A condom isn’t complicated. You just unroll one over the penis before sex and take it back off when you’re done, right?
OK, there’s more to it than that. There’s a little bit of technique involved to enhance the pleasure and safety of your sexy time.
By: Ann K. Avery, MD, Infectious Disease Physician at MetroHealth Medical Center
How to Use Condoms in Seven Simple Steps:
1. Gently squeeze the condom package to make sure it’s still airtight. If the seal is broken, toss it out and use another condom.
2. Open the condom package with your fingers. Do not use any sharp objects — including your teeth — to open it. You don’t want to puncture the condom before you start.
3. Take the condom out and hold onto the rim that will unwrap around the penis. Pinch the tip of the condom to make it look like a small wizard’s hat for the penis. You’re a wizard hairy! See what we did there? 😉
4. With the tip still pinched, place the condom on an erect penis and slowly unroll it down to the base. For added pleasure, add just a drop of lube to the inside of the condom before rolling it on. P.S., that roughly half an inch long tip is to capture the semen (cum) as the penis ejaculates between 28-42 mph! It’s all fun and games until someone gets shot in the eye – but seriously—that’s one way condoms could break!
5. Have some awesome sex! If using lube, make sure it’s water or silicon based only! Oil based lubes will eat through the condom causing it to break and you and your partner unnecessary stress.
6. Once finished, the erect penis should be pulled out slowly and carefully. It’s important to remove the condom while the penis is still erect. This makes the removal process so much easier and helps prevent any spills – that’s never a fun oops.
7. Tie it off and throw it in the trash. Avoid the toilet — condoms will clog your plumbing.
Seven Important Rules for Condom Use
1. Never use a condom more than once (no exceptions).
2. Condoms are for oral sex, too. Some sexually transmitted diseases such as Gonorrhea and Syphilis can be transferred during oral sex so it’s important to protect your mouth as well. Pro tip, try flavored condoms, there are so many options out there for your taste buds (and your partner) to enjoy!
For oral sex involving a vagina and/or anus, unroll a condom all the way down, cut the head off and make one vertical cut down the middle to create an elastic rectangle. You can stretch this rectangle over your partner’s anus or vagina and go to town. You can also buy a product called a “dental dam” to do the same thing without all the cutting and crafting.
3. Check the expiration dates on your condoms. Latex loses its flexibility after a while, which causes older condoms to break more easily. Throw away any that are past their expiration date or have been exposed to extreme temperatures!
4. Use the right kind lubricant. Oil-based lubricants like Vaseline and baby oil can break a condom. Use only water-based or silicon-based lubricants.
5. Remember latex allergies. There’s always a chance your partner will be allergic to latex condoms, so have some backups made of polyurethane or polyisoprene.
6. Try out a bunch till you find the ones you like best. Condoms are available in all sorts of sizes, shapes, and flavors. There are even internal/female condoms which are worn by the receptive partner! Find the style you like best before you buy it in bulk. Always have extras available in your bedroom and other places where you’re prone to getting romantic.
7. Get some practice time. Use a condom by yourself a few times to figure out exactly how it works. Using a condom means you don’t have to worry so much about STIs or unplanned pregnancies (a condom isn’t fool-proof, but it’s one of the best tools out there).
Smart sex means less worry which makes your sex life all that much better.
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