Packaged lubricated condom

Abstract

Packaged condom comprising a sealed package, and within the package, a condom comprising natural rubber latex and / or synthetic polyisoprene. On one or more surfaces of the condom is an aqueous lubrica

Description

The present invention relates to a packaged lubricated condom lubricated with an aqueous lubricant. The condom desirably presents a transparent appearance to the end user. The invention also relates to a method for preparing a packaged condom and to the use of an aqueous lubricant to lubricate one or more surfaces of a condom. Background Personal lubricants are specialised lubricants which serve to reduce friction with body tissues during sexual activity. In particular, personal lubricants may be used to provide lubrication, or slip, during sexual activity by application directly to the vagina. For example, personal lubricants can be used to increase pleasure or reduce pain during sexual intercourse and can aid in reducing vaginal dryness. In medicine, personal lubricants may be employed for gynaecological examinations and the like. Condoms may be pre-provided with a lubricant on their surface. The technical considerations for such lubricants differ from standalone personal lubricants since the composition must be stable with the condom material (and the condom packaging material) for long storage periods. In addition, the lubricant should not be rubbed off the condom too quickly during sexual activity, and the way the lubricant is dosed onto the condom during manufacturing also affects the requirements, for example in terms of viscosity and tackiness, while still providing the desired degree of lubricity. Lubricated condoms have been available for many years. The most common lubricants are silicone-based, since silicone lubricants are highly compatible with the long-term integrity of common condom materials (including natural rubber latex (“NRL”) and synthetic polyisoprene (“PI”)) while providing good lubricity. However, in view of their hydrophobicity, silicone lubricants can be difficult to wash off once adhered to the skin or clothes. They are therefore sometimes perceived as messy by consumers. To solve this problem, various water-soluble lubricants have been tried. However, many of these lubricants, especially when dosed on an NRL or PI condom, cause the appearance of the condom to become opaquer during storage. In more detail, these condoms, prior to the application of the lubricant and any finishing powder, usually have a transparent appearance. A transparent appearance is desirable to consumers, in part because they associate it with thinness. Many of the existing aqueous lubricants tend to whiten the condoms and make them appear opaque, thereby degrading their appearance and making them less desirable in the eyes of consumers. However, the exact mechanism by which this happens is not well understood in the art. US 6,196,227 B1 to Okamoto Industries INC recognises the problem of whitening caused by water-soluble lubricants when dosed onto condoms. It is postulated that the whitening may be caused by water absorption. The document further teaches that the water content of the lubricant should be limited to prevent the surface of the condom from becoming white. Aside from their tendency to whiten condoms such as NRL and PI condoms, there are also issues with the osmolality of aqueous lubricants. Historically, aqueous standalone personal lubricants have tended to have an osmolality much higher than the typical vaginal osmolality of 200-300 mOsm / kg. It is now appreciated that the osmolality of a lubricant is important because the epithelial cells lining the vaginal wall will constantly try and maintain homeostasis. Hyperosmolar lubricants cause the cells of the vagina to release fluid to dilute the lubricant. This may result in epithelial cell damage, which in turn results in an increased risk of infection due to the compromised epithelial barrier. There may also be increased dryness of the vagina. This is particularly problematic for menopausal females as the use of the hyperosmolar lubricant exacerbates vaginal dryness. In 2012, the World Health Organisation (WHO) recommended that healthcare organisations procure standalone personal lubricants which have an osmolality of less than 1200 mOsm / kg. However, formulating a standalone personal lubricant within this range is not straightforward whilst also balancing the need to achieve a number of other parameters including the required viscosity, slip properties, and rheological stability during storage. This is reflected in the fact that many aqueous standalone lubricants on the market today still have an osmolality of 2000-6000 mOsm / kg, despite the WHO recommendations longer than a decade ago. It is even more challenging to try to apply these WHO recommendations to condom lubricants, for which an additional set of technical constraints apply. Furthermore, since the typical quantity of lubricant preapplied to the condom is much less than the quantity of a standalone lubricant manually applied by the consumer, it has not been seen in the art as so essential to meet this osmolality criteria for lubricated condoms, potentially at the expense of other important properties. The osmolality of a solution in Osm / kg is defined as the number of osmoles of solute per kilogram of solvent. The osmolalities of the aqueous lubricants disclosed in US 6,196,227 B1, which was published in 2001, will be high in view of their high concentrations of low molecular weight solute molecules. US 6,196,227 B1 does not, therefore, disclose aqueous lubricants which would correlate with the newer WHO recommendations for the osmolality of a standalone personal lubricant. Increasing the water content and decreasing the solute concentration of the lubricants of US 6,196,227 B1 would decrease their osmolality but would also be expected to give rise to whitening of the condom, if the water absorption effect postulated in this document is followed. It would also be expected to compromise the physical properties of the lubricant, since each of the solutes disclosed in this document is included to maintain a particular property of the lubricant. WO2022 / 172010 A1 to Reckitt Benckiser Health Limited provides a low-osmolality aqueous lubricant that has reduced adverse effects on the transparency of the condom during storage. However, this document does not address the problem associated with quick drying of a lubricant, which translates into a reduced lubrication effect. There remains a need for low-osmolality aqueous lubricants, for use on a condom, with optimised drying performance, which translates into an extended lubrication period. In particular considering condoms comprising NRL or PI. The aqueous lubricant must have reduced adverse effect on the transparency of the condom during storage. Summary of the invention In a first aspect, the present invention relates to a packaged condom comprising: a sealed package; and - within the package, a condom comprising natural rubber latex and / or synthetic polyisoprene; wherein the condom comprises, on one or more surfaces thereof and in contact with the natural rubber latex and / or synthetic polyisoprene, an aqueous lubricant; herein the aqueous lubricant comprises: a thickener; and 5 wt.% to 30 wt.%, based on the total weight of the aqueous lubricant, of a humectant comprising: o at least one organic compound selected from the group consisting of glycerol, propylene glycol, polyethylene glycol, and any combination thereof; and o one or more sugar alcohols having a molecular weight of from 120 to 10000 g / mol. In a second aspect, the invention relates to a method for preparing a packaged condom, the method comprising: i. providing an aqueous lubricant, wherein the aqueous lubricant comprises a thickener and 5 wt.% to 30 wt.%, based on the total weight of the aqueous lubricant, of a humectant comprising: o at least one organic compound selected from the group consisting of glycerol, propylene glycol, polyethylene glycol, and any combination thereof; and o one or more sugar alcohols having a molecular weight of from 120 to 10000 g / mol. ii. providing a condom comprising natural rubber latex and / or synthetic polyisoprene; iii. applying a dose of the aqueous lubricant to one or more surfaces of the condom such that the lubricant is in contact with the natural rubber latex and / or synthetic polyisoprene; and iv. sealing the condom within a package. It will be understood that it is within the scope of the second aspect of the invention to include a method of preparing the packaged condom according to the first aspect of the invention. In a third aspect, the invention relates to packaged condom obtainable by or obtained by the method according to the second aspect of the invention. In a fourth aspect, the invention relates to the use of a lubricant to lubricate one or more surfaces of a condom comprising natural rubber latex and / or synthetic polyisoprene while maintaining the transparency of the condom during storage within a sealed package, wherein the aqueous lubricant comprises a thickener and 5 wt.% to 30 wt.%, based on the total weight of the aqueous lubricant, of a humectant comprising: o at least one organic compound selected from the group consisting of glycerol, propylene glycol, polyethylene glycol, and any combination thereof; and o one or more sugar alcohols having a molecular weight of from 120 to 10000 g / mol. Detailed description of the invention In a first aspect, the present invention relates to a packaged condom comprising: a sealed package; and - within the package, a condom comprising natural rubber latex and / or synthetic polyisoprene; wherein the condom comprises, on one or more surfaces thereof and in contact with the natural rubber latex and / or synthetic polyisoprene, an aqueous lubricant; wherein the aqueous lubricant comprises: a thickener; and - 5 wt.% to 30 wt.%, based on the total weight of the aqueous lubricant, of a humectant comprising: o at least one organic compound selected from the group consisting of glycerol, propylene glycol, polyethylene glycol, and any combination thereof; and o one or more sugar alcohols having a molecular weight of from 120 to 10000 g / mol. The present inventors have found that the inclusion of a combination of at least one organic compound and one or more sugar alcohols as defined above in the specified amounts in an aqueous lubricant helps to: improve the drying performance of the aqueous lubricant, which translates into an extended lubrication effect, - maintain the transparency and prevent whitening of a natural rubber latex condom during storage, maintain a low osmolality, i.e. a osmolality of less than1200 mOsm / kg. Without wishing to be bound by theory, it is believed that natural rubber latex condoms are particularly susceptible to the whitening effect of aqueous lubricants because of the interaction of water with the impurities or additives in the natural rubber latex. Whilst synthetic polyisoprene has fewer impurities (such as proteins), it still has capacity for whitening. The same principle should apply when NRLI PI is comprised in the condom together with another (preferably also initially transparent) material, provided that the lubricant is not shielded from contact with the NRL / PI by that other material. It is believed that the combination of at least one organic compound selected from the group consisting of glycerol, propylene glycol, polyethylene glycol, and any combination thereof; and one or more sugar alcohols having a molecular weight of from 120 to 10000 g / mol in the specified amounts allows the extent of the interaction between the water of the lubricant and the impurities or additives in the condom material to be reduced or eliminated. As a result of the molecular weight of the one or more sugar alcohols, it can be included in a sufficient quantity to have the desired anti-whitening effect, without giving rise to an unacceptably high osmolality. Furthermore, due to the at least one organic compound selected from group consisting of glycerol, propylene glycol, polyethylene glycol, and any combination thereof, the aqueous lubricants of the present invention also provide a delayed drying behaviour. They are also fully compatible with the condom material and do not impact on the physical properties of the condom, such as burst pressure, burst volume and tensile strength. The present invention provides a packaged condom comprising a sealed package and, within the package, a lubricated condom. The sealed package isolates the condom from the external environment, preferably to the extent that molecules within the package do not readily traverse the package boundaries, and oxygen does not readily traverse into the packaging (the low level at which these molecules and oxygen may traverse is within the level accepted in the condom industry). Suitable sealed packages for condoms are known in the art and may include, for instance, two sheets of a laminate material sealed along their edges around the condom. The laminate material may, for instance, include a layer of aluminium. Another possible sealed package is a plastic pot sealed with a film lid, or so-called "butter dish". The condom is preferably provided within the package in a rolled state. The condom is preferably a male condom, preferably one intended to cover substantially the entire penis. The condom comprises NRL and / or PI. Optionally, the NRL and / or PI is present in a blend with one or more other polymeric condom materials, which may be an elastomer (e.g. polyurethane, "PU"). Alternatively, or in addition, the NRL and / or PI may be provided in one or more external layers of the condom (whether the penis-facing side or the opposite side), provided that it comes into contact with the lubricant. Preferably, however, NRL and / or PI is the only elastomer or the only polymeric condom material in the condom. Preferably, the condom is a natural rubber latex condom. That is, the condom is formed from natural rubber latex or a natural rubber latex base compounded with one or more additives. Natural rubber latex typically comprises cis-1,4-polyisoprene together with small amounts of impurities, such as proteins, fatty acids, inorganic salts and the like. Synthetic polyisoprene does not contain e.g. the allergenic proteins found in natural rubber latex. Suitable formulations of natural rubber latex and synthetic polyisoprene are known in the art. The condom itself may be manufactured in any suitable way. Typically, this is done by dipping a condom-shaped former into a latex or latex blend to form a film which is subsequently dried and cured. It will be understood that the manufacture of suitable rubber latexes, and the subsequent formation of condoms therefrom, are well understood procedures to those skilled in the art. As explained above, the present inventors believe that NRL and PI condoms are particularly susceptible to the opacifying effect of aqueous lubricants. NRL and PI condoms, when provided in a dry state and before being coated with lubricant or finishing powder, are usually transparent and essentially colourless (though some may naturally have a slight yellow tinge). It will be appreciated that this is not always the case. Occasionally, for instance, opacifiers or colourants may be included in the latex formulation where an opaque or coloured condom is desired. However, there is a growing consumer desire for transparent condoms, in part because they enhance the perception of thinness, which is again an increasingly desirable trait in a condom in many markets. Preferably, the condom of the present invention is formed from a transparent material. That is, the condom, prior to the application of the aqueous lubricant or any optional finishing powder, is transparent. The problem of reduction in transparency is particularly acute for condoms which are transparent prior to lubrication, since the effect caused by a typical aqueous lubricant is far more visible than if the condom were already substantially opaque. Accordingly, the advantageous effect of the aqueous lubricant used in the invention is particularly noticeable for condoms which are transparent to start with. The condom may be transparent and coloured, or transparent and colourless or essentially colourless. It will be understood that discussions of "whitening" herein apply equally to opacifying of coloured condoms. Preferably, the formulation of the condom includes no added colouring agents; consumers may be tolerant of more opacity when the condom is already designed to be coloured. By "transparent" it is meant the property of transmitting visible light without appreciable scattering such that an object lying beyond the condom can be seen through the condom. It is to be understood that the term "transparent", as used herein, encompasses materials which scatter a limited amount of light but not those which are substantially opaque and do not transmit an appreciable amount of light. Many natural rubber latex condoms have a yellowish tinge to them, resulting from some limited scattering of light, while still being largely see-through. Such condoms are considered "transparent" for the purposes of the present invention. When the condom is packaged in a rolled form, it is to be understood that the property of transparency refers to the condom in its unrolled state, since the rolled portion of a rolled condom can appear to be substantially opaque, even if the condom material itself is transparent. The condom of the present invention is preferably formed from a material having a haze value of at most 70%. That is, the condom, prior to the application of the aqueous lubricant or any optional finishing powder, preferably has a haze value of at most 70%. More preferably, the haze value is at most 60%, still more preferably at most 50%, still more preferably at most 40%, and most preferably at most 30%. In some embodiments, the haze value is at least 10%, or at least 15%. In embodiments including a finishing powder, the condom preferably also has a haze value lying within these ranges after the application of the finishing powder but before the application of the lubricant. The haze value of a sample can be measured using a UV-Visible spectrophotometer and quantifies the proportion of incident light that is scattered as it passes through the sample. The lower the haze value, the more transparent the material. In the context of the present disclosure, the haze value is defined in accordance with ASTM Standard D 1003 - 00 and refers to the percentage of light which, in passing through the material, deviates from the incident beam at an angle of greater than 2.5 degrees from the normal (Wide Angle Scattering). Preferably, the haze value is a mean of three measurements taken at an open end, closed end, and midpoint along a length of the condom in its unrolled rate. Preferably, the haze value is determined in accordance with the method disclosed in the Examples. The invention encompasses condoms which have a pattern or other surface features applied to one or more surfaces thereof, for example ribs or dots intended to provide physical stimulation to the user or their partner. However, in an embodiment, the condom is free of any surface indentations or protrusions which are visible to the human eye. The advantageous effect on transparency is more likely to be noticeable in a condom with a surface lacking raised surface features, which may themselves scatter light. In embodiments of the invention, the condom has a thickness of 60 microns or less; 55 microns or less; 50 microns or less; 45 microns or less; 40 microns or less; and / or at least 20 microns; at least 25 microns; or at least 30 microns. The thinner the condom, the greater the expectation for transparency from the consumer, but the condom should also maintain sufficient structural integrity to perform its primary function as a barrier. The condom of the present invention comprises, on one or more surfaces thereof, an aqueous lubricant. The one or more surfaces may be an inner surface and / or an outer surface of the condom. "Inner" in the context of a male condom refers to the penis-facing side, whereas "outer" refers to the side facing the user's partner. Preferably, the aqueous lubricant is present on at least the outer surface of the condom. Preferably, said one or more surfaces are substantially coated with the lubricant. Preferably, at least 25% by area of said one or more surfaces are coated with the lubricant, more preferably at least 40%, still more preferably at least 60% and most preferably at least 70%. It is to be understood that the condom has, in an unrolled state, a length extending from an open end to a closed end of the condom. Said one or more surfaces are preferably coated along at least 25% of said length, more preferably at least 50% of said length, more preferably at least 60%, still more preferably at least 70% and most preferably at least 80%. Preferably, the lubricant is comprised on the one or more surfaces of the condom in an amount of from 100 mg to 2.0 g, more preferably from 200 mg to 1.5 g, still more preferably from 300 mg to 1.2 g, most preferably from 400 mg to 1.0 g, for example from 400 mg to 700 mg. The aqueous lubricant comprises a thickener and 5 wt.% to 30 wt.%, based on the total weight of the aqueous lubricant, of a humectant comprising: o at least one organic compound selected from the group consisting of glycerol, propylene glycol, polyethylene glycol, and any combination thereof; and o one or more sugar alcohols having a molecular weight of from 120 to 10000 g / mol. As mentioned in WO2022 / 172010, it was believed that polyhydric alcohols, such as glycerol and propylene glycol, had little effect on the prevention of whitening of the condom during storage. However, as explained above, the present inventors have observed that the combination of at least one organic compound selected from the group consisting of glycerol, propylene glycol, polyethylene glycol, and any combination thereof; and one or more sugar alcohols having a molecular weight of from 120 to 10000 g / mol in the specified amounts allows the extent of the interaction between the water of the lubricant and the impurities or additives in the condom material to be reduced or eliminated, thereby maintaining the transparency of the condom and preventing the whitening associated with other aqueous lubricants on such condoms. In an embodiment, the aqueous lubricant comprises between 7.5 wt.% to 25 wt.% of the humectant, based on the total weight of the aqueous lubricant, preferably between 10 wt.% and 20 wt.%, more preferably between 8 wt.% and 20 wt.%. The at least one organic compound can be selected from the group consisting of glycerol, polyethylene glycol, and any combination thereof; preferably the at least one organic compound is polyethylene glycol; more preferably the at least one organic compound is polyethylene glycol having a molecular weight of between 300 and 1000 g / mol; most preferably the at least one organic compound is polyethylene glycol having a molecular weight of between 300 and 600 g / mol. An example of polyethylene glycol having a molecular weight of between 300 and 600 g / mol is PEG400. The aqueous lubricant can comprise between 1 wt.% and 20 wt.% of the at least one organic compound, based on the total weight of the aqueous lubricant, preferably between 2 wt.% and 18 wt.%, more preferably between 3 wt.% and 15 wt.%, most preferably between 3.5 wt.% and 12.5 wt.%. In one embodiment, the one or more sugar alcohols have a molecular weight of from 150 to 1000 g / mol, preferably from 150 to 500 g / mol. The term "sugar alcohol" is known in the art and refers to a polyhydric alcohol corresponding to a sugar in which the carbonyl group of the open chain form of the sugar is reduced to a hydroxyl group. Sugar alcohols are typically, although not necessarily, derived from sugars. A sugar alcohol may, for instance, be produced by reducing the carbonyl group of the open chain form of the corresponding sugar. However, some sugar alcohols are naturally occurring. The sugar alcohol(s) that may be used in the present invention are preferably naturally occurring and are preferably not produced by reducing the carbonyl group of the open chain form of the corresponding sugar. The one or more sugar alcohols can be selected from the group consisting of sorbitol, maltitol, mannitol, xylitol, lactitol, isomalt, erythritol, hydrogenated starch hydrolysates, and any combination thereof; preferably selected from the group consisting of sorbitol, maltitol, mannitol, xylitol, lactitol, erythritol, and any combination thereof; more preferably selected from the group consisting of sorbitol, maltitol, xylitol, and any combination thereof; most preferably wherein the one or more sugar alcohols is xylitol. In an embodiment, the aqueous lubricant comprises between 1 wt.% and 15 wt.% of the one or more sugar alcohols, based on the total weight of the aqueous lubricant, preferably between 3 wt.% and 12 wt.%, more preferably between 5 wt.% and 10 wt.%, most preferably between 7.5 wt.% and 9.5 wt.%. In an embodiment, the aqueous lubricant comprises a humectant that comprises between 7.5 wt.% and 9.5 wt.% of xylitol and between 3.5 wt.% and 12.5 wt.% of glycerol, based on the total weight of the aqueous lubricant. In another embodiment, the aqueous lubricant comprises a humectant that comprises between 7.5 wt.% and 9.5 wt.% of xylitol and between 3.5 wt.% and 12.5 wt.% of polyethylene glycol having a molecular weight of between 300 and 600 g / mol, based on the total weight of the aqueous lubricant. The aqueous lubricant can further comprise a further humectant selected from the group consisting of hyaluronic acid, sodium hyaluronate, collagen, or any combination thereof; preferably selected from the group consisting of hyaluronic acid, sodium hyaluronate, or any combination thereof. In an embodiment, the further humectant comprises a combination of hyaluronic acids or sodium hyaluronates, wherein the combination comprises at least one hyaluronic acid or sodium hyaluronate having a molecular weight between 2x105 g / mol and 8*105 g / mol, and at least one hyaluronic acid or sodium hyaluronate having a molecular weight between 9x105 g / mol and 2.5x106 g / mol. Hyaluronic acids or sodium hyaluronates with a molecular weight of at least about 9x105 g / mol are known in the art for providing moisturisation, whilst those with a molecular weight up to about 8x105 g / mol are known for penetrating the skin barrier. The combination of these two ingredients provides a further moisturisation effect without adversely affecting the transparency of the condom. The aqueous lubricant can comprise between 0.1 wt.% and 2 wt.% of the further humectant, based on the total weight of the aqueous lubricant, preferably between 0.25 wt.% and 1 wt.%, more preferably between 0.3 wt.% and 0.75 wt.%, most preferably between 0.3 wt.% and 0.5 wt.%. In an embodiment, the aqueous lubricant comprises at least 70 wt.% water, based on the total weight of the aqueous lubricant, preferably at least 75 wt.%, more preferably at 80 wt.%, most preferably between 75 wt.% and 90 wt.%. As a result of the inclusion of the humectant comprising: at least one organic compound selected from the group consisting of glycerol, propylene glycol, polyethylene glycol, and any combination thereof; and one or more sugar alcohols having a molecular weight of from 120 to 10000 g / mol, high levels of water can be included in the lubricant without giving rise to whitening of the condom. Preferably, the lubricant has an osmolality of less than 1200 mOsm / kg, preferably from 800 mOsm / kg to 1200 mOsm / kg, more preferably from 900 mOsm / kg to 1200 mOsm / kg, most preferably from 1000 mOsm / kg to 1200 mOsm / kg. The osmolality is preferably measured by a freezing point depression method. As explained above, the WHO has recommended that standalone personal lubricants (i.e. those not pre-provided on a condom) have osmolalities of less than 1200 mOsm / kg. The present inventors have found that the inclusion of the humectant as described above in the aforementioned amounts has an advantageous anti-whitening effect on the condom without increasing the osmolality of the lubricant to undesirable levels. Preferably, the lubricant before being applied to the condom has a pH of from 3.5 to 5.5, preferably from 4.0 to 5.0, measured at a temperature of 25°C. This is intended to match the pH of the vagina. In an embodiment, the lubricant on the one or more surfaces of the condom in the sealed package has a pH at 25°C from 3.0 to 5.5, preferably from 4.0 to 5.0, measured at a temperature of 25°C. This pH can be determined by removing the condom from the packaging, extracting an aliquot of lubricant from the surface of the condom and measuring the pH of the aliquot (or pooled aliquots across multiple condoms from the same batch, if needed). Preferably the pH is measured after the condom has been stored in the sealed package for at least 3 months, preferably at least 6 months. Unless otherwise specified, in further embodiments when referring to the pH of the lubricant, we are referring to the pH of the lubricant on the one or more surfaces of the condom in the sealed package. The pH of the lubricant in contact with the condom is not necessarily the same as the pH of the lubricant when it was first applied to the condom. This is because in the absence of a strong buffer in the lubricant, the pH of the lubricant will typically equilibrate with the pH of the condom over time. The pH of the condom will be typically higher than that of the lubricant as applied to the condom, particularly in embodiments in which the condom is coated with an alkaline finishing powder. As such, the pH of the lubricant as applied to the condom will typically increase over time until it reaches its equilibrium value. In some embodiments, the lubricant comprises a buffering agent or acid to adjust the pH. Suitable buffering agents comprise lactic acid and citric acid. In some embodiments, the lubricant comprises a preservative. In these embodiments, the preservative is preferably present in an amount of from 0.01 wt.% to 5 wt.%, based on the total weight of the aqueous lubricant, more preferably from 0.05 wt.% to 2 wt.%, most preferably from 0.1 wt. to 1.5 wt.%. Preferably, the preservative is or comprises benzoic acid and / or a benzoic acid salt, preferably sodium benzoate or chlorphenesin. The present inventors have found that benzoic acid / salt thereof is an effective preservative for use in the lubricant of the present invention, particularly at the desired acidic pH. Preferably, the lubricant is free of parabens. The lubricant of the invention further comprises a thickener, wherein the thickener can be selected from the group consisting of a carbomer, a hydroxyethyl cellulose, a xanthan gum, an alginate, an acrylate, a methacrylate, a silicone, a ceramide, a polyvinyl pyrrolidone, agar, locust bean gum, gum arabic, and any combination thereof; preferably selected from the group consisting of cross-linked polyacrylic acid, hydroxyethyl cellulose, xanthan, and any combination thereof; more preferably wherein the thickener is xanthan gum. In an embodiment, the aqueous lubricant comprises between 0.05 wt.% and 2 wt.% of the thickener, based on the total weight of the aqueous lubricant, preferably between 0.01 wt.% and 2 wt.%, more preferably between 0.1 wt.% and 1 wt.%. In some embodiments, the lubricant comprises a surfactant. The surfactant may help the lubricant to migrate along the length of the condom during storage, in cases when the lubricant is dosed onto only a part of the condom surface during manufacturing. In some embodiments, the surfactant is present in an amount of at most 2 wt.%, based on the total weight of the aqueous lubricant, or at most 1 wt.%, or at most 0.5 wt.%. In some embodiments, the surfactant is present in an amount of at least 0.05 wt.%, based on the total weight of the aqueous lubricant, or at least 0.1 wt.%. It is preferred that the lubricant is free or substantially free from artificial colourants and / or flavourings. By substantially free it is meant that any artificial colourants and / or flavourings are present in a total amount of less than 1 wt.%, based on the total weight of the lubricant, preferably less than 0.5 wt.%, more preferably less than 0.1 wt.%. In some embodiments, the lubricant may contain an odour masker, such as a composition which masks the bad smell of NRL. Of course, the lubricant itself is preferably transparent. The anti-whitening effect of the lubricant on the condom is most readily observable when the lubricant itself is transparent. The lubricant preferably does not comprise an oil. The lubricant is preferably not in the form of an emulsion. The aqueous lubricant can have a viscosity of from 100 to 10000 mPa.s, preferably from 500 to 7500 mPa.s, more preferably from 800 to 5000 mPa.s, still more preferably from 1000 to 2500 mPa.s, most preferably from 1200 to 2100 mPa.s, measured using a Brookfield viscometer, at a temperature of25°C and a shear rate of 50 rpm using spindle LV 63. In some embodiments, the condom comprises, on one or more surfaces thereof, a finishing powder. The one or more surfaces may be an inner surface and / or an outer surface of the condom. Preferably, the condom comprises the finishing powder on both an inner surface and an outer surface. Finishing powders are known in the art. They are typically alkaline, and are typically based on compounds such silica, talc, carbonates, cornstarch and the like. They are used to prevent the surfaces of the condom from sticking to each other, and to assist with donning. In particular, including a finishing powder on an inner surface serves to prevent the condom from sticking to itself, while including a finishing powder on an outer surface also serves to prevent the condom from sticking to other condoms during production. In embodiments in which the condom comprises, on one or more surfaces thereof, a finishing powder, the finishing powder is preferably provided in an amount of at most 100 mg, more preferably at most 50 mg, most preferably from 10 mg to 40 mg. The use of an overly high amount of finishing powder tends to increase the opacity of the coated condom, which is undesirable in the context of the present invention. The low amounts of finishing powder described herein would make the whitening effect of many existing aqueous lubricants more noticeable, since the small amount of finishing powder itself would be having little effect on the opacity of the condom. As such, the advantageous anti-whitening properties of the lubricant of the present invention are particularly noticeable when the finishing powder is used in a low amount. In some embodiments, the condom does not comprise a finishing powder. In other embodiments, the condom comprises a finishing powder comprising carbonate (such as magnesium carbonate and / or calcium carbonate) and / or corn starch. Preferably, the condom of the present invention, including the aqueous lubricant and optional finishing powder comprised on one or more surfaces thereof, is transparent. It is to be understood that the property of transparency in this context refers to the condom in an unrolled state, having been removed from the packaging, since a rolled portion of a rolled condom can appear to be substantially opaque, even if the condom material itself is transparent. Indeed, the packaging itself may be opaque. Preferably, the condom, including the aqueous lubricant and optional finishing powder comprised on one or more surfaces thereof, is transparent after storage in the sealed package for at least 6 months, or at least 12 months, or at least 18 months, or at least 24 months at a temperature of from 10 to 40°C. Preferably, the transparency of the condom, including the aqueous lubricant and optional finishing powder comprised on one or more surfaces thereof, after storage in the sealed package, is substantially the same as the transparency of the condom before the aqueous lubricant or any optional finishing powder are applied. Preferably, the condom, including the aqueous lubricant and optional finishing powder comprised on one or more surfaces thereof, has a haze value of at most 70%, preferably after the storage periods specified in the immediately preceding paragraph. Preferably, the haze value is at most 60%, still more preferably at most 50%, still more preferably at most 40%, and most preferably at most 35%. In some embodiments, the haze value is at least 10%, or at least 15%, or at least 20%. Haze value is defined herein elsewhere. Preferably, the condom, including the aqueous lubricant and optional finishing powder comprised on one or more surfaces thereof, has a haze value that is at most 10% higher, in relative terms, than the haze value of the condom before the application of the lubricant and optional finishing powder, preferably after the storage periods specified above. In embodiments where the condom includes a finishing powder, the condom, including the aqueous lubricant and finishing powder comprised on one or more surfaces thereof, has a haze value that is at least 50% lower, at least 60% lower, or at least 70% lower, in relative terms, than the haze value of the condom after the finishing powder is applied but before the lubricant is applied. This is preferably the case after the storage periods specified above. That is, the application of the lubricant may increase the transparency of a condom coated with a finishing powder and maintain this increase in transparency during storage. In certain preferred embodiments, the present invention provides a packaged condom comprising: a sealed package; and within the package, a condom comprising natural rubber latex; wherein the condom comprises, on one or more surfaces thereof and in contact with the natural rubber latex, an aqueous lubricant; wherein the aqueous lubricant comprises a thickener and from 5 wt.% to 30 wt.% based on the total weight of the aqueous lubricant, of a humectant comprising: o at least one organic compound selected from the group consisting of glycerol, propylene glycol, and any combination thereof; and o one or more sugar alcohols selected from the group consisting of sorbitol, maltitol, mannitol, xylitol, lactitol, isomalt, erythritol, hydrogenated starch hydrolysates, and any combination thereof. In these embodiments, the aqueous lubricant preferably comprises xylitol and the lubricant preferably has an osmolality of less than 1200 mOsm / kg and / or a pH of from 3.5 to 5.5, preferably from 4.0 to 5.0, measured at a temperature of 25°C. In certain preferred embodiments, the present invention provides a packaged condom comprising: a sealed package; and within the package, a condom comprising natural rubber latex; wherein the condom comprises, on one or more surfaces thereof and in contact with the natural rubber latex, an aqueous lubricant; wherein the aqueous lubricant comprises between 0.1 wt.% and 2 wt.% of a thickener based on the total weight of the aqueous lubricant, and from 5 wt.% to 30 wt.% based on the total weight of the aqueous lubricant, of a humectant comprising: o between 3.5 wt.% and 12.5 wt.%, based on the total weight of the aqueous lubricant, of at least one organic compound selected from the group consisting of glycerol, propylene glycol, and any combination thereof; and o between 5 wt.% and 9.5 wt.% of xylitol wherein the aqueous lubricant has an osmolality of less than 1200 mOsm / kg and / or a pH of from 3.5 to 5.5, preferably from 4.0 to 5.0, measured at a temperature of 25°C. In certain preferred embodiments, the present invention provides a packaged condom comprising: a sealed package; and within the package, a condom comprising natural rubber latex; wherein the condom comprises, on one or more surfaces thereof and in contact with the natural rubber latex, an aqueous lubricant; wherein the aqueous lubricant comprises between 0.1 wt.% and 2 wt.% of a thickener based on the total weight of the aqueous lubricant, and from 5 wt.% to 30 wt.% based on the total weight of the aqueous lubricant, of a humectant comprising: o between 3.5 wt.% and 12.5 wt.%, based on the total weight of the aqueous lubricant, of at least one organic compound selected from the group consisting of glycerol, propylene glycol, and any combination thereof; and o between 5 wt.% and 9.5 wt.% of xylitol. wherein the aqueous lubricant further comprises a further humectant selected from the group consisting of hyaluronic acid, sodium hyaluronate, or any combination thereof; and wherein the aqueous lubricant has an osmolality of less than 1200 mOsm / kg and / or a pH of from 3.5 to 5.5, preferably from 4.0 to 5.0, measured at a temperature of 25°C. In certain preferred embodiments, the present invention provides a packaged condom comprising: a sealed package; and within the package, a condom comprising natural rubber latex; wherein the condom comprises, on one or more surfaces thereof and in contact with the natural rubber latex, an aqueous lubricant; wherein the aqueous lubricant comprises between 0.1 wt.% and 2 wt.% of a thickener based on the total weight of the aqueous lubricant, and from 10 wt.% to 20 wt.% based on the total weight of the aqueous lubricant, of a humectant comprising: o between 3.5 wt.% and 12.5 wt.%, based on the total weight of the aqueous lubricant, of at least one organic compound selected from the group consisting of glycerol, propylene glycol, and any combination thereof; and o between 7.5 wt.% and 9.5 wt.% of xylitol. wherein the aqueous lubricant further comprises a further humectant selected from the group consisting of hyaluronic acid, sodium hyaluronate, or any combination thereof; and wherein the aqueous lubricant has an osmolality of less than 1200 mOsm / kg and / or a pH of from 3.5 to 5.5, preferably from 4.0 to 5.0, measured at a temperature of 25°C. In a second aspect, the invention relates to a method for a packaged condom. The method comprises the following steps: i. providing an aqueous lubricant, wherein the aqueous lubricant comprises a thickener and 5 wt.% to 30 wt.%, based on the total weight of the aqueous lubricant, of a humectant comprising: o at least one organic compound selected from the group consisting of glycerol, propylene glycol, polyethylene glycol, and any combination thereof; and o one or more sugar alcohols having a molecular weight of from 120 to 10000 g / mol. ii. providing a condom comprising natural rubber latex and / or synthetic polyisoprene; iii. applying a dose of the aqueous lubricant to one or more surfaces of the condom such that the lubricant is in contact with the natural rubber latex and / or synthetic polyisoprene; and iv. sealing the condom within a package. While these steps are intended to be carried out sequentially, there may be some overlap between the steps when the method is performed in a continuous manner, and additional steps may also be present, such as electrical testing of the condom for holes. In the step of providing an aqueous lubricant, the aqueous lubricant is substantially the same as the lubricant as defined in relation to the first aspect. It will be appreciated, however, that the aqueous lubricant of the first aspect is the lubricant comprised on the one or more surfaces of the condom, whereas the aqueous lubricant in step (i) above refers to the lubricant before it is applied to the one or more surfaces of the condom. In step (i) above, the lubricant before application to the condom preferably has a pH at25°C of from 3.5 to 5.5, more preferably from 4.0 to 5.0. As explained above, while the pH of the lubricant may increase as it equilibrates with the surface of the condom (including any finishing powder), this can be mitigated at least to some extent by the use of a suitable buffering system or acid. In step (ii), the condom may be provided in a rolled state. In this embodiment, the dose of lubricant in step (iii) may be applied at or near a tip of the rolled condom. The lubricant may then migrate along the rolls of the condom over time (including after the condom is sealed within the package). In this embodiment, the condom may already be within the package, or on a material which will form a part of the package (such as one piece of foil), at the time the dose of lubricant is applied. Only the sealing step must necessarily take place after the lubricant is applied. In an alternative embodiment, in step (ii), the condom is provided in an unrolled state. In this embodiment, the dose of lubricant in step (iii) is applied to one or more surfaces of the condom prior to rolling. The lubricant may be applied in a variety of known ways, for example, by spraying, rolling over a sponge soaked with the lubricant, or the dose of lubricant may be applied to one or more spots along a length of the condom prior to rolling. It will be appreciated that if the lubricant is pre-applied to the condom in all or substantially all of the area where it is required, such that it does not need to migrate to the desired area, a higher viscosity of the lubricant may be tolerated. In some embodiments, the method further comprises a step of coating one or more surfaces of the condom with a finishing powder. The one or more surfaces may be an inner and / or an outer surface, preferably an inner surface and an outer surface. This is done prior to rolling, and before any lubricant is applied. The step of coating one or more surfaces of the condom with a finishing powder may comprise applying the finishing powder to the one or more surfaces as a powder or as a liquid slurry (preferably an aqueous slurry). In the latter embodiment, the water is allowed to evaporate to form the coating of the finishing powder on the one or more surfaces of the condom. Preferably, the packaged condom prepared by the method of the second aspect is the packaged condom of the first aspect. In a third aspect, the invention relates to a packaged condom obtainable by or obtained by the method according to the second aspect. In a fourth aspect, the invention relates to the use of an aqueous lubricant to lubricate one or more surfaces of a condom comprising natural rubber latex and / or synthetic polyisoprene while maintaining the transparency of the condom during storage within a sealed package, wherein the aqueous lubricant comprises a thickener and 5 wt.% to 30 wt.%, based on the total weight of the aqueous lubricant, of a humectant comprising: o at least one organic compound selected from the group consisting of glycerol, propylene glycol, polyethylene glycol, and any combination thereof; and o one or more sugar alcohols having a molecular weight of from 120 to 10000 g / mol. Preferably, the transparency is maintained for at least 6 months’ storage, or at least 12 months’ storage, or at least 18 months’ storage, or at least 24 months’ storage, at a temperature of from 10 to 40 °C. The condom may comprise, on one or more surfaces thereon, a finishing powder, preferably in an amount of at most 100 mg, preferably at most 50 mg, more preferably from 10 mg to 40 mg. After said storage, the condom, including the aqueous lubricant and optional finishing powder comprised on one or more surfaces thereof, preferably has a haze value that is less than 10% higher, in relative terms, than the haze value of the condom before the application of the lubricant and optional finishing powder. In embodiments where a finishing powder is included, the condom, including the aqueous lubricant and finishing powder comprised on one or more surfaces thereof, has a haze value that is at least 50% lower, at least 60% lower, or at least 70% lower, in relative terms, than the haze value of the condom after the finishing powder is applied but before the lubricant is applied. It will be understood that each aspect / embodiment as defined above may be combined with any other aspect / embodiment or aspects / embodiments unless clearly indicated to the contrary. In particular, any feature indicated as being preferred or advantageous may be combined with any other feature or features indicated as being preferred or advantageous. The invention will be further described, by way of example, with the reference to the following non-limiting examples. Examples 5 Formulations Table 1 shows aqueous lubricant compositions according to the invention (1 and 2) and not according to the invention (A). The viscosity of the compositions was measured using a Brookfield viscometer, at a temperature of 25°C and a shear rate of 50 rpm using spindle LV 63. 10 The osmolality of the compositions was measured by a freezing point depression method. In particular, 100 pL of each test sample was pipetted into sample tubes, which were placed in the freezing chamber of a LOSER OM819 Freezing Point Osmometer. The freezing point depressions were then determined by the osmometer and converted to osmolality values. 15 The pH values of the lubricants were measured using a pH probe at a temperature of about 20°C. Table 1. Aqueous lubricant compositions Composition Ingredient A 1 2 Preservative 1.2 1.2 1.2 Lactic acid / potassium lactate 0.4 0.4 0.4 Fragrance 0.01 0.01 0.01 Xanthan gum 0.6 0.6 0.6 Na Hyaluronate 0.1 0.4 0.4 Maltitol 13 0 0 Xylitol 0 8 8 Glycerol 0 4 0 PEG400 0 0 11 Water q.s. q.s q.s. pH @ 25°C 4.2-4.3 4.3-4.4 4.4-4.5 Viscosity (mPa.s) 925 1778 1855 Osmolality (mOsm / kg) 574-583 1151-1168 1017-1024 Lubrication and drying behaviour The lubrication properties and drying behaviour of the compositions shown in Table 1 were determined using the following method. The composition to be tested was applied onto the skin of a person, subsequently a probe with a sensor was contacted with the composition on the skin. The probe was constantly moved whilst recording the coefficient of friction between the probe and the skin with the composition. A first test was conducted using a silicone-based lubricant whose coefficient of friction remained constant and was recorded for about 25 minutes. The coefficient of friction using the silicone-based lubricant was taken as reference. After about 17 minutes, the coefficient of friction of the test using composition A was about 10 times higher than that of the reference. This indicates that this formulation dries much faster than the silicone-based lubricant; therefore, losing its lubrication properties. After about 25 minutes, the coefficient of friction of the test using composition 1 was about 5 times higher than the reference, and for the test using composition 2 was about 3 times higher than the reference. This indicates that the formulations according to the invention dry much slower, and hence have better lubrication properties than the comparative formulation. T ransparency tests The haze value (%) was measured for a series of packed lubricated natural rubber latex condoms based on ASTM Standard D 1003. The procedure involved the following steps: • the condom was removed from its packaging, unrolled, and cut along the length of the condom from the open end to the closed end; • the cut condom was laid on a surface as a flat film; • three spots were marked on the film (a first spot at the end of the film that previously formed the closed end of the condom or as close thereto as possible, a second spot at the end of the film that previously formed the open end of the condom or as close thereto as possible, and a third sport at a midpoint between the first and second spots); • the marked film was placed into a thin film sample holder; • the sample holder was placed into a UV-Visible spectrophotometer (BYK Haze-gard i); • the haze value was measured at each of three spots (specifically for a circle having a diameter of 18 mm encompassing each of the three spots); and • the haze value for the condom was calculated as the mean average of the three measurements (open end, closed end and midpoint). 5 The results are shown in Table 2. Table 2. Haze values Condom Finishing powder Lubricant Haze (%) Open end Mid body Closed end Condom CA Carbonate-based Silicone oil 83 79 56 73 C1 Corn starch-based Composition 2 of Table 1 33 40 25 33 It was noted that there was a direct association between the measured haze value and the observed transparency of the condoms: the most transparent condoms had the lowest haze values and vice versa. This validated the haze value as a parameter for 10 quantifying the transparency of lubricated condoms. The foregoing detailed description has been provided by way of explanation and illustration, and is not intended to limit the scope of the appended claims. Many variations in the presently preferred embodiments illustrated herein will be apparent to one of ordinary skill in the art and remain within the scope of the appended claims and their 15 equivalents.

Claims

1. A packaged condom comprising:- a sealed package; and- within the package, a condom comprising natural rubber latex and / or synthetic polyisoprene;wherein the condom comprises, on one or more surfaces thereof and in contact with the natural rubber latex and / or synthetic polyisoprene, an aqueous lubricant;wherein the aqueous lubricant comprises:- a thickener; and- 5 wt.% to 30 wt.%, based on the total weight of the aqueous lubricant, of a humectant comprising:o at least one organic compound selected from the group consisting of glycerol, propylene glycol, polyethylene glycol, and any combination thereof; ando one or more sugar alcohols having a molecular weight of from 120 to 10000 g / mol.

2. The packaged condom according to claim 1, wherein the aqueous lubricant comprises between 7.5 wt.% to 25 wt.% of the humectant, based on the total weight of the aqueous lubricant, preferably between 10 wt.% and 20 wt.%, more preferably between 8 wt.% and 20 wt.%.

3. The packaged condom according to claim 1 or claim 2, wherein the at least one organic compound is selected from the group consisting of glycerol, polyethylene glycol, and any combination thereof; preferably the at least one organic compound is polyethylene glycol; more preferably the at least one organic compound is polyethylene glycol having a molecular weight of between 300 and 1000 g / mol; most preferably the at least one organic compound is polyethylene glycol having a molecular weight of between 300 and 600 g / mol.

4. The packaged condom according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the aqueous lubricant comprises between 1 wt.% and 20 wt.% of the at least one organiccompound, based on the total weight of the aqueous lubricant, preferably between 2 wt.% and 18 wt.%, more preferably between 3 wt.% and 15 wt.%, most preferably between 3.5 wt.% and 12.5 wt.%.

5. The packaged condom according to claim 1, wherein the one or more sugar alcohols have a molecular weight of from 150 to 1000 g / mol, preferably from 150 to 500 g / mol.

6. The packaged condom according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the aqueous lubricant comprises between 1 wt.% and 15 wt.% of the one or more sugar alcohols, based on the total weight of the aqueous lubricant, preferably between 3 wt.% and 12 wt.%, more preferably between 5 wt.% and 10 wt.%, most preferably between 7.5 wt.% and 9.5 wt.%.

7. The packaged condom according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the one or more sugar alcohols is selected from the group consisting of sorbitol, maltitol, mannitol, xylitol, lactitol, isomalt, erythritol, hydrogenated starch hydrolysates, and any combination thereof; preferably selected from the group consisting of sorbitol, maltitol, mannitol, xylitol, lactitol, erythritol, and any combination thereof; more preferably selected from the group consisting of sorbitol, maltitol, xylitol, and any combination thereof; most preferably wherein the one or more sugar alcohols is xylitol.

8. The packaged condom according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the aqueous lubricant further comprises a further humectant selected from the group consisting of hyaluronic acid, sodium hyaluronate, collagen, or any combination thereof; preferably selected from the group consisting of hyaluronic acid, sodium hyaluronate, or any combination thereof.

9. The packaged condom according to claim 8, wherein the further humectant comprises a combination of hyaluronic acids or sodium hyaluronates, wherein the combination comprises at least one hyaluronic acid or sodium hyaluronate having a molecular weight between 2* 105 g / mol and 8* 105 g / mol and at least one hyaluronic acidor sodium hyaluronate having a molecular weight between 9x105 g / mol and 2.5*10® g / mol.

10. The packaged condom according to claim 8 or claim 9, wherein the aqueous lubricant comprises between 0.1 wt.% and 2 wt.% of the further humectant, based on the total weight of the aqueous lubricant, preferably between 0.25 wt.% and 1 wt.%, more preferably between 0.3 wt.% and 0.75 wt.%, most preferably between 0.3 wt.% and 0.5 wt.%.

11. The packaged condom according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the aqueous lubricant comprises at least 70 wt.% water, based on the total weight of the aqueous lubricant, preferably at least 75 wt.%, more preferably at 80 wt.%, most preferably between 75 wt.% and 90 wt.%.

12. The packaged condom according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the aqueous lubricant comprises between 0.05 wt.% and 2 wt.% of the thickener, based on the total weight of the aqueous lubricant, preferably between 0.01 wt.% and 2 wt.%, more preferably between 0.1 wt.% and 1 wt.%.

13. The packaged condom according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the thickener is selected from the group consisting of a carbomer, a hydroxyethyl cellulose, a xanthan gum, an alginate, an acrylate, a methacrylate, a silicone, a ceramide, a polyvinyl pyrrolidone, agar, locust bean gum, gum arabic, and any combination thereof; preferably selected from the group consisting of cross-linked polyacrylic acid, hydroxyethyl cellulose, xanthan, and any combination thereof; more preferably wherein the thickener is xanthan gum.

14. The packaged condom according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the aqueous lubricant has an osmolality of less than 1200 mOsm / kg, preferably from 800 mOsm / kg to 1200 mOsm / kg, more preferably from 900 mOsm / kg to 1200 mOsm / kg, most preferably from 1000 mOsm / kg to 1200 mOsm / kg.

15. The packaged condom according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the aqueous lubricant has a pH of from 3.5 to 5.5 at 25°C before being applied to the condom, preferably from 4.0 to 5.0.

16. The packaged condom according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the condom further comprises, on the one or more surfaces thereof, a finishing powder, wherein the finishing powder is preferably provided in an amount of at most 100 mg, more preferably at most 50 mg, most preferably from 10 mg to 40 mg.

17. The packaged condom according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the condom has a haze value of at most 70%, preferably at most 60%, even more preferably at most 50%, still more preferably at most 40%, and most preferably at most 35%.

18. The packaged condom according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the condom is a natural rubber latex condom.

19. A method for preparing a packaged condom, the method comprising:i. providing an aqueous lubricant, wherein the aqueous lubricant comprises athickener and 5 wt.% to 30 wt.%, based on the total weight of the aqueous lubricant, of a humectant comprising:o at least one organic compound selected from the group consisting of glycerol, propylene glycol, polyethylene glycol, and any combination thereof; ando one or more sugar alcohols having a molecular weight of from 120 to 10000 g / mol.ii. providing a condom comprising natural rubber latex and / or synthetic polyisoprene;iii. applying a dose of the aqueous lubricant to one or more surfaces of the condom such that the lubricant is in contact with the natural rubber latex and / or synthetic polyisoprene; andiv. sealing the condom within a package.

20. A packaged condom obtainable by or obtained by the method according to claim 19.

21. Use of an aqueous lubricant to lubricate one or more surfaces of a condom 5 comprising natural rubber latex and / or synthetic polyisoprene while maintaining the transparency of the condom during storage within a sealed package, wherein the aqueous lubricant comprises a thickener and 5 wt.% to 30 wt.%, based on the total weight of the aqueous lubricant, of a humectant comprising:o at least one organic compound selected from the group consisting of 10 glycerol, propylene glycol, polyethylene glycol, and any combinationthereof; ando one or more sugar alcohols having a molecular weight of from 120 to 10000 g / mol.