If You Rely on Condoms, You'll Need These Simple Facts
By Lucky Bloke. Posted on .
Lucky Bloke invited Caryn Thompson, the importer of RFSU a Premium Condom Brand from Sweden to share her knowledge and experience with you.
After 14 years of experience in the condom business, I have heard thousands of condom "experiences" from customers:
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“The condom broke!" “Those condoms are bad, they break.” “I hated those condoms."
When condom failure occurs, why I ask, do we defer responsibility to the condom? Are we really saying: The condom did it! It was the condom's fault!
Fact: Condoms are inanimate objects
Condoms do not purchase themselves, they do not open themselves and they do not put themselves on -- enter humans!
Humans choose and then buy condoms they use; then humans OPEN the condom wrapper and humans PUT the condom on in some fashion or other.
Simply, it is human interaction that contributes to common condom problems: the condom is not a good fit, there is not enough lubricant coating the entire length of the condom, or -perhaps- not enough room has been left at the tip for the ejaculate.
For those using and enjoying condoms, thank you for making a choice to protect your sexual health. For those who’ve had poor experiences with condom use, the following information will be very helpful.
My company is the American importer of RFSU vegan condoms from Sweden. A few years ago, I traveled to the manufacturing plant in Hennen, Sweden. I personally wanted to witness their manufacturing and testing processes. RFSU also owns and operates an accredited testing lab for testing all RFSU condoms, not a common practice in this industry.
Fact: RFSU established the testing process used by the FDA today.
It is called the Triple Test:
1. Condoms are filled with a measured amount of air; they must hold a set pressure limit prior to bursting.
2. The latex condom is stretched over a machine that measures the elasticity limit necessary for regulations, prior to breaking.
3. Finally, the condoms are lowered into a vat of water and a measured, electrical current is passed through the water. This test will identify any condom that has a hole.
RFSU takes it two steps further; a lab technician will fill the condom with water and push the water towards the reservoir tip, revealing any leaks.
Once the condom is in the wrapper, another electronic test is preformed to identify any minute holes that may be in the wrapper.
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As I explain the testing needed for condoms to meet FDA requirements, this question often pops up: “Do they test every single condom?”
The answer is no. Once a batch (referred to as a "Lot") has been produced, a predetermined, mathematical ratio of condoms from that batch is tested. If the selected condoms pass the tests listed above, the batch is deemed ready for market. RFSU is one of a few manufacturers that also stamp the lot (batch) number on each and every condom.
