There are few possible explanations for how the condom got its name. The most popular legend says that the condom was named for a British physician who lived during the reign of Charles II (1660-85). Some suggest "condom" come from Italian "guanto" (glove). It also may be derived from Condus, the Latin for receptacle.

Recognized since Roman times, the first condoms were made of linen cloth sheaths, woven fabrics, animal intestines.

In 1500's when the syphilis epidemic spread across Europe linen sheaths were used to prevent infection, and it was only later that the usefulness of the condom for the prevention of pregnancy was recognized.

Mass production of condoms started in the mid-19th century, shortly after the invention of the rubber vulcanization (process that turns the rubber into a strong elastic material: condoms made of vulcanized rubber latex may be stretched in excess of 800% before breaking) by Goodyear and Hancock. By the mid-1930s, 1.5 million condoms were produced a day in the US.

From the early 1960s to the 1980's the condoms were less popular as a contraceptive as compared with the birth control pill.

However in the 1980's when HIV/AIDS was recognized, the use of the condom increased dramatically in many countries. Condoms became available in pubs, bars, grocery stores and supermarkets.

According to the global sex survey 2005 by Durex, people globally have had an average number of nine sexual partners with 44% of adults worldwide having had a one-night stand.

UNAIDS estimates that more than 2 million people were living with HIV in Europe at the end of December 2004.