The Dos and Don’ts of Condoms

Condom usage is pretty straightforward: you put them on before sex, take them off afterwards. “What could go wrong?” you tell yourself.

Unfortunately, it’s not quite that simple. There are some instances when condoms fail, and when that happens, it’s usually chalked up to human error as well as inconsistent and incorrect usage. When a condom fails, you run the terrible risk of having an unwanted pregnancy, or worse, being infected with HIV or a sexually transmitted disease (STD).

The Proper usage of condoms boils down to knowing what you should and shouldn’t do with them. Here are a few rules and guidelines that should help you ‘enjoy’ the efficacy of condoms and engage in truly safe sex. 

Don’ts 


Don’t use a condom without checking its expiry date.

Condoms typically have a shelf life of at around five years. It’s much less if a condom comes with spermicides in it. That said, always be sure to read the literature of a condom brand before using it. Check for expiration date first and foremost, then check for other small details, such as components or ingredients used.

 Don’t wear a condom stored in your wallet or glove compartment for a prolonged period 

If there’s one thing guaranteed to kill a condom’s efficacy, it’s heat. Heat from your body or from your car affects the structure of latex, increasing its tendency to break. As cool as it is to be a boy scout and have a condom tucked somewhere convenient (that way you’re ready for action anytime), you may want to rethink the condom-in-the-wallet-or-car strategy.

Dos


Do choose a condom size that’s appropriate for you

This is a simple rule. A condom that’s too small is too snug and takes away the pleasurable sensation and friction associated with sex. A condom that’s too large on the other hand, is prone to slipping off during sex. Besides, all that extra material only makes you feel inadequate, the last thing you want in the bedroom. Be honest with yourself and choose a condom the right size for you.

Do use a condom when engaging with a stranger

One-night stands are exciting and fun for some people. Contracting HIV or an STD is not. It’s as simple as protecting yourself during risky behavior. Always be on the safe side when having sex with a stranger, or even someone you’re in a new relationship with. Furthermore, you want to prevent an unwanted pregnancy by using a condom.

More condoms in movies, please

SAFE SEX? Kristen Stewart and Robert Pattinson, who portray Bella and Edward in the Twilight franchise.

Source: Here

The Task of Choosing Condoms – Things to Know

For many people, wearing a condom is about as enjoyable as staying home to watch over your younger brother on a Friday night is. Despite how most of us need to wear a condom during sexual activity, most of us don’t quite like it. It’s a conundrum that will perhaps dog the use of condoms for a while, but did you know it shouldn’t be this way? In fact, there are ways to make condoms work for both you and your significant other in ways that enhance the pleasure you experience in bed?

Here are a few tips to do just that.

Try Textured and Flavored Condoms

Perhaps the common complaint against condoms is how they reduce the pleasurable sensation felt during intercourse. This may be true for some condom brands out there, but certain textured and special condoms have been designed to compensate for this problem without compromising safe sex standards. Here are a few examples below.

1. Ultra-Thin Condoms

Ultra-thin condoms are described by many users as the “next best thing” to wearing nothing when it comes to using condoms. While their thinness factor may be a cause of anxiety and worry for some people, condom manufacturers ensure users that they are perfectly safe, provided that they are stored and used the right way. Certain ultra-thin condoms are even designed to transfer heat better, increasing the pleasure felt during lovemaking.

2. Ribbed Condoms

Ribbed condoms, as the name suggests, have a ribbed texture, specifically designed to add more sensation and friction during intercourse. Both men and women experience added pleasure thanks to the condom’s ridges, making it a perfect solution to people tired of the plain-Jane quality of plain rubber condoms.

3. Flavored Condoms 

The ‘flavor’ of flavored condoms actually comes from the lubricant in them. For people who dislike the taste and smell of ordinary latex during oral sex, flavored condoms are a fun and cheek solution that promotes safe sex and fun in the bedroom.


Consider Condom Allergies 

There are some nasty instances of latex-caused allergic reactions to condoms. Some cases are due to the latex itself, while specific ingredients in latex, like the milk protein casein, trigger allergy cases. If you’re allergic to latex condoms, it’s worth giving vegan condoms a try. Vegan condoms are made from different from ingredients that are not only hypoallergenic, but animal-friendly as well. The vegan label comes from the fact that vegan condoms use no animal byproducts whatsoever (like casein).

Guy Sucks Condoms Through Nose [WORLD RECORD OF THE WEEK]

 

Keeping your Bedroom Activities Animal Cruelty-free: Vegan Condoms

For vegans, especially ethical vegans, the simple act of placing animal products inside their mouths is deplorable, so you can only imagine what it would be like to have an animal-based product placed so closely to their more ‘sensitive’ body parts. Consider this as another example: picture yourself as someone dating a vegan and it’s come to that point when it’s finally time to go to 4th base. What happens when it’s time for condoms to come into the picture?

You see, the manufacturing process of latex, the material used in all condoms, involves the use of casein, a type of milk protein. Most, if not all, regular condoms have small traces of casein. For ethical vegans, this poses a problem of condoms not being a cruelty-free product. Aside from not being vegan however, most condoms are poor at biodegrading due to landfills and presence of lubricants, thus making them a poor product for the environment. Moreover, the lubricant found in most condoms these days can contain ingredients such as dairy enzymes and honey, both an affront to vegan principles as well.

The solution to this problem is the vegan condom, a type of condom manufactured in such a way that doesn’t involve the use of casein or other animal-based products. A handful of companies have taken the step of addressing the concerns of vegans and vegetarians, whose numbers have grown larger over the recent years as awareness grows on animal cruelty and the importance of a healthier lifestyle.

Instead of using casein to create latex, vegan condoms have a plant-based substitute to facilitate the creation of the material, like cocoa powder. The few companies that do offer vegan condoms each have their own special formula or substitute for casein and other animal-based ingredients, but the core concept remains the same—condoms that steer clear of animal products.

If vegan condoms are completely unavailable to you, remember they are a very small price to pay for preventing the larger impact another human being makes on this world. Besides being a solution against unplanned pregnancies, latex condoms are by far the most effective means of preventing the spread of sexually transmitted disease. So if you can’t stomach the idea of you or your partner having to wear a non-vegan friendly condom, then by all means, do try and abstain from engaging in sexual activity. It’s the least you can do for the world.