Using Nanotechnology To Build Thinner, Stronger Condoms 253
Hugh Pickens DOT Com writes "Discovery Magazine reports that the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation has granted $100,000 to Boston University School of Medicine (BUSM) and Boston Medical Center (BMC) to develop a nanoparticle coating for condoms that will make them more comfortable and stronger while simultaneously keeping them thin to preserve – and increase – sensation in order to make them more appealing to use. According to the Gates Foundation, in the time that condoms have been in use, not much has changed: '[Condoms] have undergone very little technological improvement in the past 50 years. The primary improvement has been the use of latex as the primary material and quality-control measures, which allow for quality testing of each individual condom. Material science and our understanding of neurobiology has undergone revolutionary transformation in the last decade, yet that knowledge has not been applied to improve the product attributes of one of the most ubiquitous and potentially underutilized products on earth.' The nanotechnology that the Boston doctors intend to use for their improved condoms will be superhydrophillic nanoparticles that coat the condom and trap water to make them more resilient and easier to use. 'We believe that by altering the mechanical forces experienced by the condom, we may ultimately be able to make a thinner condom which reduces friction, thereby reducing discomfort associated with friction increases pleasure, thereby increasing condom use and decreases rates of unwanted pregnancy and infection transmission.'"
Re:Reduced Friction? (Score:5, Informative)
Re:There needs to be a completely different approa (Score:5, Informative)
Well, the pregnancy prevention part is pretty simple - outpatient surgery will fix you right up.
Preventing microbe transfer when bodily fluids are mixed and parts are in direct contact - well, that's quite a bit more challenging without a physical barrier.
Re:There needs to be a completely different approa (Score:2, Informative)
my wife and i will start having sex without a condom and i'll only put it at the very end
after ten years of marriage we only have 2 kids
Re:Reduced Friction? (Score:5, Informative)
It depends on whose sensation we're talking about. :-) The wearer should experience almost no friction from the latex itself, since it's supposed to stay more-or-less in place. But the latex is thin enough that he can sense the temperature and "grip" of his partner, which is probably the primary stimulating sensation for him.
His partner, on the other hand, would certainly experience friction from the latex, which is one reason you should use lube with condoms -- too much friction, and thrusting becomes difficult for the pair and especially irritating (or painful) for the person being penetrated. That leads to irritation, soreness, and an eventual halting of adult activities.
(PSA: Make sure to choose the right lube for the condom you use -- some lubes will cause the material of the condom to fail, which leads to babies, and possibly also a halting of adult activities. But also talk to your partner -- certain women report high incidents of yeast infections after using certain types of lube.)
So I can see a thinner, lower-friction condom being a boon for both partners, as it would increase sensation for both, and also lead to fewer incidents of vaginal/anal tearing from friction, which are not only not fun but which also which increase risk of STD transmission.
Re:Reduced Friction? (Score:4, Informative)
This doesn't exist. Condoms come in multiple sizes, and anyone who thinks there is a one size fits all is actually very misinformed about condoms.
Re:TLDR, Boston, nano-condoms (Score:5, Informative)
Frankly, I find them akin to eating steak with one on your tongue.
A lot of effort, for no sensation at all. Hell, I find it hard to blow a nut with one on, hence I rarely use them.
Custom condoms exist (Score:2, Informative)
There already are different sizes condoms based on your measurements (96 available sizes). They-Fit is the brand and they have an on-line store (European company).
I have tried them and they are pretty much spot on :-).
Their largest size makes Magnum look like a condom for mice. And their smallest size goes to well veeery small.
Re:TLDR, Boston, nano-condoms (Score:2, Informative)
Nerd FAIL, turn in your Geek Card.