Our Top 10 Facts About Condoms

Condoms, also known as prophylactics, have lots of different names. Some are medical sounding, some funny and some we'd rather not comment on...

Since we collectively, and especially here at Team HANX, owe a huge amount to the invention of the condom, let's dive into a few key facts that might just come in handy for your pub quiz, family trivia round or generally to impress that hot Bumble date...

1. Originally condoms weren't made of rubber.

In fact, linen soaked in various ‘medicines’ were the very first condoms. Animal intestines, such as those of the lamb, were also used. Not much fun for our vegan ancestors!

2. Not everyone was able to buy condoms when they became popular in the 18th century.

Contraception was a class issue, with condoms only available to the middle and upper classes. This was partly because they could afford them but also partly due to a lack of education around sexual health for the lower classes. For sex workers of the time, the cost of a condom could be 3 months’ worth of work - which just wasn't accessible for all. For those with the funds, condoms were sold at pubs, barbershops, chemist shops, open-air markets, and at the theatre (!).

3. We now purchase 160 million condoms every year in the UK.

Breaking it down (pardon the pun), that's just over 3 million condoms used every day. Sounds like a huge amount of getting it on, but not as a society, we're still fighting the huge amounts of stigma around using johnnies. 

4. The first rubber condom was produced in 1855.

The rubber vulcanization process (a chemical process for converting natural rubber or related polymers into more durable materials by heating them with sulphur) was invented by Charles Goodyear in 1839. Yes, we'd call that a pretty good year... (Okay, okay, we'll hold the jokes for now). By the late 1850s, several major rubber companies were mass-producing, amongst other items, rubber condoms. The main advantage of rubber condoms was their reusability, making them a more economical choice in the long term - though not something we'd advise now.

5. British people are still embarrassed about buying condoms.

We've found that nearly 40% of people find the experience of grabbing some johnnies pretty embarrassing.

6. ... and even talking about using condoms is also something people struggle with, regardless of age.

In our survey with dating app Inner Circle, we found that over 53% of Brits haven't used a condom with a new partner in the past as they felt too awkward to bring it up in conversation. 

7. The first televised advert for a condom was in 1975 by a condom company called Trojan.

You've most likely seen them in the iconic Sex and the City scene, where Carrie drops a ream of Trojan condoms all over the NYC pavement. Yes, Trojan launched the first TV advert. Warning - it's very of its time and encourages the use of condoms for family planning. Check it out here.

8. The German Military was the first to promote condom use among its soldiers. They were also the biggest exporters to Europe, Australia and Canada.

Early 20th century experiments by the American military concluded that providing condoms to soldiers significantly lowered rates of sexually transmitted diseases. Unfortunately, Britain majorly misfired as the only armed force with soldiers in Europe who did not provide condoms and promote their use.        

9. The UK is the reason we have lubricated condoms.

We smoothly (get it?) redeemed ourselves post-war, though. The first lubricated condom was launched in the UK in 1957, creating a better, more slippery, exciting experience for users. Did we mention our condoms are all lubed up with a drop of our own water-based lubricant? 

10. In 2017, HANX condoms came on to the market.

Cheeky, we know, but we have to toot our own horn. Back in 2017, we quit our jobs in investment banking and NHS gynaecology to create a sexual wellness offering that revolutionised the stale, penis-centric condom aisle. Since then, we've launched in major high street retailers including Sainsburys, featured in titles including Vogue, Marie Claire and Dazed and Confused and have over 1 million condoms in circulation.