Condoms are one of those products we often buy without thinking about everything that happens before they reach the store shelf.
Where do they come from? Who makes them? How are condoms made? And what kind of testing happens before they are ready to use?
There are many steps involved in turning natural rubber latex into a finished condom designed to provide protection while also supporting comfort and pleasure.
Condom Manufacturing
Karex is one of the world’s largest condom manufacturers. The company began producing condoms in Malaysia in the late 1980s and has since grown into a major global manufacturer.
Today, Karex has the capacity to produce more than 5 billion condoms each year and exports its products to more than 130 countries.
The HIV/AIDS crisis of the 1980s brought greater global attention to condoms as an important part of safer sex. As demand increased, condom manufacturing expanded to meet the needs of people and organizations around the world.
Today, Karex manufactures condoms for a variety of brands and international markets.
How Condoms Are Tested
Making a condom involves much more than simply forming latex into the right shape. Testing and quality control are important parts of the manufacturing process.
In Canada, condoms are regulated as medical devices. Because they are designed to help prevent pregnancy and reduce the risk of sexually transmitted infections (STIs), manufacturers must meet specific requirements for production, testing, packaging, labelling and shelf life.
Condom testing can include:
- Testing for holes
- Burst pressure and volume testing
- Strength and stretch testing
- Package integrity testing
- Size and dimension checks
- Shelf-life and stability testing
Natural rubber latex condoms also follow international standards such as ISO 4074, which outlines requirements and testing methods for condom quality and performance.
Each condom package includes an expiry date and lot number. The lot number allows manufacturers and suppliers to trace a product back to its manufacturing and testing records if a quality issue or recall ever occurs.
There is a lot more science behind a condom than many people realize!
Lube Is Made Here Too!
Karex also manufactures personal lubricants.
Lubricants may be used on condoms during production or packaged separately as personal lubricant products. Karex produces different options, including water-based and silicone-based lubricants, in a variety of packaging formats.
Lubricant can help reduce friction and improve comfort, making it another important part of many sexual wellness products.
The Changing Role of Condoms
The way people think about condoms has changed considerably over time.
For many years, condoms were viewed mainly as a form of birth control to help prevent unintended pregnancy. As awareness of sexually transmitted infections increased, condoms also became an important part of STI prevention and safer-sex education.
Today, condoms can serve another purpose as well: pleasure.
Different sizes, textures, flavours, materials and styles give people more options to find a condom that works for their needs and preferences.
At the same time, the manufacturing and testing process helps ensure that condoms designed for protection meet important safety and quality requirements.
With so many options available, you can explore different condom sizes, styles and types to find what works best for you. References
- Karex Berhad. (n.d.). Condom product brochure.
- Karex Berhad. (n.d.). Personal lubricants product brochure.
- Health Canada. (n.d.). Guidance on the risk-based classification system for non-in vitro diagnostic medical devices.