This Briticism for a condom, does not translate directly, as we have put it, but why let linguistic accuracy get in the way of a good title, eh?

Anyway, if you’re still confused about what this article deals with, its about condoms, French letters, raincoats for mice, etc etc., or more accurately, about how much the Spanish use them, which is quite a lot. La Fundación Española de Contracepción considers that most women are not armed with enough information to use a different method.

Rubber sheaths are king in Spain when it comes to stopping the blighter from causing mischief in a womb. How do we know? Because La Fundación carried out a survey and found that three out of every four women preferred the mighty condom. The pill is right down there at 22% of those interviewed and the vasectomy (arghhh!) a mere 12%. The coil 6%, the Dutch Cap accounts for 5% and hormonal patches comes in at only 1%

So what does this all mean? It means that the Spanish take the number one slot in Europe as condom users. The use of the condom appears to be a default option; not one based on an analysis of what is best…

The Spanish call condoms, preservatives, which is what an English speaker has in his food to stop it going off, which the Spanish, on the other hand, refer to as conservatives. Fortunately, in Britain, not many Conservatives make their way into our foodstuffs.

But as far as condoms in Spain go, things have certainly changed around here. I recall that the first time that I ever bought a condom in Spain; it was in a pharmacist in Motril in 1982. It was only because I didn’t understand much Spanish at the time that I didn’t catch the “Burn the heretic” being chanted amongst the old ladies in the queue.

And they weren’t of very good quality either – the condoms that is; not the old ladies. I managed to split one and the only way that I could convince the Spanish lass to continue was to put two on; one on top of the other – needless to say, I nearly passed out as the blood pressure started to make my eyes protrude, but who cares when you’re only 25…

(News: Spain)