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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.
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.
This is a common excuse, but safer sex can be good sex! The type of condom is important though, so think about the following:
Condoms that are the wrong size can be uncomfortable and make sex less pleasurable. They can also be more likely to break or slip off. Try different sizes of condoms to see which ones suit you best.
Some condoms are thinner than others, which can increase pleasure and sensation.
These are good if you have an allergy to latex. However, they can also feel more natural because they are thinner, and they allow you to feel heat through them which can make sex more pleasurable.
Some condoms are flared at the end, meaning there’s more room for the end of the penis. This can make them easier to put on, and more comfortable.
Some are ribbed, and some have lubricant on them that gives a tingling or warm sensation. Stimulating condoms are designed to enhance pleasure.
These can make oral sex taste better. Note that you should not use flavoured condoms for Penis in Vagina sex, because the flavoured lube in them can interfere with the natural PH balance of the vagina and cause irritation.
These can also make sex more pleasurable (or you can add lube to condoms). You can either add lube to the inside of the condom (put a few drops inside the tip before rolling it on); OR to the outside of the condom once it has been put on. Make sure to limit the lube you add to the inside of the condom to a few drops, because too much could cause it to slip off.
Whilst it’s true that all STIs can be treated, not all can be cured. Also, not everyone will experience symptoms so you can have an STI for a long time without even knowing, and if they’re not treated, they can cause problems such as infertility. The only way to know if you have an STI is to get tested.
It can be easy to get caught up in the heat of the moment, but try to stop and think about if you’d be ready for the consequences of unprotected sex. Unprotected sex can lead to pregnancy and/or STIs.
‘Pulling out’, also known as ‘the withdrawal method,’ is when someone removes their penis from their partner’s vagina before they ejaculate. It is not considered a form of contraception, and isn’t a reliable way to prevent pregnancy. Pre-ejaculate (or pre-cum), which is fluid that comes out of the penis before orgasm, can contain sperm from recent ejaculations. If these sperm come into contact with the vagina through the pre-cum, they can cause pregnancy. Also, someone might think they will be able to pull out before they have an orgasm but get the timing wrong or lose control at the last moment. The withdrawal method also doesn’t protect you from STIs, so it is always best to use a condom.
Chances are, you think this because you wouldn’t have unprotected sex if you had an STI but not everyone will think like this. Even if they do, they may not even know that they have an STI. Two of the most common STIs, chlamydia and gonorrhoea, don’t have any symptoms. That means they could pass it on to you without even knowing.
If you or your partner(s) are able to get pregnant and you’re using another method of contraception to protect against unintended pregnancy (like the pill), you would still be at risk of STIs. However, if you are in a monogamous relationship and both you and your partner have been tested for STIs, then it might be safe for you to not use condoms. You can discuss this with a professional at a sexual health clinic. Sometimes other methods of contraception are not always 100% effective, so sometimes you might need to use condoms. Read more about other methods of contraception here.
There are lots of different reasons why someone might lose their erection. Some people find that using a condom makes their erection last longer, but for others using a condom has the opposite effect. The first thing to recognise here is that not being able to “get hard” or “stay hard” is very common, and is not unusual. Here are some tips that might help with condom-related erection loss.
Sometimes people lose their erection because the condom is too small.
Try practising putting on a condom on your own. Masturbating with a condom on can help you get used to the feeling of wearing a condom during sex. Read more about masturbation here.
If your partner has a Vagina then you could suggest trying Internal Condoms. Internal condoms can be inserted into the vagina to protect against pregnancy and STIs AND they’re latex-free. Read more about internal condoms here.
Remember – you can have great sex without an erection (try exploring other types of touch that might lead to pleasure), but if erection loss is worrying you then you can talk to a professional about it. Brook, other sexual health services, or counselling services should be able to help. See our page on erections and staying hard for more information.
Sometimes, even if you plan to use condoms, it can be difficult to stop and put one on in the heat of the moment. Here are some tips to help stop this from happening.Talking about condoms
Doing this before you have sex means you’re much more likely to end up using them. Find out about to talk about condoms here.
This can make the condom part of the moment and mean it isn’t interrupting the sex. If you both feel comfortable, get your partner to put it on for you.
This way you’re always prepared!. Have some near your bed, such as in a bedside drawer (just make sure they are easy to find and not buried at the bottom), and always carry condoms with you, such as in your wallet, pocket, or bag. Make sure you don’t store them here for more than one month as they can get damaged.
…and stick to it!
People often feel in the mood for sex after drinking or taking drugs, but sex when you’re drunk or high isn’t always the best idea because if someone is drunk or high, then they may not have the capacity to consent to sex. This includes any kind of sexual activity, like kissing or fondling. Any sort of sexual activity without consent is illegal whatever the age of the people involved and whatever their relationship. If someone is too drunk or high, then do not engage in sex with them – look after them. Read more about consent here.Drink and drugs can also make sex less pleasurable. People often experience less sensation in their genitals when they have been drinking alcohol. Some people also experience vaginal dryness, find it difficult to maintain erections, and struggle to orgasm.
Condoms are free on the NHS. You can get them for free from any sexual health clinic, including Brook clinics. Find your nearest service here.
You might also be able to access free condoms through the C-Card scheme. Find your local C-Card provider.If you’ve had unprotected sex, you can get tested for STIs at lots of places, including Brook clinics. Clinic staff won’t judge you or your behaviour, they know that you’ve done the right thing by going to get tested. If you’re anxious about it, you can read about what happens when you visit a Brook clinic here.
Condoms are designed to stretch. While it’s true a small size can be uncomfortable, there are a great variety of condoms out there to choose from.
There is a condom for every penis- you just need to find the right one.
Emergency contraception should only be used, as the name suggests, for emergencies – as in, if the normal method of contraception has failed, for example the condom broke.
It should never be used as a more regular form of contraception because emergency contraceptive pills will not prevent pregnancy if ovulation has already occurred. They can also have a greater impact on mood and periods due to their necessary higher dosage compared to regular forms of contraception. So It’s best to use a regular form of contraception whilst knowing emergency contraception is there to fall back on if something does go wrong.
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