The history of condoms goes back four centuries to when physicians first fashioned condoms out of sheep-gut (Approval, 1992). While animal skin condoms are still commercially available today, their use has largely been displaced by products made of latex (Condoms, 1990, p. 18). Originally, the condom was designed for birth control (Willis, 1990, p. 32). More recently, however, the medical device is being used to prevent sexually transmitted diseases (STD) (p. 32). Of course, the only sure ways to avoid these diseases are either to not have sex at all or to limit sex to one uninfected partner who is also monogamous (Baulieu et al., 1993, p. 101). Short of this though, condoms--while not 100% effective--may reduce the risk of STDs if properly used (Willis, 1990, p. 32). This fact, coupled with the fear of acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS) and recent "safe sex" campaigns, has resulted in an almost doubling of worldwide condom sales since 1985 (Barriers, 1991).
In his 1986 report on AIDS, the U.S. Surgeon General advised persons whose sex partners may have been exposed to the AIDS virus to always use a condom during sexual intercourse (Moran et al., 1990, p. 607). The extensive public health campaign that followed this report promoted condom use by persons who have sex outside of mutually monogamous relationships (Moran et al., 1990, P. 607). The response to this AIDS education was a rapid rise in condom sales. Between 1986 and 1988, U.S. sales of latex condoms with spermicide increased 116% (Moran et al., 1990, p. 607).
In theory, intact latex condoms could be nearly 100% effective at preventing STDs (Can You Rely, 1989, p. 135). Under a scanning electron microscope at 30,000 power, the surface of a latex condom appears somewhat bumpy, but shows no pores (Can You Rely, 1989, P. 135). Even when stretched, the latex remains a continuous pore-free membrane (Can You Rely, 1989, p. 135). Such an intact barrier shie...