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Condoms Can Save Your Life

Condoms placed over your erect penis prior to sexual intercourse are made of latex, lambskin, or polyurethane, available with or without lubricant, and sold in a variety of lengths, widths, and thicknesses. Latex provides the most protection against sexually transmitted diseases (STDs) and is recommended as the best variety of condom to use. Make sure the fit is good, not too tight, and not too loose. Tight condoms tend to break, but loose condoms can slip off, leaving an unprotected partner.

For greater protection against pregnancy, use a condom in tandem with spermicidal jelly or cream, which is inserted into the vagina before intercourse or may be used as a lubricant on the condom.

The use of condoms during intercourse provides the best protection against disease by blocking the exchange of STD-carrying body fluids. If you use condoms right and with consistency, they are very effective at preventing the AIDS-causing HIV virus. Condoms can also reduce your risk of contracting other STDs such as gonorrhea and Chlamydia.

The Meaning of Safe Sex 

With the advent of AIDS and other STDs, birth control is no longer the primary use for condoms. If you don't know your partner's status in regard to STDs and AIDS, the use of condoms should be automatic, even if you're using another form of birth control. That's the meaning of safe sex.

Condoms protect male and female partners by preventing the exchange of STD agents found in the vagina, rectum, mouth, penis, semen, and pre-ejaculatory fluid.

During ejaculation, semen remains inside the condom so that it cannot enter the woman's vagina, preventing conception. Since condoms don't affect a man's reproductive function, it's possible to achieve pregnancy as soon as condom use is discontinued.

To put on a condom, unroll the condom sheath, making sure to leave room at the tip to collect semen. If you use condoms that aren't lubricated, make sure to apply lubricant inside and outside of the condom since this can prevent tears. Only water-based lubricants, such as K-Y jelly should be used with latex condoms, since other lubricants, such as Vaseline petroleum jelly, or baby oil can weaken the latex, causing breakage.

Hold the base of the penis as you withdraw so that the condom doesn't slip off. Then remove and dispose of the condom.

Check the Date!

Make sure to check the expiration date on the package and to check each condom for damage such as pinholes or brittleness. Make sure you use a condom during any act of sex, including oral and anal sex.