Genesis: Withdrawal, coitus interruptus, mentioned in the Bible
ЮООвс: First sheath is made of linen and used in ancient Egypt 384-322bc: Aristotle is believed to have suggested cedar oil, lead ointment and frankincense oil as spermicides
ad1 00-200: Cave paintings in Les Combarelles, France suggest use of condoms in Europe 1564: First literary reference to a linen sheath by Gabriele Fallopius of Italy in De Morbo Gallico Liber Absolutissimus 1700s: Condoms from animal gut popular in London 1827: Scientists discover the female egg (ovum)
1838: German doctor Friedrich Wilde introduces the Wilde Cap, precursor to the diaphragm
1839: In the US, Charles Goodyear devises vulcanized rubber to
mass-produce condoms 1861: The New York Times prints the first condom ad for Dr Power’s French Preventatives 1873: The Comstock Law prevents contraception being advertised or sent through the post in the US
1875: Scientific breakthrough proves life is made through the union of sperm and egg 1880: German doctor Wilhelm Mensinga invents the diaphragm, aka the ‘cap’
1912: German Julius Fromm develops no-seam condoms.
Fromm’s Act is first brand
1914: Margaret Sanger is indicted in the US for advising women on the best times for avoiding pregnancy in The Woman Rebel 1916: Charges are dropped and Sanger, her sister and friend open the first US birth control clinic in New York
1923: Sanger opens the first legal birth control clinic in the US 1920s: Japanese scientists invent the rhythm method 1926: First pregnancy test 1929: Durex trademark registered. It stands for durability, reliability and excellence
1930: Roman Catholic Church states birth control is a sin 1936: Doctor John Rock opens a rhythm method clinic in Boston 1950s: About $2 million a year is spent on contraception in America
1951: Pope Pius XII approves the rhythm method 1957: Durex launches the first lubricated condom in the UK 1960: Doctors Pincus and John Rock’s Enovid is FDA-approved as a
birth control pill
1961: The Pill comes to the UK, for married women only at first 1965: In the US, 6.5 million women take the Pill 1968: Despite recommendations of the Papal commission, Pope Paul VI condemns any form of birth control except the rhythm method and abstinence 1980s: With HIV and AIDS, the use of condoms goes up dramatically
1984: About 75 million women take the Pill worldwide 1990s: Flavoured condoms introduced, sizes recognized
2003: On 19 June, the world’s largest condom at 300ft went on display at Chennai in India to promote AIDS awareness
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