Condoms are one of the oldest of prophylactics with usage (debatably) dating back to ancient civilizations. Prior to the fifteenth century, glans condoms, which covered only the head of the penis, were used in Asia. They were usually made of oiled silk or lamb intestines.

That’s right—lamb intestines. History is disgusting.

Of course, the oldest method of birth control isn’t the most popular. Today, the pill is the most popular form of birth control in the US.

There are two different kinds of birth control pills in widespread use. Combined Oral Contraceptive Pills (COCP) contain both progestin and estrogen while Progestin Only Pills (POP) only have… I forget which one. Ask me again later.

POP pills are less likely than their more robust cousins to cause weight gain and they’re not associated with DVT or heart disease. However, they do tend to cause regular “light spotting,” mastalgia and mood swings.

Okay, maybe history wasn’t so bad after all.

The most popular birth control is used by 28% of women, according to a recent study, with condoms only being used by 24%. All things considered, I feel that these statistics are better than those in a 2000 study that found that the most popular form of birth control was the surgical approach.

According to a study released last year by NDC Pharmaceutical, generic Hydrocodone was the most popular drug by number of prescriptions dispensed in the US during the 2004 year.

The second most prescribed drug, Pfizer‘s Lipitor, was the most popular branded drug according to the study. The drug is approved for use to help lower one’s cholesterol and thereby help prevent cardiovascular and heart disease.

According to reports, diazepam, marketed under the brand-name Valium, was the most prescribed drug is the US during the 1970s, until critics claimed it was in overuse and switched to different drugs to replace their need to treat patients with substances.