Almost 3,500 years ago, men in Egypt wore condom-like sheaths as attractive and eye-catching penis covers. By the 18th century, condoms were being made from sheep intestines. In Victorian England, sexual stimulation was believed to shorten one's life, so .

             sex once a month was considered more than enough. In the ancient Middle East, Arabs placed pebbles in the uteruses of female camels when they set off on long journeys. They thought that a foreign object in the uterus prevented pregnancy. In today's society, there .

             are many types of contraceptives designed to fit our changing lifestyles. Eighty-five percent of women who don't use contraceptives during vaginal intercourse become pregnant each year. The only guarantee against pregnancy is not having intercourse, but if .

             used correctly the modern methods of contraception can reduce the risk of pregnancy. .

             Except for abstinence, the male condom, which is made of a tight material that covers the entire penis, is the safest way to prevent AIDS and STDs. They are also nearly one-hundred percent effective in preventing pregnancy when used properly and with .

             spermicide. The failure rate of a condom, when used correctly and by itself, is about two percent. More often they fail around twelve percent of the time. There are a few different types of materials that condoms are made of . The most popular are made of latex. .

             Polyurethane or animal skin are also used. The latex condom is the strongest of the three. .

             The many kinds of condoms on the market are lubricated, non-lubricated, ribbed, and lubricated with spermicide. They also come in a wide variety of sizes. All of these can be purchased at local drug stores, gas stations, grocery stores, health clinics, and many .

             doctors' offices. .

             A more recent type of birth control is the female condom, which is sold in the United States under the name Reality. It is a polyurethane tube that looks a bit like a big male condom.