Condom
What’s a condom and how does it work? Condoms are small, thin pouches made of latex (rubber), plastic (polyurethane, nitrile, or polyisoprene) or lambskin, that cover your penis during sex and collect semen (cum). Condoms stop sperm from getting into the vagina, so sperm can’t meet up with an egg and cause pregnancy. Condoms also prevent STDs by covering the penis. This prevents contact with semen and vaginal fluids, and limits skin-to-skin contact that can spread sexually transmitted infections. Lambskin condoms do not protect against STDs. Only latex and plastic condoms do.
Do condoms help protect against STDs? Yes! Using condoms every time you have oral, anal, or vaginal sex is the best way to lower your chances of getting or spreading sexually transmitted infections. Condoms protect you and your partners from STDs by preventing contact with bodily fluids (like semen and vaginal fluids) that can carry infections. And because condoms cover your penis, they help protect against certain STDs like herpes and genital warts that are spread through skin-to-skin touching (but they don’t work as well to prevent these skin-to-skin types of STDs, because condoms don’t cover all of the skin near your genitals). Condoms aren’t just for penises — you can use condoms for safer oral sex on a vulva, too. Just cut the condom up the side, open it up, and lay it over the vulva. There are also female condoms (sometimes called internal condoms) that you wear inside your vagina or anus to help prevent pregnancy and STDs. Condoms are helpful for everyone! Condoms are the only type of birth control out there that also help protect against STDs. So even if you’re using another form of birth control (like the pill), it’s a good idea to also use condoms to help prevent sexually transmitted infections. Keep in mind that condoms made of lambskin or other animal membranes DO NOT protect against STDs — they only prevent pregnancy. Only synthetic condoms (latex or plastic) prevent the spread of STDs. – Source: https://www.plannedparenthood.org[/su_spoiler] 1
How effective are condoms against pregnancy? If you use condoms perfectly every single time you have sex, they’re 98% effective at preventing pregnancy. But people aren’t perfect, so in real life condoms are about 82% effective — that means about 18 out of 100 people who use condoms as their only birth control method will get pregnant each year. The better you are about using condoms correctly every time you have sex, the better they’ll work. But there’s a small chance that you will get pregnant even if you always use them the right way.
How can I make condoms more effective? The best way to make condoms work as well as possible is to use them correctly every single time you have vaginal, oral, and anal sex. That means wearing it the whole time, from start to finish. Make sure the condom is rolled on your penis the right way before there’s any skin-to-skin genital contact. Using condoms + another form of birth control (like the pill, IUD, or shot) is a great way to get extra pregnancy prevention AND protection against STDs. Using withdrawal (“pulling out”) while also wearing a condom can help keep sperm out of the vagina and lower the risk for pregnancy. You shouldn’t use a condom worn on the penis together with a female condom. Condoms are designed to be used on their own, and doubling up won’t necessarily give you extra protection. One condom used correctly is all the protection you need. – Source: https://www.plannedparenthood.org[/su_spoiler]
How do I use a condom? Roll the condom on when your penis is erect (hard), but BEFORE it touches your partner’s mouth or genital area (vulva, vagina, anus, buttocks, and upper thighs) — and wear it the whole time you’re having sex. This helps protect you from STDs that are transmitted through skin-to-skin touching. It also prevents contact with pre-ejaculate (pre-cum), which can have STD germs and may rarely contain sperm that can cause pregnancy.
- Condoms last a long time, but you should always check the expiration date printed on the wrapper or box. Open condoms carefully so you don’t damage them — don’t use your teeth or scissors.
- Make sure the condom’s ready to roll on the right way: the rim should be on the outside so it looks like a little hat, and it will unroll easily. You can unroll it a little bit before putting it on to make sure it’s right-side out. If you accidentally put a condom on inside out, do NOT flip it around and reuse it — get a new one.
3. Pinch the tip of the condom and place it on the head of your penis. Leave a little bit of space at the top to collect semen (cum). If you’re uncircumcised, it might be more comfortable to pull your foreskin back before placing the condom on the tip of your penis and rolling it down. 4. Unroll the condom down the shaft of your penis all the way to the base. You can put a few drops of water-based or silicone lubricant inside the tip of the condom and/or on the outside of the condom once it’s on. 5. Have sex! 6. After you ejaculate (cum), hold onto the rim of the condom and pull your penis out of your partner’s body. Do this BEFORE your penis goes soft, so the condom doesn’t get too loose and let semen out. You can’t reuse condoms. Roll on a new condom every time you have vaginal, oral, or anal sex. You should also use a new condom if you switch from one kind of sex to another (like anal to vaginal). Don’t worry if you lose your erection (your penis gets soft) while wearing a condom — this is super common. If this happens you should change condoms. Just take the condom off, and once your penis is hard again, roll on a new one.
What are some tips for using condoms? Taking good care of your condoms and using them correctly every single time you have sex is key. Store your condoms in a cool, dry place away from any sharp objects and direct sunlight. Don’t keep them in your pocket, car, or bathroom for long periods of time (over 1 month), because excessive heat and moisture can damage condoms over time.
Always check the expiration date and make sure there aren’t holes in the packaging before opening your condom — you should be able to feel a little air bubble when you squeeze the wrapper. If a condom is torn, dry, stiff, or sticky, throw it away. Since you have to use a new condom every time you have sex or get a new erection, it’s a good idea to keep a supply around.
Have condoms nearby before things start heating up, so they’re easy to grab without interrupting the action. Most condoms come pre-lubricated, but adding extra water-based or silicone lube can make condoms feel great and help keep them from breaking. Put a few drops on the head of your penis or inside the tip of your condom before you roll it on, and/or spread lube on the outside of the condom once you’re wearing it.
Don’t use anything that has oil in it with latex condoms, like petroleum jelly (Vaseline), lotion, baby oil, butter, or cooking oils. Oil damages latex condoms and may cause them to break. It’s easy to make condoms fun and sexy — all it takes is a little creativity and a positive attitude!
For many people, condoms are a natural part of foreplay. Having your partner roll on the condom, applying lube, and stimulating each other and saying sexy stuff while putting condoms on keeps things hot AND safe. Plus, knowing you’re protecting each other from pregnancy and/or STDs lets everyone relax and focus on feelin’ good.
Practice makes perfect, so it’s a good idea to get used to putting on condoms before you actually use one for sex. You can practice putting a condom on your own penis, or a banana, cucumber, or slim bottle — anything penis-shaped will do! Becoming a condom pro BEFORE you have sex makes it much easier to use them correctly when it really matters.
Lastly, it’s a good idea to use another form of birth control, like the pill, shot, implant, or IUD, along with condoms. It can help prevent pregnancy in case you make a mistake or the condom breaks, giving you extra protection. If you have a condom mishap and you’re not on another birth control method, emergency contraception (the morning-after pill) can help prevent pregnancy up to 5 days after unprotected sex.
Condoms are easy to get and easy to use. They help prevent both pregnancy and STDs. Condoms are effective against STDs.Condoms and female condoms are the only methods of birth control that also help prevent the spread of sexually transmitted infections, including HIV. Even if you’re already using a different kind of birth control to avoid pregnancy, it’s a good idea to also use condoms or female condoms every time you have sex to protect yourself from STDs.
Condoms don’t cost much and are convenient. Condoms are super easy to get from many different stores and health centers. You don’t need a prescription or ID to buy them, and they’re inexpensive (or sometimes even free). Condoms are a small, discreet, and portable way to get big protection from pregnancy and STDs.
Condoms can be sexy. Protection is important, but so is pleasure. Luckily, condoms offer both! Condoms come in lots of different styles, shapes, and textures that increase sensation for both partners. And having your partner put the condom on your penis can be a sexy part of foreplay, especially if you add lube. Condoms can even delay ejaculation (cumming), so sex lasts longer. You can use condoms for oral, anal, and vaginal sex, so they protect you from STDs no matter how you get down. And that’s really the sexiest part of all: condoms let you focus on pleasure and your partner without worrying about pregnancy or STDs. Safer sex is better sex because it stops stress from killing the mood.
Condoms help other methods of birth control work even better. Adding condoms to your birth control lineup can give you extra pregnancy protection. No method is 100% effective, so adding condoms as a backup helps you prevent pregnancy if you make a mistake with your other method or it fails. And it’s a good idea to use condoms to help protect yourself against STDs as well. Condoms can add extra protection to almost all other birth control methods, like the pill, shot, IUD, and implant. However, don’t use the female condom and male condom together, and there’s no need to wear more than one condom at a time. One should do the trick.
Condoms have no side effects. Most people can use condoms with no problem — there are no side effects. Rarely, latex (rubber) condoms can cause irritation for people with latex allergies or sensitivities. And sometimes the lube on certain types of condoms may be irritating. If you’re allergic to latex, try switching brands or using plastic condoms. Condoms and female condoms made from soft plastics like polyurethane, polyisoprene, and nitrile are latex-free. You can get non-latex condoms in most of the same places where standard condoms are sold. – Source: https://www.plannedparenthood.org
You have to use a condom every time you have sex. In order for condoms to be effective, you have to use a new one correctly every single time you have sex. That means putting on a condom before there’s any skin-to-skin genital contact, and keeping it on until you’re done having sex. If you only use condoms sometimes, or put them on halfway through sex, they won’t work as well. Having a supply of condoms and making sure they’re close by before you get busy can help you remember to use them. If you’re looking for birth control that gives you round-the-clock pregnancy protection with minimal effort, check out the implant and the IUD, or take this quiz to find the method that’s best for you. But remember, condoms are the only way to protect yourself and your partner from STDs during sex. So no matter what type of birth control you use, condoms are always a good idea.
Condoms can take some getting used to. You may have heard that condoms take away some of the feeling during sex, or that stopping to put on a condom kills the mood. Protecting your health is super important, but so is pleasure. The good news is, there are a few ways to make using condoms fun and sexy. Practice makes perfect. The more comfortable and confident you are using condoms, the easier it’ll be to put one on in the heat of the moment. There are a ton of different types of condoms, so everyone can find one that fits right and feels good. Some condoms are actually designed to make sex more pleasurable: textures like studs and ribbing, colors, flavors, and ultra-thin materials, and even special lubricants can all add to the fun. Using condoms as part of foreplay can be sexy and exciting. You can keep kissing and stimulating each other while getting the condom out, and your partner can put the condom on and add lube. That way, the condom becomes part of the action instead of stopping the action. Remember: the best part of using condoms is knowing you’re protecting yourself and your partner from pregnancy and/or STDs. And there’s nothing sexier than that.
– Source: https://www.plannedparenthood.org/learn