The First Known Condom Was Made from Linen

In the 16th century, as a devastating syphilis epidemic swept across Europe, Italian anatomist and physician Gabriele Falloppio proposed a novel solution. He described what is now considered the first documented condom: a small linen sheath, tailored to the individual, which was soaked in a chemical solution of salts and herbs before use. It was then secured with a ribbon. Falloppio, for whom the fallopian tubes are named, wasn't focused on contraception but on disease prevention. He claimed to have tested his invention on over 1,100 men, reporting that none of them contracted the dreaded disease, making it one of history's earliest clinical trials for a medical device.

While Falloppio’s text is the earliest known published description, the concept of a barrier method was not entirely new. Archaeological evidence and ancient writings suggest that sheaths made from treated animal bladders or intestines were used in various cultures long before the Renaissance, though their purpose is not always clear. The true revolution in condom technology, however, arrived with the invention of vulcanized rubber in the mid-1850s. This innovation made condoms cheaper, more reliable, and far more accessible, transforming them from a reusable, custom-made linen garment into the disposable products common today.