Sexual Health Birth Control Condoms All About Lambskin Condoms By Dawn Stacey, PhD, LMHC twitter linkedin Dawn Stacey, PhD, LMHC, is a published author, college professor, and mental health consultant with over 15 years of counseling experience. Learn about our editorial process Dawn Stacey, PhD, LMHC Medically reviewed by Medically reviewed by Brian Levine, MD on January 19, 2020 linkedin Brian Levine, MD, MS, FACOG, is board-certified in obstetrics and gynecology, as well as in reproductive endocrinology and infertility. Learn about our Medical Review Board Brian Levine, MD on January 19, 2020 Print Lambskin condoms (also known as natural condoms) are a type of male condom. They are made from the intestinal membrane of a lamb, so these condoms are truly a natural animal product. Lambskin condoms are the oldest type of all condoms. There are records of men using lambskin condoms during the early part of the Roman Empire. Learn why many men today still use and prefer them. selimaksan / Getty Images Effectiveness Natural lambskin condoms are approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) as an effective means of preventing pregnancy. Lambskin condoms are just as effective for contraception as other types of condoms and are used the same way. With perfect use, lambskin condoms are 98 percent effective, and they're 82 percent effective with typical use. This means that, with perfect use, for every 100 women whose partners use lambskin condoms for one year, two will become pregnant and 18 with typical use. Even though lambskin condoms have tiny pores, they are too small for sperm to pass through. Like all condoms, they keep sperm where it should be, inside of the condom. Unlike other condoms, lambskin condoms are not effective in preventing sexually transmitted infections as the natural pores in them are large enough for bacteria (like gonorrhea) and viruses (like HIV) to pass through. Benefits While they are less popular and available in the United States, there are benefits of using lambskin condoms: Lambskin condoms seem to have a more natural feel (even more so than polyurethane and polyisoprene condoms) and a thinner texture than other condom types, offering an intimate sensation, close to not wearing any condom.These condoms are a great option if you or your partner is allergic to latex. They also are reported to cause less irritation.Lambskin condoms transmit body heat better than latex condoms, adding an even greater sensation during sexual intercourse.Trojan Naturalamb condoms are the largest condoms available. Made with a cling-tight drawstring at the base of the condom for added safety, they measure at 2.7 inches (68 millimeters) wide and 7.9 inches (200 millimeters) long.Unlike other condoms that can only be used with water-based or silicone-based lubricants, lambskin condoms can also be used with oil-based lubricants (like Vaseline and baby/massage oil).Lambskin condoms are biodegradable. Disadvantages Despite these advantages and perceptions, there are a number of reasons why a lambskin condom may not be right for you: Lambskin condoms tend to be the most expensive condom to buy. This is most likely because they're made from an animal product, so lambskin condoms cannot be mass-produced in the same way that latex condoms are.Natural lambskin condoms are thought to be not as stretchy as latex condoms.Because lambskin condoms don't offer you protection from STDs or HIV, it's probably a good idea to use these condoms only if you're in a committed relationship and know that your partner doesn't have any of these infections.Some men say that lambskin condoms don't have a very "attractive" look and are odd-looking as compared to other condoms.Some people don't like how they smell. Can a Condom Lubricant Increase HIV Risk? Was this page helpful? Thanks for your feedback! Sign up for our Health Tip of the Day newsletter, and receive daily tips that will help you live your healthiest life. Sign Up You're in! Thank you, {{form.email}}, for signing up. There was an error. Please try again. What are your concerns? Other Inaccurate Hard to Understand Submit Article Sources Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read our editorial process to learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy. Gossman W, Shaeffer AD, McNabb DM. Condoms. StatPearls Publishing. 2019. Yah C, Simate G, Hlangothi P, Somai B. Nanotechnology and the future of condoms in the prevention of sexually transmitted infections. Ann Afr Med. 2018;17(2):49. doi:10.4103/aam.aam_32_17 Marfatia YS, Pandya I, Mehta K. Condoms: past, present, and future. Indian J Sex Transm Dis AIDS. 2015;36(2):133–139. doi:10.4103/0253-7184.167135