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Condoms
Sexual Intercourse, Protection and Erection

Anastasios D. Kalantzis, Surgeon Urologist-Andrologist

 

The condom has a dual use: it acts as a contraceptive measure and provides protection from sexually transmitted diseases, enabling us to enjoy sexual intercourse safely.

 

The oldest depiction of condoms is 12,000-15,000 years old and was found in a cave in France. Another picture, 3,000 years old, was discovered in Egypt. During modern times, condoms were first made in 1640 in England. They were made by animal intestines and were probably used for protection against disease. Casanova, in the 18th century, used condoms made of linen, which, however, were not very effective.

 

The mass production of condoms (made by rubber) started in 1843, but they were expensive and difficult in use, so they were replaced by condoms made by latex manufactured in the 1930's.

 

The use of condoms has been proven to significantly reduce the danger of HIV virus (AIDS) transmission.

 

Also, recent surveys conducted in the Netherlands and the USA related to the HPV virus report that the use of condom reduced the risk of reinfection of the sexual partners, reduced the duration of infection and can play a significant role in reducing the frequency of HPV infections.

 

There is also strong evidence that the use of condom protects women from the development of uterine cancer.

 

In one of the biggest recent epidemiology researches (JSM, 2010), conducted in the USA and used a sample of 5.865 citizens between 14 to 94 years of age, it is referred that boys up to 17 years of age reported using condoms in 80% of the cases, while girls of the same age in 58% of the cases.

 

However, the percentages were significantly lower in adult subjects. Adult men reported use of condoms in 20% of their intercourses, while women in 18,4%. An impressive fact is that in adults the condom use percentage is significantly reduced in every 10-year increase of age. Adolescents and younger individuals appear more responsible in their sexual behavior.

 

Another phenomenon observed is that some men have erectile problems related with the use of condoms: there is decreased duration and sometimes no erection at all.

 

In many people, the condom has a negative effect in sexual satisfaction. It affects spontaneity and inhibits sexual mood due to the interruption of foreplay for its application. Some men complain that condoms do not apply properly or find it difficult to put them on. Sensitiveness is another subject that annoys men and women regarding the use of condoms. Also, a small percentage of individuals present allergies in the material of which condoms are used.

 

The decision is ours. What will finally be the result?