Looking for an alternative to chemical condoms? Call us biased, but we think the more natural the better when it comes to anything that happens anywhere near your private parts. Whether you’re looking for a change from hormonal birth control or switching brands, here’s why you should switch to natural condoms.
Natural condoms are condoms that contain nothing artificial and unnecessary chemically.
Real talk: we’re all pretty sensitive down there. Bays have their own ecosystem and we need to ensure that the natural balance is protected and nurtured, avoiding unnecessary products, services and ‘treatments’. That means no washing, no vaginal deodorant (unfortunately they exist) and changing to nnatural condoms and biological condoms. Formulated without added chemicals that can compromise your natural balance, they can help you maintain your natural flora without getting in the way of fun.
When we first came up with the idea for HANX, we knew before we even started touring the latex factories that we needed to find a manufacturer who shared our vision for sensitive condoms. Easier said than done, we found, as the condom industry hadn’t really changed that much over the years. We wanted to remove all the unnecessary crap that we knew, from Dr Sarah’s time working in NHS sexual health, to cause vaginal pain and irritation during and after sex.
HANX condoms are made from: natural latex, silicone oil, magnesium, Kaeflo/Absorbo and silicone LE.
We finally convinced our brilliant manufacturers that there was a real market Condoms were designed for women’s health and pleasure – and that’s partly it up to the 5,000 ladies we surveyed, who shared everything about the ideal contraceptive. Thank you all for being aware of your vaginal pH, orgasms and latex preferences!
We know our plant-based friends are used to scanning the ingredients list on skin care, dressings and clothing labels – but not everyone thinks to check if their condoms are vegan. Historically, Condoms used to be made from lamb gut, and while this is becoming less common (and popular), there are still some brands out there that make condoms from lamb skin. For those looking for animal byproduct-free condoms, look out for an ingredient called casein in ingredient lists. It is a protein that comes from animals and is used to make condoms slippery.
We believe that the only animal in the bedroom should be you, so we make our condoms without casein and instead use plant extract for a smooth finish.
Fans of Lubricant should too scanning bottles for beeswax or galactoperoxidase: an enzyme derived from dairy – both definitely not vegan.
We are proud that both our lubricant and condoms are officially certified by the Vegan Society.
If you find that your delicate vaginal tissue is particularly irritated by spermicide, you can find natural condoms and lube without this tricky ingredient. Designed to prevent sperm from reaching the egg during sex, spermicides can actually irritate your vagina and make it easier for germs to enter the body, putting you at greater risk for HIV and other sexually transmitted diseases.
With the gynecological expertise of our co-founder Dr Sarah Welsh, we designed our condoms without these harsh spermicides. If you’re looking for us in the real world, check out most major UK stores such as BootsTravel shops, Tesco, Sainsbury’s and WHSmith. Find your nearest stockist here!
- Glycerin is a very popular lubricant added to condoms and when left in the vagina it can be converted to sugar, which feeds the yeast. Legally, condom brands don’t have to list the use of glucose on their packaging or in their ingredients list, so if you’re experiencing frequent yeast infections and UTIs, it’s likely to be the cause. Listen to your body and try switching to natural condoms and lubricants.
- Nitrosamine can trigger tumor growth – although research has yet to find that it can cause Cancer. The use of nitrosamine has even attracted the attention of WHERE (World Health Organization) who have previously asked condom brands to consider removing this potentially harmful ingredient from their manufacturing process as it is actually an unnecessary element.
- Benzocaine is a local anesthetic. It is added to condoms to make people with penises last longer as it minimizes sensitivity down there. It’s also an endocrine disruptor, meaning it messes with the hormone messaging system that regulates certain bodily functions like sleep and more relevantly, your sex drive. Unfortunately, the more you are exposed to this ingredient, the greater the effect on your hormones.
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Spermicides such as Nonoxynol. Designed to kill sperm and block the cervix, Nonoxynol also destroys healthy cells along the vaginal wall making you more susceptible to STDs, HIV and UTIs as a result.
Type “natural condoms” into any search engine and you’ll be besieged by condoms of every size, length and, err, flavor. So how do you know what condoms are actually kind to your body?
When we launched HANX in 2017, we set out to make the best natural condoms for sensitive skin – that means transparency in our ingredient list.
Our condoms have been developed with medical professionals to be pH balanced, are made from natural rubber, maize powder and silicon oil and we use plant binder extract. Our rubber is vulcanized from natural rubber latex using sulphur, zinc oxide, accelerators and soap and our chemical input is minimal – the exact level required to ensure our condoms are safe. As with any rubber product, traces of nitrosamines are present in HANX, although these are minimal and we regularly test for the presence of nitrosamines.
Our condoms they are also free of parabens, synthetic dyes and fragrances. In fact, our condoms were made by Marie Claire ‘15 best condoms to *add to cart*, with reporter Ally Head stating, “If you ever suffer from a UTI after sex, you’ll want to try HANX condoms.”
Yes you can – but make sure you use the correct pairing as some lubricants can break down the latex, putting you at risk of STDs and/or pregnancy. There’s no greater pleasure than johnnies and lube together, so we’ve created a guide to keep it going with condoms and lube. read more.
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