PinkFloyd
October 26th, 2016, 12:32 AM
When used correctly, condoms are 98% effective at preventing pregnancy and sexually transmitted infections. People aren't perfect though, so the real-life statistic is 82%. You might be wondering why there's such a huge gap there. I mean, a 16% difference is quite a difference. This post will be an in depth guide on how to be as safe as possible while using one of the most popular types of contraceptives out there.
Check for expiration dates. More often than not, condoms you buy at the store have a shelf life of roughly 1.5-4 years, but it's better to be safe than sorry.
Check the condom its self for any signs of damage or imperfections.
Use the size that best fits you. It's very common for guys to go out and buy Magnum Condoms with an optimistic mindset. What can end up happening is during sex, the condom slips right off. It's pretty obvious, but it needs to be said.
Never use two condoms. Using two condoms is a huge no-no. The latex material from both condoms create fiction together and inevitably break.
Use a condom with a different form of birth control Okay, this isn't directly related to condoms, but it's a great idea to use two forms of birth control just for added security against pregnancy.
If the condom doesn't have a reservoir tip, pinch the top and roll it on. Doing this will leave space for ejaculate to gather and prevent breakage.
Keep condoms in a cool, dry place. A common mistake is to keep a box of condoms in the glove box of your car, in your wallet, or other common places that could potentially damage the condom. Your wallet heats up because it's close to your body, but more importantly, it creates friction, which could cause tears that threaten the integrity of the condom. You also don't want to keep condoms in your car because unless during warmer months, you always park out of direct view of the sun and the ambient temperature is always 50 degrees fahrenheit, it gets to be pretty hot in your car, and especially your glovebox. Cold is also bad for condoms. If you live in the midwest like me, it gets into the negatives pretty easily. Really, any temperature below or anywhere near freezing will cause the latex to become brittle, and you know what can happen next.
Don't fall off the "condom cliff" Falling off the condom cliff refers to when a couple practices safe sex consistently, but stops abruptly and goes bareback. It feels amazing, and makes using a condom damn near impossible. It's like renting an exotic car for a week and then having to go back to your standard economy car. Another good example would be eating pizza on a diet, but only once and right in the middle of the diet.
if you feel the condom break, stop and withdraw immediately.
Right after ejaculation, grip the rim of the condom at the base and carefully withdraw. Doing this will ensure that the contents of the condom don't escape.
If you use your own lube, don't use anything that is oil based as it can damage the condom. Only use water or silicone based lube.
Sources
https://www.plannedparenthood.org/learn/birth-control/condom/how-effective-are-condoms
https://www.aids.gov/hiv-aids-basics/prevention/reduce-your-risk/using-condoms/
Check for expiration dates. More often than not, condoms you buy at the store have a shelf life of roughly 1.5-4 years, but it's better to be safe than sorry.
Check the condom its self for any signs of damage or imperfections.
Use the size that best fits you. It's very common for guys to go out and buy Magnum Condoms with an optimistic mindset. What can end up happening is during sex, the condom slips right off. It's pretty obvious, but it needs to be said.
Never use two condoms. Using two condoms is a huge no-no. The latex material from both condoms create fiction together and inevitably break.
Use a condom with a different form of birth control Okay, this isn't directly related to condoms, but it's a great idea to use two forms of birth control just for added security against pregnancy.
If the condom doesn't have a reservoir tip, pinch the top and roll it on. Doing this will leave space for ejaculate to gather and prevent breakage.
Keep condoms in a cool, dry place. A common mistake is to keep a box of condoms in the glove box of your car, in your wallet, or other common places that could potentially damage the condom. Your wallet heats up because it's close to your body, but more importantly, it creates friction, which could cause tears that threaten the integrity of the condom. You also don't want to keep condoms in your car because unless during warmer months, you always park out of direct view of the sun and the ambient temperature is always 50 degrees fahrenheit, it gets to be pretty hot in your car, and especially your glovebox. Cold is also bad for condoms. If you live in the midwest like me, it gets into the negatives pretty easily. Really, any temperature below or anywhere near freezing will cause the latex to become brittle, and you know what can happen next.
Don't fall off the "condom cliff" Falling off the condom cliff refers to when a couple practices safe sex consistently, but stops abruptly and goes bareback. It feels amazing, and makes using a condom damn near impossible. It's like renting an exotic car for a week and then having to go back to your standard economy car. Another good example would be eating pizza on a diet, but only once and right in the middle of the diet.
if you feel the condom break, stop and withdraw immediately.
Right after ejaculation, grip the rim of the condom at the base and carefully withdraw. Doing this will ensure that the contents of the condom don't escape.
If you use your own lube, don't use anything that is oil based as it can damage the condom. Only use water or silicone based lube.
Sources
https://www.plannedparenthood.org/learn/birth-control/condom/how-effective-are-condoms
https://www.aids.gov/hiv-aids-basics/prevention/reduce-your-risk/using-condoms/