Donald Trump's actions in the Middle East may be about to have a very real impact on your sex life.
Ever since launching military strikes on Iran back in February, the US leader has managed to disrupt international travel and send global oil prices spiralling out of control, all for a war which appears to have no clear endpoint.
And that's not taking into account the thousands of civilians who've been either killed or injured in Iran and its neighbouring countries, as well as billions of dollars worth of infrastructure damage.
But as the price of petrol goes up at the pumps and a looming jet fuel crisis threatens to derail summer holidays, Brits now have a new unexpected side effect of the war: a rise in the cost of condoms.
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Now, if you were to ask what the US-Iran war had in common with global condom supplies a few weeks ago, you'd have most likely been met with a confused response from many.
However, Malaysian firm Karex, which produces the contraceptives for companies such as Durex, Trojan and the NHS, has announced that a disruption of plastic supply will cause prices to inflate.
"The situation is definitely very fragile," Karex chief executive Goh Miah Kiat told Reuters.
How will the closure of the Strait of Hormuz impact condom prices?
The overwhelming majority of condoms are made from latex, which is a flexible and durable type of rubber, either made from tree sap or petrochemicals. According to The Telegraph, the latex used in condoms is typically supplied from production in the Middle East.
Rubber prices have increased since the start of the Iran war, with the Telegraph reporting an 8.5 percent increase in the past month alone, placing more pressure on supply chains.
"Prices are expensive," Kiat added, "[And] we have no choice but to transfer the costs right now to the customers."
Karex added that it currently had a stockpile of condoms to last for the next couple of months.
However, access through the key waterway remains precarious. Iran recently reopened the Strait after a two-month closure, but is currently firing on passing ships in retaliation for a US blockade on its ports, meaning further uncertainty for global supply chains.
Kiat also noted that shipping times for condoms heading to the US and Europe had doubled to two months, warning of a potential shortage in the coming months.
"We’re seeing a lot more condoms actually sitting on vessels that have not arrived at their destination but are highly required," he added.
Topics: Sex and Relationships, Iran, World News
Brenna Cooper