National Condom Month – February 2025

History of National Condom Month

The history of condoms dates back many centuries. Since they’ve been around, condoms have served birth control efforts and protective measures against sexually transmitted diseases.
The oldest condoms to have ever been found were in a cesspit on the grounds of Dudley Castle in England. The condoms dated back to circa 1642. Condoms have been made from a variety of materials; before the 19th century, they were made from chemically treated linen and animal tissue.

It wasn’t until the mid-19th century that rubber condoms gained popularity with more advancements influencing the manufacture of condoms by the early 20th century. For many years, condoms were the most popular birth control method in the Western world. The latex condom was invented in 1920, replacing rubber ones. Latex condoms required less labor to produce than cement-dipped rubber condoms, which had to be smoothed by rubbing and trimming; it eliminated the fire hazard previously associated with all condom factories. Latex condoms also proved to be the better alternative for consumers as they were stronger and thinner than rubber condoms and had a shelf life of five years (compared to three months for rubber ones).

As quality testing for condoms became more of a requirement, various testing methods were conducted such as filling each condom with air intended to detect any loss of pressure. Scandalously, some American companies sold their factory rejects under cheaper brand names rather than discarding them. The 1920s was also such a remarkable decade for condoms as sales doubled during that time. In the U.S., condom advertising was legally restricted to its use as disease prevention. Britain however, allowed vendors to openly market condoms as a means of birth control, although due to the country’s relatively conservative nature, purchasing condoms publicly was socially awkward in comparison to the U.S. The largest pharmacy chain in Britain, Boots, ceased to sell condoms altogether in the 1920s, and that policy stood for about 40 years.

In the late 20th century, the affordability of condoms made family planning programs accessible throughout the developing world. Condoms have also become highly relevant in the battle against AIDS.