1. Condoms have been around since the time of the Egyptians.
2. During Roman times, a magic condom became popular. This condom supposedly protected the users from pregnancy and from evil spirits. To make a magic condom the woman collected a large handful of fur from a she-mule’s mane. During the foreplay stage, the man and woman wove a condom from the fur, which was then used during lovemaking.
3. Roman legions kept herds of goats for meat and milk. Some of the soldiers used the goat bladders or intestines for penis sheaths. Small pieces of leather or string held the condom in place around the top of the penis.
4. One size does not fit all. Correct condom use is critical in preventing unwanted pregnancies and sexually transmitted diseases, yet an Indiana study found many men reported problems with the fit and feel of condoms. The range of condom sizes is limited yet men come in all shapes and sizes.
21% of men in the study reported the condoms were too tight.
18% of the men in the study reported the condoms felt too short.
10% of the men in the study reported the condoms felt too loose.
7% of the men in the study reported the condoms felt too long.
5. Condoms are currently made from three materials: Latex, Polyurethane and Lamb Skins.
6. Latex condoms are produced from natural rubber latex, derived from trees in Africa and Southeast Asia. It’s a very elastic material and can stretch to fit any size. Condoms are stretched and inflated to several times their natural size and shape during the manufacture and product testing stage. During trials they are put under more stress than they receive in sexual intercourse.
7. Polyurethane is stronger and thinner and has no odor or taste. It has only recently been used in the manufacture of condoms and is recommended for latex-sensitive users.
8. Lamb Skins are made from the intestine of animals and were one of the first forms of birth control. They have a natural feeling and although effective for birth control, the bacteria and viruses which carry STDs and AIDs can pass through the porous walls of the natural membrane. Only one company continues to make Lamb Skin condoms.
9. Condoms can be weakened by exposure to heat or sunlight or by age.
10. Don’t store condoms in wallets, they could get damaged or worn out from the heat of the backside of a person or the pressure from being squished so much.
11. Always check the expiration date. Condoms should come with an expiration date.
12. Condoms are 98 percent effective in preventing pregnancy when used consistently and correctly. Using a latex condom to prevent transmission of HIV is more than 10,000 times safer than not using a condom.
13. For a humorous look at condoms check out FANCY FREE, available tomorrow from Ellora’s Cave.
Blurb:
It’s not every day a girl inherits a condom company, and to say accountant, Alice Beasley is astonished and out of her depth is putting it mildly. For an almost virgin, she needs a quick education in all things condom because her inheritance is in danger. Someone is intent on sabotage and playing nasty, trying to destroy her new company.
Alice is suddenly getting down and dirty with charismatic James, the factory manager, all in the name of business, testing new condom designs. The sex is hot. Mind-blowing. It’s a dark thrill and an erotic journey. Yeah, it’s a hard job but a girl’s got to do what a girl’s gotta do.
The testing turns personal. Alice wants James. She craves his talented touch and sultry kisses, she desires passion and physical pleasure on a permanent basis but first she must convince bad boy James to give up his fancy free ways.
Note: condoms were tested and a few harmed during the writing of this story.
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When DH and I were newly weds we made a few extra $ by product testing some condoms.
Happy TT.
by pussreboots March 6th, 2008 at 12:40 ampussreboots… How can my hubby and I get that job?
Interesting stuff as always, Shelley. I’m intrigued - and a tad puzzled - by number two, though. I can’t picture it.
Icky. Fuzzy? Wow.
by MsMenozzi March 6th, 2008 at 3:12 amWhy am I not surprised so few men complained condoms were too long?
by Gina Ardito March 6th, 2008 at 3:54 amGreat list! Good luck with your release!
Congrats on your new release tomorrow, Shelley. Fancy Free sounds like another winner!
by N.J. Walters March 6th, 2008 at 6:23 amGreat post! Your upcoming release sounds awesome. Can’t wait!
by LA Day March 6th, 2008 at 6:26 amVery thorough…
LOL! Good luck on your new release!
by Jennifer Shirk March 6th, 2008 at 6:26 amI love the concept of this book Shelley. And what in the WORLD would it be like to weave during foreplay?
by Jennifer McKenzie March 6th, 2008 at 7:48 amWho is going to write THAT sex scene?
I love the fun condoms, twister, ribbed but after the big V they’re just a thrill every once in awhile.
by Tara Nichols March 6th, 2008 at 8:10 amgood info. Great idea for a plot too!
Congrats on the new release Shelley!
by Heather March 6th, 2008 at 8:33 amInteresting! And congratulations on the new release!
*hugs*
Paige
My TT is at http://paigetylertheauthor.blogspot.com/
by Paige Tyler March 6th, 2008 at 9:40 amCongrats on the release! and Happy TT!
And yeah, that magic condom thing… wtf were they thinking? *boggle* Eewwwww!
by Kaige March 6th, 2008 at 9:48 amGreat T13, Shelley! I know of a very fine fellow whose arrival here on planet Earth was due to an ill-fitting condom…
by julia March 6th, 2008 at 10:51 ampussreboots - Durex had a campaign here in NZ/Aust recently looking for people to test a new design.
The magic condom really intrigued me. It sounds like such an interesting ritual but I wondered what would happen if the couple were in a hurry or worse, couldn’t find a she-mule.
Thanks for the congratulations, everyone. I’m really excited about this release.
LOL - Julia. I’m sure it happens more than we realize.
by Shelley Munro March 6th, 2008 at 11:07 amGreat post, Shelley! I can’t wait to read your story!
by Tempest Knight March 6th, 2008 at 12:48 pmI never heard such fun & interesting facts on condoms. Thanks for making them your 13 list. Very entertaining bits of trivia you’ve shared.
Congratulations on your new release. Your book sounds like a hoot. I know it’ll be an enjoyable read. You have a nifty style of writing that catches and holds a reader’s attention.
Thanks for the Congratulations on our 30th. It’s been a fun and interesting 3 decades. It feels like it’s flown by in almost a heartbeat.
Wishing you a warm and pleasant rest of the week!
Oh, one more thing, thanks so much for mentioning the wordpress spam filters.
by Dee March 6th, 2008 at 1:02 pmI’m working on building a wordpress blog. I’m going to check on setting them this afternoon.
– And what in the WORLD would it be like to weave during foreplay?
Who is going to write THAT sex scene? –
Not I, Jennifer, despite the fact I write about the Romans.
by Gabriele March 6th, 2008 at 1:07 pmI’m intrigued…
but I still hate condoms (did you catch the passing reference to it in this week’s outtake of mine?).
by Susan Helene Gottfried March 6th, 2008 at 1:42 pmWow. They’re usually such an afterthought to the act, yet so fundemental. I didn’t know about the egyptians or the she-mule hair. Thanks for the education! lol
Congrats on the release and good luck with the campaign!
by Gwen Mitchell March 6th, 2008 at 2:23 pm~Gwen
Great list!! This I think is true about almost everything except vegetation: “…can be weakened by exposure to heat or sunlight or by age.”
:) Kat
by Kathleen Oxley March 6th, 2008 at 7:06 pmNow THAT’s an informational post!
by Debbie Mumford March 7th, 2008 at 12:29 amYou are too funny. What a great TT idea!
by Dana March 7th, 2008 at 9:12 am