The condom is the second most common contraceptive in Germany after the pill. It therefore enjoys unbridled popularity.
Compared to other contraceptives, condoms have the great advantage that they simultaneously protect against unwanted pregnancy and sexually transmitted diseases. As a user, you kill two birds with one stone, so to speak.
In 2010, around 214 million condoms were sold. That is a per capita consumption of over two and a half condoms per German citizen. Fortunately, the number of young users who rely on the safety of a condom at the beginning of a relationship has also increased.
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You have probably already thought about the safety and quality of condoms several times in the past.
If you are like me, then you have probably heard the frightening stories of incidents in which the condom broke during intercourse and an unwanted pregnancy subsequently occurred.
Although none of us can say whether there is any truth to these stories or whether it is always the same story that simply spreads widely and is kept alive again and again through gossip, we sometimes get an uneasy feeling. “I hope this doesn’t even happen to me,” we think secretly.
The chances of this happening are good! Below is a brief overview of the quality standards and an excursion through the history of the creation of the condom.
quality and safety
When buying a condom, quality (and therefore your safety) comes first. In Germany, the DLF (German Latex Research and Development Association) seal of quality .
In order to receive this seal of quality, a series of standard
tests are carried out on the condom. This includes:
- Leak test
- Inflation test
- Stretch test
- Microbiological purity
Origin and history
The condom owes its creation to the well-known tire manufacturer Charles Goodyear, whose name some of you may already know from Formula 1.
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The invention of vulcanization of rubber (1839) made it possible to produce rubber that was heat and cold resistant, waterproof and break-resistant at the same time.
In 1955, the first rubber condom was mass-produced and continued to be developed thereafter. With the development of the latex condom (1930), the condom finally became widely available. But until the middle of the 20th century, it was still banned in many places or only permitted for medical purposes.
In the period that followed, condoms were developed in many variations. They differ in materials, colors, shapes and sizes.
When buying and using a condom, it is important to pay attention to a few things:
- Checking the expiry date
- DLF quality seal
- Carefully tear open the condom packaging and be careful not to damage the condom when opening it
- Only put the condom over the penis when it is erect
- The unrollable area of the condom must be on the outside
- Squeeze the tip of the condom with your thumb and forefinger (remove the air)
- Place the condom on the glans (pull back the foreskin), hold the reservoir with one hand, then roll the condom down the penis with the other hand
Condoms are the only contraceptive that offers multiple levels of security. A “contraceptive” is therefore a must if you have frequently changing sexual partners or have just met your partner.
Nowadays you have a huge selection available – especially on the Internet. Condoms for an increased pleasure experience (nubs, grooves, different structures) or for colorful and fruity pleasure. Nowadays, condoms are real sex toys and have long since freed themselves from their negative image.
PS: So that you can always find the “magic wand” even in the dark, try out a glowing condom .
