Did you ever wonder?

Did you ever wonder how condoms were tested? How condom manufacturers made sure that their product could hold up under pressure? Well it turns out that they used returned product, questionnaires and a machine. Below is a picture of a coital model. This particular model is used by SSL International, the manufacturer of Durex condoms.

We all know that condoms are an excellent way to prevent the transmission of Sexually Transmitted Infections (STI's). The effectiveness of perfect condom use is extremely high but human error does enter into the equation. Tears, unpinched tips, and slippage can all result in condom failure.

SSL International is using it's coital model to investigate further causes into condom breakage. An article in Contraception Journal states that:

"Evidence combined from examining returns, questionnaire responses and the coital model strongly suggests a single predominant mechanism of failure we named "blunt puncture," where the tip of the thrusting male penis progressively stretches one part of the intact condom wall until it ultimately breaks. Blunt puncture appears to be the mechanism of breakage responsible for more than 90% of condom breakage not attributable to misuse. Knowledge of the main mechanism of breakage should help develop better user instructions, better test methods and, ultimately, better condoms."

It's nice to know that science is on our side and working towards building a better condom.

Sources:

White, Nicholas D. (2008) Male condoms that break in use do so mostly by a “blunt puncture” mechanism. Contraception An International Journal, Volume 77 Issue 5. http://www.contraceptionjournal.org/article/S0010-7824(08)00064-4/abstract Retrieved August 2009.

Pescovitz, David. (2009) Coital "model" machine used in condom study. http://www.boingboing.net/2009/08/19/coital-model-machine.html Retrieved August 2009