Prevention and Protection: The True Value of Condoms

On September 27th we marked National Gay Men's HIV/AIDS Awareness Day. It's not exactly a celebratory event; however, it is an important one where we acknowledge the bond that exists within the community because of this disease, and that the fight against HIV is far from over. This day, as well as a comment that was posted on my last Huffington Post entry, got me to thinking about HIV and how it has impacted my life as a gay man.

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How to Use a Condom – A Beginner's Guide

Using a condom is one of the best ways to avoid an unwanted pregnancy and keep yourself and your partner safe from getting infected with an STD. However, you have to make sure that you are actually using the condom correctly to avoid complications. You could end up ripping or tearing the condom, so you have to be careful.

Condoms should not only be used during vaginal sex, it should be used in any type of sex if you want to keep things.

Condoms are the most popular method for having safe sex, and y et not everyone knows how to use them properly. Here are a few care and usage tips for condoms

Before Using

Store the condoms inside a dry, cool place that’s not exposed to direct sunlight. Moreover, always check the box or pack’s expiry date.

Before putting on a condom, check if the package is sealed airtight. Tear it with your hands, not with your teeth, and slip it out from the pack. Check for any damages, holes or tears on it. If it looks like it’s discolored, brittle, or damaged, throw it out and don’t use it.

If you’re planning to use lubricant, use it inside and outside the condom. It’s also crucial that you used a water based lubricant since most condoms are made from latex. Oil-based lubricants will only damage and create hole on the condom, so mind what you use.

Putting it on

Pinch the end using one hand and leave a small space for the semen. With the other, roll the whole condom down until it covers the penis. Guide air bubbles to the opening of the condom to get them out. Usually, condoms are packed with lubricants, but you can also add some more to help avoid any excess friction which causes breakage.

Using the condom

Many people ask when the right time to pull out is. Most would say to pull out before orgasm while the erection is still present. This is because if the penis is not erected anymore, there is a possibility that the ejaculation can spill or leak out of the condom. Pulling out earlier is also a good safe sex tip since it helps prevent infections and pregnancies.

After use

Pull the condom from the base to avoid spills, and be sure to dispose of it correctly. Place it back inside the wrapper and throw it inside the garbage can. Don’t flush it down the toilet to avoid clogging.

Behind Closed Doors: Safe is sexy — Use condoms to protect you and your partner

I’ve been dating the same guy for three years now, and we’ve never had sex without a condom. My guy friends always kind of cringe when I say that, and my girlfriends never cease to marvel at my self-control. Yes, I’m on birth control. No, neither of us has an STI. I just really, really, really don’t want to get pregnant.

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From condoms to roses: Golden Key members encourage safe sex

From left: Vontessa Kendall, senior middle grades education major; Terri Harris, junior communication sciences and disorders major; and Molly Seal, Health center graduate assistant work to create condom roses in a effort to encourage safe sex.

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And Eco-Friendly Approach Sexual Health and Fertility

These days, people are busy making sure that they clean up their act and minimize their carbon footprints, the better to be less impactful on the environment. There are tremendous benefits to be gained by ensuring every aspect of our lives has a clean and green touch to it, even if it’s something as odd as intimate heath and family planning.

Many of us wouldn’t have second thoughts on getting a hybrid car or get solar panels installed on their roofs to be eco-friendly, but they don’t really look at the little things which could have a big impact. Below are just a few simple and cost effective ways to go green when it comes to your reproductive health.

Go Green with your Monthly Period

Statistics show that over 12 billion sanitary pads and 13 billion tampons are used annually. Within her lifespan, an average woman uses about 11,000 tampons. These don’t break down easily and it will take years before it completely biodegrades. And since you really can’t recycle old tampons and sanitary pads, you can only throw them away, which means they automatically go to the landfill.

Instead of getting the regular tampon or sanitary pad, choose chemical-free and organic ones. Since these do not contain any harsh chemicals, your intimate area will less likely become irritated and they take less time to decompose.

Vegan Love

Choose vegan condoms over regular condoms to add a touch of green to your sex life. Ordinary latex condoms contain a type of protein taken from milk, an animal byproduct—this puts it against the belief of ethical vegans who shun all types of animal-based products.

Vegan condoms are touted as an animal-friendly condom alternative as they are based on plant extracts. Provided its endorsed by a major vegan group, a vegan condom is cruelty-free and animal friendly.

Although they are harder to find in your local pharmacies, you can find vegan condoms online for a reasonable price. Take advantage of the long shelf life of these condoms and buy in bulk to save.

Go Natural

Although using the calendar method is a bit risky, especially if you don’t have a regular period, there are other ways to prevent a pregnancy without using condoms. The best way is use the natural temperature of a woman to know if she is fertile or not. There are also natural birth control pills that are designed to affect the woman’s hormones to prevent unplanned pregnancies.

Use Lubricants Made from Organic Materials

Choose lubricant brands made from 100% natural and organic materials. These don’t contain flavors, dyes, petrochemicals, parabens and other harsh chemicals that could irritate the intimate area.

Learn From Olympians: Practice Safe Sex Too!

The Olympics are over, and the athletes have returned to their home countries. They left behind moments of glory, moments of disappointment and, apparently, more than 150,000 condom wrappers. That’s the number of contraceptives that were supplied to the London Olympic villagers (up from 100,000 in Beijing).
Drs. Oz & Roizen

This prompts us to point out that safe sex – whether it’s safety from unwanted pregnancy or protection from STDs – is something international athletes seem to take seriously. Safe sex is not an amateur sport; it’s a matter of life and death.

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No condoms for almost half of students

BOOZE A FACTOR: Alcohol and sex go hand in hand with many young people, say Victoria University of Wellington students Harry Evans, 20, and Stella Blake-Kelly and Molly McCarthy, both 21.

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Benefits of Using Natural Products

The use of natural-based products has grown popular over the recent years due to the supposed benefits these products provide. For starters, most of these products are marketed to contain no traces of harsh and harmful synthetic chemicals, which for many, causes irritations and allergic reactions.

With the growing popular of these products, there is now a wide range of organic and natural products available in our local groceries, pharmacies and supermarkets. Everything from naturally grown food, natural skin care products, to even organic condoms.

Here are some more benefits that natural products have over other products in the market.

Naturally grown food

You can’t go wrong with naturally grown food. Organic food goes through a natural farming or livestock caring process, ensuring that produce and meat aren’t modified genetically. There have been cases of traces of pesticide- and chemical-based fertilizers found inside fruits and vegetables, which may lead to toxic poisoning.

Likewise, livestock that is fed non-organic food may also consume fewer nutrients than naturally fed animals.

Skincare and beauty products

Skin care items made from natural or organic ingredients are gentler to your skin compared to traditional beauty items. These products are typically made from vegetable and fruit extract, with very little to no chemicals mixed with them.

Moreover, no synthetic coloring and harsh smelling perfumes are added to the production of these items. Natural beauty products are also safer for kids—it’s worth pointing out there have been identified cases of children winding up in the hospital after accidentally consuming their mothers’ skincare and beauty products.

Homecare products

Not only can you buy organic and natural home care products at the market, you can also make and use them at home. You can create an effective and instant all-around cleaning product using ingredients that you can find in your own kitchen. It's cheaper and works just as good as the cleaning products you buy at the supermarket. Check the net for online home cleaning remedies and recipes.

Medicine and health care

Man has been using plants to cure illness since the beginning of time. Natural remedies are proven effective and safer since it’s difficult to overdose on them. Likewise, many medicinal and healthcare items are made from animal products. For example, organic condoms are made for sheep or lamb intestines. These are effective contraceptives and feel natural when used, as if you are not wearing a condom at all.

The next time you by something, try going organic. You might just like the effects of natural products and change your whole lifestyle.

Barack Obama, Mitt Romney condoms launched

Condoms inspired by Barack Obama and Mitt Romney have been launched in the US.

Say It With A Condom, a customised condom company in New York, advertises the Romney condom as "great for any position", while the Obama condom has the tagline: "Won't break as easily as his promises."

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College Life – Responsibilities Typically Forgotten by Students

Many people say that going to college is when life’s best moments happen. You get to live alone in a new place and meet new people. You also get to create new connections that you might be thankful for in your professional career.

College is fun, but sometimes, college students have too much fun and end up in doing something that they regret. Keep in mind that you have to be responsible for yourself since this is your future you are getting ready for.

Below are a few common responsibilities that college students seem to give less attention to and a few tips on how to keep yourself on the right track.

Finances

In college, you have to work with whatever little money you have. It’s a good idea to have a credit card, but be warned, it’s easy to be covered in debt if you don’t know how to manage your credit.

If you are having a hard time living off the money your parents send you, get a part time job. There are hundreds of jobs that you can apply for that will take up little time and can provide you extra cash to spend.

Time Management

It’s easy to lose your sense of time with all the things that you need to do for school and your personal life. You have to learn how to manage your time well so that work and leisure won’t come at you at the same time. Keep a schedule planner or a small notebook with you all the time so that you can just write down what you need to do and remind yourself later about it.

Safe Sex

You will meet many people and even have relationships with a few of them in college since you have more time on your own and have more control on how to spend it. That said, if you make the decision to be sexually active, you have to be responsible enough to protect yourself and your partner. Engaging safe sex practices, such as wearing a condom, can protect you from a host of sexually transmitted diseases, most of which are life threatening.

Moreover, the last thing you want in college is to be a parent and cut your time in school short because of it.

School

Don’t forget what you are actually going to college for. Always prioritize school and finish your education. Having fun, meeting new people and experiencing new things comes after. Try to spend more time in the library or your room studying then at the frat house partying.

But remember, don’t push yourself too hard; find the time to actually have fun. Enjoy your college days because life after college is a heck of a lot more stressful. You don’t have summers off or spring break anymore so enjoy and learn while you are still there.

Class Is in Session: Condom Use 101

Condoms are widely used to prevent unwanted pregnancies and protect against harmful and life-threatening diseases, such sexual transmitted infections (STI). Several condom manufacturers have committed to maintaining a healthy sex life as well as an enjoyable one. However, a condom can't protect you if it's used incorrectly. A study published in the journal Sexual Health discovered a slew of errors in condom use.
Read more at http://www.medicaldaily.com/articles/11812/20120829/condom-use-101.htm#pJWdMKM30Bo5ugzZ.99

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Condoms – A History

Each year, people from all over the world use 9 billion condoms. And while that may seem like a definitive win for people and institutions advocating the importance of safe sex, condom use is far from being universally accepted. While there’s a general consensus among experts and doctors that condoms have the ability to greatly reduce the rate of new cases for infections from sexually-transmitted diseases and HIV, there are many who still oppose their promotion.

The Catholic Church for instance, has been very vocal as of late with their opposition to the usage of condoms. Pope Benedict for one has stated on record that AIDS and HIV should only be controlled through abstinence alone.

Arguments for and against condom usage aside, you’re bound to have won
dered at some point where condoms came from. Here’s a brief look on their colorful history.

1000 BC

It was during this time that the earliest records on condom-like devices were made and found. The earliest condoms were apparently made from more primitive materials—primitive when compared to polyurethane and latex. Condoms then were made of silk paper, linen, leather, and even hollowed out horns.

1500s to 1600s

Gabrielle Fallopius, a doctor in Italy who just so happens to be the man the female fallopian tubes are named after, developed the idea of using linen sheath devices as a means of protecting against syphilis, At the time, the disease was a fatal epidemic.

Besides the use of linen, condoms were also made from bladder and intestines during the Renaissance period, perhaps giving birth to what we now know as the lambskin condom.

1855

Goodyear produced the first rubber condom after Charles Goodyear discovered a method of processing natural rubber to make it elastic without being too soft or hard. The first rubber condom unfortunately, was far from being as comfortable as it is today; it was apparently as thick as the inner tube of a bicycle tire.

1912

Condoms finally became cheap and disposable with the introduction of the first latex condoms. This paved the way for single-use condoms, which were mass produced during the Second World War and distributed to troops all over the world.

1980s

The media emphasis placed on deaths from HIV sparked a movement to push condom usage to the mainstream. The issue of safe sex finally became less of a taboo as fears about HIV and AIDs rocked households all over America.

2000s

Condom sales breach the 9 billion mark worldwide. Condoms are now better and more reliable than ever. With reports of allergies to latex, manufacturers have created polyurethane condoms for people sensitive to latex.

Using a Condom the Right Way

If being a parent at the wrong time is the last thing you want to be right now, then wearing a condom during sex should be high on your list. Condoms however, don’t just solve one aspect of safe sex (i.e. preventing pregnancy), they also protect you from sexually transmitted diseases, most of which are downright nasty, if not fatal.

You already know the facts about condoms, what they do, and how they allow you to engage in safe sex, but there are still many people out there—both men and women—who don’t know how to use a condom correctly.

Why is this So?

Despite it being the 21st century today, many men and women still feel embarrassed to ask about how to use a condom the right way. This leads them to use the contraceptive incorrectly instead of asking doctors, or even their friends, for fear of being ridiculed, teased, or being labelled as sexually active or promiscuous.

Why Proper Usage is Important 

When used correctly, your ordinary latex condom has a very high success rate in preventing both pregnancy and STIs—the rate is very close to 100 percent. However, that’s assuming that the condom is used correctly. When a condom is used and stored the wrong way, its failure rate can rise to dangerous levels, making it too risky to use during intercourse, whether it’s oral, anal, or vaginal sex.

Here are the basics you should know about using a condom the right way. 

• Check the condom’s expiry date; if it’s past its expiry, throw it away—be sure to dispose properly of course.
• Don’t just rip a condom with your teeth; you don’t want to accidentally tear it. Open the pack with care.
• Condoms should never be stored in your pocket or wallet—the friction and heat will cause the material to deteriorate over time, leading to tearing.
• Determine which direction the condom rolls before wearing it.
• If the condom appears to be stuck on itself when rolling it on the shaft, it may be defective. Use another one.
• Wear a condom when the penis is erect.
• Never use oil-based lubricants with ordinary latex condoms as this eats away at the latex. Use water-based lubricants instead.
• Remove the condom immediately after ejaculation while the penis is still erect. Be sure not to spill any semen when taking out the rubber.
• Never reuse a condom.
• When using certain organic condoms, such as lambskin, bear in mind that these only prevent pregnancy, not infection from STDs.

New Orleans pastor known as 'Da Condom Father' couldn't just watch people die: Jarvis DeBerry

Bruce Davenport, pastor of St. John No. 5 Faith Church in Gentilly, said he was given an ultimatum by the Baptist convention to which he used to belong. He could keep calling himself and his church Baptist and cease with his distribution of condoms. Or he could keep passing out condoms and stop calling himself Baptist. His nickname, "Da Condom Father," makes plain which option he chose.

Source: Here

Veganism – Understanding this Different Lifestyle

These days, more and more people are becoming more and more cautious about their lifestyle and changing their habits to be healthier—which is definitely a good thing. From the food we eat to even the cars we drive, it’s clear as day that many people are aiming to be healthier, cleaner, and greener. A common lifestyle change being done by many people right now is to adhere to the principles of veganism.

How to live as a vegan

Veganism is a form of lifestyle that abstains from using animal products. Most vegans reject the use of any type of animal products, from food to clothing, choosing alternatives that match their principles, such as vegan condoms for instance. However, there are dietary vegans that only stick with the vegan diet and still use animal products like leather.

Whether you are after the lifestyle or just the diet, there’s no harm in going vegan. There are many health benefits when shifting to this lifestyle and you just might find that you feel and become healthier after you switch.

Live longer

Vegans also tend to live longer. Since they strictly eat vegetables and fruits, they get the most of vitamins and minerals from plant materials. They even use plants, specifically beans, as a source of protein.  Many people who have gone vegan chose to because of the health benefits or because of health reasons. Most vegans choose to buy organically grown vegetables and fruits so no harmful or toxic chemicals are mixed into their food.

Special products

Since ethical vegans do not use any products that have animal matter in them, there’s a range of products specifically made for them. These can range from vegan shoes to vegan condoms. Vegan condoms in particular, are a relatively new product out on the market, catering to a niche market that’s often been neglected. Since the regular process of creating latex in condoms involves the use of the dairy protein casein, vegan condoms are a solution for vegans who want to engage in sex.

Downside

Although a vegan lifestyle sounds good, it will need a lot of dedication. You have to sacrifice a lot when promising to follow the lifestyle. You have to be very cautious about all the choices you make. For instance, it entails reading the labels of products you are buying to make sure that they do not contain animal products.

Shift now

That is, if you want to go vegan. Change your life and start slowly by changing your diet and once you get the hang of it, you can change your total lifestyle.

Unwanted Pregnancies – Best Ways to Avoid Them

Having a baby is one of the most amazing experiences anyone could ever have. However, this experience also needs to come at the right place and time. Unwanted pregnancies can lead to emotional and psychological troubles that some people may have a hard time handling. It will not only affect your life and future plans, you will also have to care for another human being. If you think that you cannot support having a baby yet, then you might as well avoid getting pregnant.

Condoms and contraceptive pills are the most popular ways to avoid pregnancy. It’s very important, especially for teens and young adults, to know what options they have when it comes to contraceptives. Let’s talk more about these two common options and know the details about them.

Condoms

Condoms stand out for a good reason. They not only help you avoid pregnancies, they also help keep you safe from sexually transmitted diseases. Although condoms are not 100 percent effective and may fail, they can definitely help minimizes the chances of pregnancies and STDs. Condoms are very easy to use, you just need to follow the directions on the back of the box. The only reason why condoms fail is because you do not put them on properly.

There are many different types of condoms. The most recent ones that are getting a lot of attention are vegan condoms. Many condom brands actually use casein, which is a protein taken from milk, to make latex condoms. Vegan principles dictate that the use of animal-based products is unethical, hence why vegan condoms are so convenient.

Contraceptive pills

Pills are probably the most effective tool to avoid getting pregnant. Contraceptive pills are 99% effective in ensuring that no fertilization happens. However, taking contraceptive pills means that you have to take them while sticking to strict. If you miss more than two days of taking your pills, there is a high chance that you can get pregnant.  Some pills, such as hormonal balancing contraceptive pills, are known to give other benefits such as reducing cramps that many women feel during menstruation or prevent and control acne. One of the biggest downsides of using these pills is that they do nothing to protect you from STDs.

Hormonal balancing contraceptive pills and condoms are just a few examples of new types of contraceptives that also offer other benefits. Try to ask your doctor or a health care professional about these contraceptives to know more about them.

The Word on Women - Putting the sexy into safe sex is key to tackling HIV

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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.

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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).