[Edit] Disposal and environmental impact

Used condoms should be disposed of in a trash receptacle. Flushing down the toilet may clog plumbing or cause other problems.^[53]

While biodegradable,^[53] latex condoms damage the environment when disposed of improperly. According to the Ocean Conservancy, condoms, along with certain other types of trash, cover the coral reefs and smother sea grass and other bottom dwellers. The United States Environmental Protection Agency also has expressed concerns that many animals might mistake the litter for food.^[54]

Condoms made of polyurethane, a plastic material, do not break down at all. The plastic and foil wrappers condoms are packaged in are also not biodegradable.^[53] However, it is believed that their landfill mass is negligible.

[Edit] Etymology

Etymological theories for the word "condom" abound. It has been claimed to be from the Latin word condon, meaning receptacle.^[55] One author argues that "condom" is derived from the Latin word condamina, meaning house.^[56] It has also been speculated to be from the Italian word guantone, derived from guanto, meaning glove.^[57]

Folk etymology claims that the word "condom" is derived from a purported "Dr. Condom" or "Quondam", who made the devices for King Charles II of England. There is no verifiable evidence that any such "Dr. Condom" existed.^[57] It is also hypothesized that a British army officer named Cundum popularized the device between 1680 and 1717.^[58]

William E. Kruck wrote an article in 1981 concluding that, "As for the word 'condom', I need state only that its origin remains completely unknown, and there ends this search for an etymology."^[59] Modern dictionaries may also list the etymology as "unknown".^[60]

[Edit] Other terms

A box of Durex condoms sold in a UK chemist's shop

In North America condoms are also commonly known as prophylactics, or rubbers. In Britain they may be called French letters.^[61]

Condoms may also be referred to using the manufacturer's name. For example, in India they may be called Nirodh, a government-promoted brand, or KS (after a condom brand name KamaSutra).

[Edit] History

A condom made from animal hide circa 1900

An Egyptian drawing of a condom being worn has been found to be 3,000 years old. It is unknown, however, if the Egyptian pictured wearing the device intended to use it for contraception, or for ritual purposes.^[55]

In 16th century Italy, Gabriele Falloppio authored the first-known published description of condom use for disease prevention. He recommended soaking cloth sheaths in a chemical solution and allowing them to dry prior to use.^[62]

The oldest condoms found (rather than just pictures or descriptions) are from 1640, discovered in Dudley Castle in England. They were made of animal intestine, and it is believed they were used for STD prevention.^[55]

In 19th century Japan, both leather condoms and condoms made of tortoise shells or horns were available.^[62]

The rubber vulcanization process was patented by Charles Goodyear in 1844, and the first rubber condom was produced in 1855.^[63] These early rubber condoms were 1-2mm thick and had seams down the sides.^[62] Although they were reusable, these early rubber condoms were also expensive.

Distribution of condoms in the United States was limited by passage of the Comstock Act in 1873. This law prohibited transport through the postal service of any instructional material or devices intended to prevent pregnancy. Condoms were available by prescription, although legally they were only supposed to be prescribed to prevent disease rather than pregnancy.^[55] The Comstock Act remained in force until it was largely overturned by the U.S. Supreme Court in 1936.

In 1912, a German named Julius Fromm developed a new manufacturing technique for condoms: dipping glass molds into the raw rubber solution. This enabled the production of thinner condoms with no seams. Fromm's Act was the first branded line of condoms, and Fromms is still a popular line of condoms in Germany today.^[63] By the 1930s, the manufacturing process had improved to produce single-use condoms almost as thin and inexpensive as those currently available.^[62]

Condoms were not made available to U.S. soldiers in World War I, and a significant number of returning soldiers carried sexually transmitted infections. During World War II, however, condoms were heavily promoted to soldiers, with one film exhorting "Don't forget — put it on before you put it in."^[55] In part because condoms were readily available, soldiers found a number of non-sexual uses for the devices, many of which continue to be utilized to this day.