• Help & Advice
  • Find a Service
    Close icon
Contraception

Condom excuses (and comebacks!)

Some people don’t use condoms because they think they don’t need to or because they don’t want to. But condoms are the only method of contraception that protect you against both pregnancy and sexually transmitted infections (STIs), so using them is a really good habit to get into. There are so many different types to choose from, and many are designed to increase pleasure so they can actually make sex more enjoyable. 

So whether it’s you making the excuses or whether it’s your partner(s), here are the most common ones we’ve heard, together with a comeback.

“I only use condoms if I think someone has an STI”

You can’t tell if someone has an STI by the way they look or behave. You can’t even tell whether someone has an STI by knowing who they’ve slept with or how many people they’ve slept with. Many STIs have no symptoms, and you only need to have sex once to catch an STI. The only way to know if you have an STI is to get tested. Read about how STIs are tested and treated here.

“Condoms spoil sex for me”

Unsure which contraception method is best for you?
  • On this page
    • Unsure which contraception method is best for you?

    Other Stuff you might find useful…

    Info

    Get free condoms

    Contraception
    Info

    Free STI home testing kits

    STIs
    Info

    Having great sex (safely!)

    Sex
    Info

    STI Testing: FAQs

    STIs
    Advice

    12 common mistakes when using condoms

    Contraception
    Advice

    Talking about condoms with your partner

    Contraception
    Info

    Condoms

    Contraception
    Info

    Internal (or female) condoms

    Contraception
    Info

    Having sex for the first time

    Sex
    Our friendly staff are here to help
    Find a Service near you

    100% free & confidential