What will the condom of the future look like?
updated the 14 July 2015 à 18:31A latex-free condom that releases Viagra may soon be available on the market. Find out how it works.
Numerous research have been conducted to find a substitute for the traditional condom, which is accused of decreasing pleasure and whose use has been abandoned, despite the risk of sexually-transmitted infections. Now, a team of Australian researchers is working on a very promising alternative.
What will the condom of the future look like?
To fight against sexually-transmitted infections, in particular HIV, the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation has sponsored for the most serious and innovative projects to be undertaken for several years. Among the priorities are conceptualising the condom of the future, which would provide maximum sensation with minimum constraints. Within this context, a research team from the University of Wollongong (Australia) recently received a $100 000 subsidy. And the results seem as high as the invested funds!
HYDROGEL CONDOMS
Say goodbye to latex and the associated risk of allergies as scientists are presently testing at another material containing hydrogel. This is a very flexible and elastic substance, mainly comprising of water, and which forms a kind of gel to create the real effect of a ‘second skin’. Ultra-resistant, it should avoid accidents. In addition condoms tend to break at the worst time. As a bonus, it would be largely biodegradable! This type of compound is currently used in the creation of artificial muscles and eye implants. According to the initial experiments, besides being extremely comfortable and discreet, a condom containing hydrogel will be able to block the flow of small biological molecules, which could carry sexually-transmitted infections. Trials are currently in progress, in partnership with the University of Melbourne, to assess via brain imagery whether these condoms are really more pleasant for men.
A SELF-LUBRICATING MATERIAL CAPABLE OF RELEASING MEDICINE!
What’s even more impressive is that the hydrogel can be treated to have very particular properties. For example, we can imagine developing self-lubricating condoms or those that can release, if needed, small doses of Viagra to facilitate the penetration. It is a multifunctional condom as a matter of fact, which would not be accessible for every budget, at least initially. But the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation stresses on condom access for all; particularly, in African and Asian countries. In brief, the progress seems good, but large scale commercialisation is still (very) far away.
Maureen Diament
