- The History of Condoms in 60 Seconds.
Not to scale.
The first documented use of the condom
was when King Minos of Crete used
the bladder of a goat to protect his wife
from the serpents and scorpions in his semen.
Italian Gabriele Falloppio recommended the use
of linen sheets soaked in a chemical solution and dried.
They covered the glans of the penis
and held on with a ribbon.
King Charles II's doctor prescribed him
a sheath made of lambs intestine
because the king was troubled by
his number of illegitimate children.
The doctor was called Colonel Condom.
Soldiers contracted syphilis from the use of prostitutes
and it was a common cause of fatality.
Condoms made from fish, cattle and sheep intestine
were deployed to the army.
Rubber condoms invented.
More war, which meant more condoms
on the German side and more syphilis and gonorrhoea
on the American and British side.
Latex condoms invented.
Condoms lost popularity because of the pill
and a perceived lower risk of STIs because of antibiotics.
The discovery of AIDS increased condom popularity
and there were many educational campaigns
promoting their use.
And in 2015 approximately 18 billion condoms were used.
And now, its 2018 and we've got loads
of different types of condoms.
So, we've got ribbed and dotted.
Latex-free 'cause some people are allergic to latex.
Comfort extra-large.
Flavoured, this one's got mint,
bubble gum, banana and strawberry.
You can also get edible condoms
but they are novelty only.
You can't actually use those to protect
against STIs 'cause you eat them off.
And then some glow-in-the-dark ones.
I don't really wanna show you
because once you start exposing it to light
it starts working and I don't know if it will
then work again so we've got to keep
it in its dark case.
But yeah, do you like my timeline?
I feel like my living room has turned into
a primary school classroom.
I'm very proud of it.
I can't stop staring.
If you didn't know what this one says,
it is "I'm serious about love.
"I use condoms."
And that is from condom-using awareness campaigns
during the 1980s.
Lovely.
So, yeah, this video has been sponsored by
Public Health England's Protect Against STIs Campaign
which is all about raising awareness of the risks
of STIs, sexually transmitted infections.
Specifically, about chlamydia and gonorrhoea
which are the most prevalent STIs in England,
especially amongst young people.
59% of chlamydia and gonorrhoea diagnoses,
diagnoses, is that a word?
We're gonna go with that's a word.
In 2016 were in 15 to 24 year olds.
So that's quite a lot.
And if left untreated, STIs can cause very serious
health risks such as pelvic inflammatory disease.
Never heard of that, doesn't sound pleasant.
Infertility and ectopic pregnancy in women
and even meningitis.
Yeah, doesn't sound great.
Gonorrhoea is becoming harder and harder to treat now
because of the antibiotic resistance.
Super gonorrhoea, which, not so super for us humans.
But basically, despite condoms being a pretty incredible
contraceptive and way of avoiding STIs,
a lot of people do not use them when they have sex
with someone for the first time.
Public Health England actually did a survey
of 2,000 young people and found out a bunch of stuff
about attitudes towards condoms and STIs.
So, almost half of young people
who have had sex have done so with someone
for the first time without a condom
and 1 in 10 sexually active 16-24 year olds
have never used a condom.
And there seems to be a lot of misconceptions
around condoms as well.
For example, 1 in 3 16-24 year olds
think that carrying condoms gives off the impression
that you sleep around, which it doesn't.
It should just give off the impression
that you're super smart and you value your sexual health
and your partner's sexual health.
The main reasons that young people gave
for not using condoms were the perception
that it doesn't feel good, that it's not necessary
because they're on other contraception
or getting drunk and forgetting.
If you live in England and you're under 25,
it is recommended that you get tested every year
or every time you change sexual partner.
And believe me, getting tested is not scary at all.
The doctors and nurses see people all the time.
They hear all of the questions.
They see all of the genitals.
There is absolutely nothing to worry about.
Also, you can get home test kits
so that you can do at home and send off
to get your results.
It is really important to know the status
of your sexual health and consistently and correctly
using condoms can significantly reduce your risk.
I've even done a video in the past.
I think it is from an episode of the Hormone Diaries
where I take you along with me
to get checked at an STI clinic.
And they're free in the UK.
Condoms are 100% the best thing
to protect you and your partner from STIs.
Other contraception, such as the pill
or the coil, can only protect you from pregnancy.
Anyone who doesn't use a condom can get an STI.
So, protect yourselves against STIs,
use a condom.
There are so many fun ones to chose from!
Like, go get yourself checked out at the STI clinic
and pick up some free condoms whilst you're there.
Would recommend.
Thank you so much for watching this video.
Please give it a thumbs up if you enjoyed it.
Especially for my crafting, my arts and crafting.
I'm genuinely so proud.
I'm not taking this down.
And don't forget to subscribe
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when I upload next.
Bye.
(funky music)