Condoms For Dummies

 

Everyone has a ton of questions their first time around and that’s nothing to be ashamed of. After all, it’s much better to be safe than to be sorry.

Condoms might seem pretty straight forward, just slip one on and you’re good to go, but proper use requires a bit of knowledge on what condoms are, what they do and everything in between.

That’s where we come in. This post is for answering all the questions the first-timer might have, and can even be helpful to seasoned pros.

History Of Condoms

 

To understand how condoms work, you will need to know what they are why they were made in the first place. Here’s the story of the condom:

A condom today is defined as a thin cover, typically made of latex, which covers a man’s penis during sexual intercourse to prevent the spread of disease and the likelihood of pregnancy.

But condoms have been around for many, many years and there is evidence of them being used in Ancient Egypt, Greece, China, and the Roman Empire. While they may not have had the name “condom,” they all seemingly served the same purpose.
The earliest recorded use of a “condom” dates back to 3000 B.C by King Minos of Crete, whose semen was believed to have contained “serpents and scorpions,” which killed his mistresses after sex. To protect his wife and his other partners, he wore the bladder of a goat.

And we all know how much Ancient Romans loved having sex with their partners, slaves, and friends. It is no wonder why disease went rampant in that civilization and also why many medical breakthroughs and discoveries were made at the time. This led to the use of sheep and goat intestines and bladders, along with linen sheaths as protection. This practice was also widespread in Ancient Egypt and China.

As the years went by, improvements were made to these animal-linen condoms and they became extremely popular in England and France amongst the wealthy. It was not long before they were sold commercially in pubs and shops but were still much too expensive for the working class.

Following the boom in rubber production in the 19th century and the increase in the spread of STDs, affordable rubber condoms became commercially available world-wide until about the 1920s when latex was introduced. Latex condoms were much more durable and really took off with the AIDs epidemic of the 1980s.
Condoms have significantly improved since 3000 B.C and have become one of the most effective birth control methods on the market today. It is still the go-to for protection against both STDs and pregnancy, and many companies have managed to rebrand them as a sex enhancer.

How To Get A  Condom

 

Condoms are one of, if not the most accessible means of birth control to come by. You can get them to buy at any pharmacy or drug store, gas station, supermarket, and even clubs. They’re free at health clinics and medical centers and you can also order them online.

 

You do not need a prescription or personal identification to buy them.

How effective are condoms?

If you use condoms correctly every single time, they are about 98%  effective. In reality, however, not everyone does and efficacy falls to about 85%

Can I use any condom?

Sure, you can use any brand condom, but you can’t use any size condom.
Condoms come in sizes ranging from small to large, and the fit for you is all dependent on your penis size.

To get your penis size, you will have to [measure] it and compare your measurements with that brand’s size chart to find the perfect fit.

Does the condom material matter?

Condoms are typically made of latex, which is a type of rubber that is cheap to produce.

Latex condoms can stretch up to 800% its size and are super durable. They offer the best protection against infection and pregnancy. However, they are easily broken down by things such as oil-based lubricants, direct sunlight and extreme cold.

Not everyone is a fan of latex and some people are even allergic to it, so condom manufacturers had to produce non-latex alternatives.

Some of these include:

• Lambskin (natural membrane)- This is one of the oldest types of condoms. It is made from the cecum, which is a thin, durable membrane found in a lamb’s intestines. When it is cleaned, it can be used for intercourse and is fully biodegradable. It is a good conductor of heat and offers protection against pregnancy but none against STDs.
• Polyurethane- Polyurethane is a type of plastic that is much thinner than latex and is better at conducting heat. It is not as strong as latex, but it more expensive.
• Polyisoprene- This is a type of latex manufactured in labs that contain all its components except the one which causes an allergic reaction in humans. Though it is thicker than polyurethane, Polyisoprene is much softer, stretchier and is more durable.

The right way to use a condom

Knowing how to put on a condom is just as important as finding the right size condom.
If you don’t put it on correctly, it becomes less effective and you increase your chances of getting an STD or causing pregnancy.

Putting on a condom

Here is a quick step-by-step guide on how to put on a condom:

Step 1: Check the condom’s expiration date. Expired condoms are less effective and are more likely to break. Next, check the packaging for any holes, folds, or tears. If there are any, discard of the condom and get a new one.

Step 2: Open the condom with your hands by tearing the wrapper gently. Do not use a pair of scissors or your teeth since you might accidentally cut or tear the condom.

Step 3: Place the condom at the tip of your penis then pinch the tip of the condom to release air. Leave at least half an inch of space for the semen to be collected.

Step 4: Hold the tip and gently roll the condom down your penis to its base

Removing a condom

After ejaculating, remove your penis from the inside of your partner before you remove the condom. To safely remove the condom:

Step 1: Hold the base of the condom while you are exiting your partner.

Step 2: Carefully remove the condom from your penis in a way that will not spill any semen

Step 3: Tie a knot at the base of the condom, wrap it in some tissue and discard of in a bin.

Checking the condom for leaks

If you remove the condom and notice a white substance on the outside, it is most likely vaginal fluid and nothing you should be worried about. But, it is always better to be safe than sorry, especially if you can’t tell the difference between vaginal fluid and semen.

To check your condom for leaks:

Water method

Step 1: Fill the condom with water and tie the base end.
Step 2: Gently squeeze the condom. If any water leaks out of the sides or tip, then the condom has a leak.

Squeeze method

Step 1: Wipe off the outside of the condom with a paper towel

Step 2: Clasp your pointer finger and thumb at the base of the condom and push the contents down to the tip. If any leaks out, then it is likely that it tore during sex.

Tips and tricks

Now that you know the basics, it’s time to let you in on a few secrets.

• If it is your first time, you will want your partner to feel comfortable. To do this, you need to look like you know what you’re doing. Before you have sex, practice opening and putting on condoms. This way, you won’t look like a complete noob.
• Do not under any circumstance, double up condoms. It will not offer you any more protection and will actually increase the chances of the condom tearing.
• Change condoms after every act of sex. This means that you need to take it off before you go have a snack break and put on a new one before you go back for a second round.
• If your penis is uncircumcised, pull back your foreskin before putting on the condom.
• If you feel like the condom broke, pull out immediately and put on a new one.
• Don’t flush a condom. It can clog your toilet after a while.
• Don’t use the same condom for vaginal and anal sex.
• Don’t start having sex if the condom has air bubbles in it.
• Don’t listen to anyone who tells you you don’t need a condom. This should be a personal decision.

Summary

If you can’t remember anything else from this article, remember these things:

• Condoms have been around for a very long time and are useful for preventing pregnancy and protecting against STDs.

 

• Condoms can be made of a variety of materials such as latex, lambskin, polyurethane, and Polyisoprene.

 

• Condoms come in different sizes and one should always measure their penis before buying a condom.
• When putting on a condom, remember to “pinch, leave an inch, then roll.” Dispose of in a bin.