Using
a condom
Choosing
a condom
The range of available condoms is bewildering. With so many
sizes, shapes and thicknesses on offer, how do you know which
to choose? Obviously, you are safest with a well-known brand
bought from a pharmacist or brand vending machine. Always check
the sell-by date and the Kitemark. Otherwise, the best plan
is to try several until you find one that is comfortable for
you. The preferred shape – be it straight, flared or contoured
– seems to be a matter of personal choice. Researchers
at the University of Exeter gave a variety of condoms to over
400 young men and women, and asked them to complete a questionnaire
rating each condom for comfort and sensitivity. The results
showed that roughly equal number of people preferred each shape
– there was no outright winner. So just because a friend
recommends a certain type, don't assume it will be right for
you.
Some people
prefer a thicker condom because it may make intercourse last
slightly longer. Thicker condoms usually have words such
as
'ultra-strong' or 'super strong' on the packet. Anyone intending
to have anal sex must use an ‘ultra-strong’ or ‘super-strong’
condom.
Most condoms
are made from latex rubber. If you think your condom reduces
sensitivity or you dislike the rubbery, latex smell, try a
polyurethane condom such as Durex Avanti or eZ.on. Polyurethane
condoms feel thinner than they actually are, because they
conduct body heat better. Avanti is as effective for contraception
as the latex type and eZ.on slightly less so (Cochrane Database Systematic Review, 2004, issue 3. www.thecochranelibrary.com). However, non-latex condoms
are slightly more likely to break.
Some condoms
contain casein, a substance derived from animals; however,
vegetarian/vegan-friendly condoms
are available
(see Useful contacts).
Using
a condom – dos and don’ts
-
Do buy your condoms from a pharmacist or
reputable brand vending machine or other reliable source,
not from a street trader.
-
Do check the sell-by date when you buy -
the further ahead it is, the better.
-
Do choose a reputable brand that has the
British Standard Kitemark on the pack and an expiry date of
over 2 years from now. The Kitemark means the sheaths are
properly tested. Expiry dates are usually 5 years after manufacture.
Alternatively, choose a pack marked 'BS EN 600' - this is
the European standard, which is similar to the British Standard.
-
Do make sure you have several with you, in
case you damage one or it goes on wrongly.
-
Do be careful as you unwrap the condom –
they can be damaged by teeth, fingernails and jewellery.
- Do be careful not to unroll the condom inside out
(except eZ.on, which can be put on either way).
-
Do use a water-based lubricant if needed,
such as KY Gel, Senselle, Replens, or Sylk, Durex Play lubricant
or Boots lubricating Jelly.
-
Do put the condom on before your penis touches
your partner's genitals. It is possible for a woman to become
pregnant if any sperm are spilt near the entrance of the vagina
even if you do not have full intercourse. Sperm can ooze out
of the penis before ejaculation happens (‘pre-cum’).
-
Do pull the foreskin back before rolling
on the condom (obviously, this does not apply if you have
been circumcised).
-
Do hold the condom on after you have ejaculated,
otherwise it may slip off as you go soft and spill sperm.
- Do
remember that the more you use condoms, and the more familiar
you are with them, the more comfortable and efficient you
will become.
-
Don't feel embarrassed at the thought of
buying condoms. As the Planned Parenthood Federation of America
says, 'Be proud. Buying condoms says you are responsible and
that you accept your sexuality as a normal part of living'.
If you really are embarrassed, get them from a slot machine
in a pub/bar toilet.
-
Don't take any notice of a large CE mark
on the pack. This is a European mark, compulsory on all condom
packs after June 1998. It is to do with free trade in Europe,
and is not a guarantee of quality.
-
Don't ever buy a pack that has no Kitemark
but says it 'conforms to' or 'surpasses' British Standard
3704. This is a con. They may not have been tested at all.
-
Don't use a condom that is past its sell-by
date or which feels sticky or very dry.
-
Don't rely on a gimmick condom (glow-in the-dark,
musical etc.) for contraception.
-
Don't use Vaseline, hand cream, butter, baby
oil or any other oils for lubrication with latex rubber condoms
(see Lubrication for more advice)
-
Don't use a condom more than once; use a
new one each time you have intercourse.
-
Don't flush it down the toilet after use,
because it could cause a blockage. Wrap it in tissue or toilet
paper and chuck it in the bin.
Talking
about using condoms
It can be very awkward talking to a new partner about condoms.
For some really practical advice, look at the website of the
Planned Parenthood Federation of America. Click
here to see some of their ideas for responses to partners
reluctant to use a condom.
Lubrication
Some people find that sex is more enjoyable for themselves and
their partner if they use a lubricant. Condom manufacturers
admit that the lubrication they put on the condoms may not be
enough, but adding more would make packaging difficult. Lubricants
are especially useful if your partner has vaginal
dryness, and will also help prevent wear and tear on the
condom. Smear the lubricant on the outside of the condom after
you have put the condom on.
Don’t
just use any old thing as a lubricant. Most condoms are
made
of latex rubber, and oils can cause latex to break down, reducing
the strength of the condom by up to 95% in 15 minutes.
Lubricants
that should NOT be used with latex rubber condoms
-
Baby oil
-
Cooking oil
-
Massage oil
-
Body lotion
-
Bath oil
-
Hand cream
-
Suntan oil
-
Petroleum jelly (Vaseline)
-
Hair conditioner
|
So choose
a water-based lubricant, such as KY Gel, Sylk (see Useful
contacts), Boots Lubricating Jelly, Durex Play lubricant,
Senselle or Replens. The packet should tell you whether
a lubricant
is
water-based or not. If you are unsure, ask the pharmacist or
family planning
clinic. Spit is not a good idea, because it dries fast and
could theoretically transmit HIV or hepatitis (see Oral
sex).
Some condoms
are made from polyurethane, not latex rubber. These are not
damaged by oily substances.
