Bill and Melinda Gates are the new "pleasure activists." The Gates foundation is offering a $100,000 grant to support the development of a Next Generation Condom that significantly preserves or enhances pleasure. Here's a link to the details: Grandchallenges.org.

In the years we've had Babeland, condoms have improved a little bit. They used to be thicker, less consistent (higher fail rate) and a lot of them were slathered in Nonoxynol-9, which is a spermicide that is an irritant to membranes in the vagina and anus. Oops!

We've sought out the best condoms we can find for a variety of criteria: Crown and Kimono are very thin, Birds'n' Bees are Vegan, Skyn is latex-free; our Condom Sampler is a great way to explore the selection. But they are all variations on the same design, and they dont get used as much as they should, from the point of view of Public Health. Some people find they decrease sensation, or are a hassle to use. What is so inspiring about the Gates call is that it challenges inventors to make a condom that not only prevents pregnancy and STI transmission but could even enhance pleasure! Something one might want to wear just for the fun of it! Radical.

There are a few contenders alreay, serious like the Origami Condom (pictured above), and funny, like this Slingshot Condom Applicator.

Maybe a condom with a vibrator built in would be a good idea?