Better, Safer Sex: On the Hunt for a Condom People Will Actually Like

As STD rates rise, researchers are looking to reinvent the most reliable disease-preventing contraception.

“The narratives need to be changed so we can accept there’s a major part of sex that’s about pleasure …” – Robert Gorkin, University of Wollongong, Australia.

Condoms have roots stretching back to 3,000 B.C. and today research, funded by the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation is exploring the next-generation of condoms.

The need for condoms will never wane, simply because they work so well, Gorkin says. But manufacturers and researchers should find value in making investments in pushing the needle forward, he continues. Within the next five years, he anticipates new products will emerge, including his hydrogel condom and brands offering condom customization. But perhaps the most impactful advancement would be the integration of sexual health and general health, that to promote overall wellness, one must make proactive choices in the bedroom, too.

Read more at Rolling Stone