Birth Control

Male Condom

The oldest method of birth control, condoms continue to be our only line of defense against sexually transmitted infections and disease. It's easy to get, easy to use, easy to dispose of, and remains the only barrier between you and HIV. The male condom is available in three different materials: animal skin, latex, and most recently, polyurethane. Animal skin condoms provide no protection against disease, only against pregnancy.

By fitting over the shaft and head of the penis, condoms prevent sperm from entering the vagina.

Condom use is not as simple as it may seem. Often times people think there are only 3 steps to good condom use: open the package, roll it on, and throw it away. This is dangerously incorrect. The steps it takes to properly use a condom can sore into the 20's, but include these basics:

Be careful where you purchase your condoms. Gas station vending machines are NOT reliable.

When purchasing your condoms, check the expiration date on the box. Condoms DO expire.

When purchasing your condoms, check the materials. ONLY latex and polyurethane condoms protect against HIV and other sexually transmitted infections and disease.

When storing your condoms, keep them at room temperature. A car's glove box is not good, neither is a billfold for more than 24 hours. A medicine cabinet, out of children's reach, or a dresser drawer are ideal locations.

Always use condoms with a water-based lubricant. Most condoms come pre-lubed, but it's good to use additional on the outside of the condom to reduce friction which can lead to breakage.

Be careful when opening the condom wrapper, tearing slowly down the side so as not to rip into the condom and potentially damage or weaken it.

When rolling on the condom, remember to "pinch the tip." Not only does this allow the "head space" needed for when he ejaculates, but ensures no air is trapped inside the condom. If head space is not allowed and/or air is trapped inside, when he ejaculates, the condom will break.

Roll the condom down to the base of the penis, making sure it's unrolled all the way the the thin base ring. This base ring will keep the condom from slipping off.

Immediately after he comes, the male must pull out. If not, he will begin to lose his erection and semen will seep out the base of the condom and you both will have lost all disease and pregnancy protection.

After removed, tie the condom in a knot, trapping as much seminal fluid inside as possible and wrapping it in a tissue and throwing it in a trash receptacle. Condoms DO NOT flush!

In adults, when used absolutely correctly, condoms can have an average failure rate of 12%. When used perfectly, that drops to as little as 3%.

Note:
Avoid oil-based lubricants and medications when using any barrier method of birth control. Such lubrications include mineral oil, baby oil, suntan oil, vegetable oil, some hand lotions, and butter; and vaginal medications such as Femstat cream, Monistat cream, estrogen cream, and Vagisil. All have a rapid deteriorating effect on latex.

There are many benefits to using latex and polyurethane condoms, the biggest being it's the only defense against HIV and AIDS. However, the following outlines additional benefits:

• Condoms are the most inexpensive, easily accessed method of disease and pregnancy protection
• By protecting against disease, condoms also protect fertility
• Condoms can help men maintain an erection for a longer period of time
• Condoms are more hygienic, preventing post-coital leakage
• May have a lower risk for cervical dysplasia and cance
• Condoms also prevent sperm allergy which some women suffer

In addition to HIV/AIDS, condoms also protect against the following infections and diseases:

• Vaginitis caused by infections like Trichomoniasis
• Vaginitis caused by changes in the pH balance of the vagina that can be triggered by semen
• Pelvic inflammatory disease (PID)
• Gonorrhea
• Chlamydia
• Syphilis
• Chancroid

Latex and polyurethane condoms also provide limited protection against the following diseases:

• Human papilloma virus (HPV) that can cause genital warts;
• Herpes simplex virus (HSV) that can cause genital herpes;
• Hepatitis-B virus.

Note: Both HPV and HSV can be spread through skin-to-skin contact.

There are few side effects to using condoms, other than suffering a latex allergy. If this happens, your physician can counsel you on other safer sex methods of disease protection. Some disadvantages of condom use include:

• Some men and their partners complain condoms reduce sensitivity
• A condom can only be use on an erect penis
• Applying a condom interrupts foreplay
• Some men and women are too embarrassed to purchase condoms
• Some couples may not like having to use a condom with every act of intercourse
• In some cases, men will refuse to use a condom, thus putting him and his partner at risk for disease.

Link to FAQ about: Male Condoms

By being frank with your healthcare provider, the two of you can work together to determine the birth control and disease prevention methods that best suits your health, your preferences and your lifestyle.

For more information, click on the hormonal and barrier click on the links below.

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