, condoms are 98 percent effective in preventing pregnancy.