It is known that condoms have been used since the sixteenth century to protect against sexually transmitted diseases and since the eighteenth century have been used to protect against unwanted pregnancy. It is known that the Romans may have made condoms out of the muscle tissue of combatants that they killed in battle. The first condoms were found in the foundations of Dudley Castle near Birmingham, England. Animal and fish intestines were materials used for the condoms. These condoms were in all likelihood used to prevent transmission of sexually transmitted infections during the war between soldiers loyal to King Charles I and the forces of Oliver Cromwell.

Casanova, the famous womanizer of the 18th century, used condoms that were made of linen. In 1844 Charles Goodyear, who patented the vulcanization of rubber, which he invented five years earlier, first produced rubber condoms. In the 1940s and 50s, condoms were washed, coated in petroleum jelly, and stored in little wooden boxes in the bedroom drawer. Condoms are now disposable and are to be used only once and then discarded in the trash.

There are several theories on how the name condoms came about.

One theory is that "Dr. Condom" supplied King Charles II of England with animal-tissue sheaths to keep him from fathering unwanted pregnancies and from catching sexually transmitted diseases from prostitutes. Another theory is that the word condom comes from a "Dr. Condom" or a "Colonel Cundum." It is more probable that the word condom is derived from the Latin word condom, which means "receptacle."

Condom use was almost ended during the sexual revolution of the 60s. Sex was easy to come by, so less men solicited prostitutes, common STD's were treated and the birth control pill and IUD provided the most effective reversible contraception know to man.

When HIV, the virus that can cause AIDS, was identified, it became clear that condom use and safer sex were a necessity.

Anti-sex, anti-choice radicals the last several years, tried to discourage condom use by distorting the scientific facts about condoms. Three main principle ideas were what these anti-condom groups operated under. First, condom discussion and giving away condoms leads to sexually promiscuity. Second, condoms cause AIDS because the HIV virus allegedly passes through microscopic pores in the latex. Third, condoms cause cervical cancer.

However, as research has shown the use of condoms is highly effective in preventing unwanted pregnancy and sexually transmitted disease. Additional studies have shown that condoms do not increase sexual activity among adolescents, nor do sexual education programs lead to increased sexual activity. However, research and studies have shown that easy access to condoms does increase the use of condoms among teens, thus helping prevent unwanted pregnancy and sexual transmitted disease.