Durex Fetherlite condoms

item details

NameDurex Fetherlite condoms

ProductionSSL International; manufacturer(s); circa 1991; Thailand

Classificationcondoms

Materialsrubber, plastic, cardboard

DimensionsOverall: 73mm (width), 100mm (height), 15mm (depth)

Registration NumberGH022076

Credit lineGift of Dame Margaret Sparrow, 2011

Overview

Romance sells
In the 1980s and 90s condoms threw off their staid image. Companies experimented with romantic packaging, and new technology sparked a wider range of options.

Thinner condoms were produced for a more comfortable fit. These particular condoms were lubricated with Nonoxynol-9 (N-9) spermicide for extra contraceptive cover. But N-9 is not effective against HIV or sexually transmitted infections, and can cause genital lesions. Durex stopped using N-9 in 2002.

Durex
The Durex condom brand was introduced by the London Rubber Company in 1929. ‘Durex’ stands for ‘durability, reliability and excellence’. Some of Durex’s innovations have included electronic testing and lubricated condoms in the 1950s, anatomically-shaped condoms in the 1960s, and spermicide-protected condoms in the 1970s.