'Self lubricating condom' which realizes outstanding sliding without lubricant has been developed

"Condom" effective for prevention of contraception and sexually transmitted diseases, the feeling when wearing is very important. Among them, having "slipperiness" is a particularly important factor, but " self-lubricating condom " (self-lubricating condom) having a surface structure that produces lubricity without applying a lubricant Is being researched and developed.

Friction-lowering capabilities and human subject preferences for a hydrophilic surface coating on latex substrates: implications for increasing condom usage
(PDF file) http://rsos.royalsocietypublishing.org/content/royopensci/5/10/180291.full.pdf

This 'self-lubricating' condom concept uses clever chemistry to stay slippery | Popular Science
https://www.popsci.com/self-lubricating-condom

According to Sagami Rubber , a major manufacturer of condoms, more than 40% of Japanese women feel pain or discomfort against the question "Do you feel pain or discomfort due to local moisture shortage during sexual intercourse?" It is said that they answered that they are. Lubricants are generally used for condoms to remove the pain and discomfort at the time of use and to obtain a smooth feeling of use.

However, since the lubricant is only applied to the latex which is the main component of the condom, it rubs off by friction, so the frictional force rises during use and the discomfort increases. Therefore, research team of Dr. Stacy Ching of HydroGlide Coatings aiming to develop a condom that does not fall smoothly is developing a condom with "self lubricity" that reduces friction by giving affinity to the latex surface itself.

The self-lubricating condom developed by Dr. Chin and others utilizes the property that "hydrophilic polymer becomes slippery when brought into contact with moisture such as body fluid". By changing the surface itself to a highly lubricating nature, it is a mechanism to maintain low friction force permanently without lubricant.

Self lubricating condoms are prepared by applying two different chemical coatings of "2-hydroxyacrylate-benzophenone (HEA / BP)" and "polyvinylpyrrolidone (PVP)" to a typical latex condom, I will make it by hitting. It is said that HEA / BP and PVP have succeeded in changing the surface structure and having semi-permanent affinity by bonding with surface molecules of latex.

The surface of the self-lubricating condom (lower right in the figure below) shows that there is no irregularity on the surface than the surface without coating (upper right in the figure below). As latex for condom grows up to 500 times as wide as it spreads, Dr. Chin thinks it is important to carefully apply chemical coating to the surface of the latex to render the entire surface hydrophilic.

Dr. Chin is also testing the feeling of use of self-lubricating condom. We asked three groups of general condoms, condoms containing water-based lubricant, self-lubricating condoms in a limited group including 13 men from 24 years old to 58 years old and 20 females, I did it.

As a result, it seems that self-lubricating condom gathered 85% in the question "What is the most slippery?" And the self-lubricating condom gained high support of 73% even with the question "What is your favorite?" .

The research on the self-lubricating condom this time was done with the help of Bill Mates, Bill Gates, founder of Microsoft and his wife Melinda Bill Melinda Gates Foundation.

Bill · Gates Foundation aid investment of 1 million dollars to develop 'next generation condom' to keep pleasure feel - GIGAZINE

Dr. Chin is planning to conduct a larger scale test following the minority test of 33 people, and aims to put into practical use of self-lubricating condom within several years.