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Home > Sex Tech > Biochemist Creates Water-Loving Condom That Mimics Human Skin

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Home›Sex Tech›Biochemist Creates Water-Loving Condom That Mimics Human Skin

Biochemist Creates Water-Loving Condom That Mimics Human Skin

By M. Christian
August 6, 2016
1776
0

Hydrophilic prophylactic promises improved safety and sensation during sex.

condom_photo2_shengxi_chen_0

The demand for a new type of condom that’s both a means of birth control and a reliable way to prevent the spread of sexually transmitted infections (STIs) has been around for years. But developers are now realizing that perhaps the most important factor is actually creating one that’s comfortable to wear.

After all, what good is a condom—even if it’s remarkably effective—if men won’t use it?

Fortunately, through innovations in design and manufacturing, we are beginning to see a real renaissance in condom innovation.

A better condom for a better world

Fueled in part by the initiatives such as the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, which put $1.1 million dollars toward 11 new approaches to this old staple of responsible sex in both 2013 and 2014, scientists and researchers are developing a new range of condoms that aren’t just effective but may also be enjoyable to wear.

One of the recipients of a $100,000 Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation grant is Shengxi Chen, Assistant Professor Research at Arizona State University’s Biodesign Institute.

Last month, Chen announced the development of his re-imagined condom. It’s made of a new material that favors water and approximates the feel and behavior of human skin. This means that the condom will more than likely feel a lot less artificial—and, let’s face it, there’s only so much fun that can be had with anything that feels like a plastic bag.

Chen says of his new material:

“I thought, if we make something really close to skin, people would not mind using condoms. Human skin has a lot of water; we call it hydrophilic. Most condoms are hydrophobic, but this material likes water.”

In addition to being more comfortable, Chen claims his new condom is also a lot stronger: 1.7 times more so than standard latex ones.

With his new material, Chen has begun a startup called Joys LLC: “We are trying to put it to the market because I think that it is truly interesting,” he said. “It’s better than the other condoms, and we don’t want this to just stay in the lab.”

Chen still needs to acquire additional funding, get someone to manufacture the condom, and then get it through examination and qualification by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration—as well as approval with similar organizations in other countries he wishes to sell to.

Still, if all goes well and Chen’s proposed solution leads to men actually enjoying wearing condoms, it could create a literally life-saving change for humanity.

Image sources: Arizona State University

M. Christian

M.Christian (they/them) loves nothing better than exploring the intersections of sex and technology—and speculating on the future of both. A highly regarded erotica writer they have six novels,12 collections, 100+ short stories, and 25 anthologies as an editor to their name. Their non-fiction regularly appears in many sites, but they're most proud of being a regular contributor to Future of Sex.

Of their erotic fiction, Tristan Taormino said that “M.Christian is a literary stylist of the highest caliber: smart, funny, frightening, sexy—there's nothing [they] can't write about… and brilliantly.”

Reflecting their unique ability to sympathetically and convincingly write for a range of genders and sexual orientations, their stories have appeared in multiple editions of Best American Erotica, Best Gay Erotica, Best Lesbian Erotica, The Mammoth Books of Erotica, and others. Their collection of gay erotic fiction, Dirty Words, was a finalist for the Lambda Literary Award.

While a majority of their stories have been collected into books like Dirty Words, their fondness for combining sex and science fiction is clearly evident in collections that include Rude Mechanicals, Technorotica, Better Than The Real Thing, Skin Effect Effect, Bachelor Machine, and Hard Drive: The Best Sci-Fi Erotica of M.Christian.

As a novelist, M.Christian’s versatility is on full display with Running Dry, The Very Bloody Marys, Brushes, Painted Doll; and the somewhat controversial queer BDSM/horror/thrillers Finger's Breadth, and Me2.

M.Christian has worked on the industry’s production side as an Associate Publisher for Renaissance E Books and as a Publisher for Digital Parchment Services. The latter dedicated to celebrating the works of science-fiction legends such as William Rotsler, Jerome Bixby, Jody Scott, Arthur Byron Cover, Ernest Hogan, and James Van Hise.

Covering topics like BDSM safety, sexual education, senior sexuality concerns, queer and gender issues, plus reviewing a variety of sex tech products, M.Christian’s non-fiction has appeared on sites like Kinkly, Tickle.Life, Sexpert, Queer Majority, Sex for Every Body, and—of course—their ongoing work for Future of Sex.

If there’s anything M.Christian enjoys more than writing, it’s teaching. A featured presenter, sometimes with their friend Ralph Greco Jr, at national sex and BDSM events, they have lectured on kink play (with an emphasis on safety), polyamory, boosting sexual creativity, and erotica writing--for beginners or those wanting to go pro.

M.Christian is a cohost on two popular sex-education podcasts: Love’s Outer Limits with Dr. Amy Marsh and Licking Non-Vanilla with Ralph Greco, Jr.

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