The Art and Science of Using Condoms

The good news about condoms is that the decreased sensitivity that most men experience can help a man control his ejaculation. The bad news about condoms is that they do decrease a man’s sensitivity. Some men actually have difficulty keeping an erection while wearing a condom. If this is your situation, you or your partner should keep stroking your genitals while you put on the condom. Putting a small amount of lubricant on your penis before putting on the condom will also increase your sensitivity without causing the condom to slip off. Following are a few other things to keep in mind when using condoms.1. Always use a condom before vaginal or anal intercourse. Also, try to use a condom with spermicide that contains nonoxyno1-9, which is effective in killing a variety of sexually transmitted diseases, including HIV. (If you develop a bright red inflammation on your penis or vulva as a reaction to nonoxyno1-9, switch to a brand without this germicide, but be extra careful.) 2. Always use a condom before your partner performs oral sex. In this case, your partner will probably want you to use a “dry” condom that is not lubricated and does not have nonoxyno1-9, which has a medicinal taste. 3. Leave half an inch of space at the top of plain-tip condoms. Reservoir-tip condoms are designed to create this space. Make sure that the condom covers your entire penis, and smooth the condom to squeeze out any air bubbles. If you are uncircumcised, pull back your foreskin before putting on the condom. If the condom starts to slip off, you can hold it on with your fingers. 4. Apply plenty of lubricant to the outside of the condom. (Not putting on enough lubricant is one of the major reasons that condoms break.) Use only water-based lubricants such as K-Y jelly or Astroglide. Petroleum-based lubricants such as Vaseline can cause latex condoms, dams, or gloves to disintegrate. 5. After intercourse, withdraw while you are still erect and hold the base of the condom to make sure it does not slip off. Throw away the condom and, especially if you have ejaculated, wash off your penis or put on a new condom before continuing to caress one another. 6. A condom generally slips off or breaks because it wasn’t put on correctly, because sex was “too” vigorous, or because the condom was not held during withdrawal. If the condom breaks or comes off and you have not ejaculated or if the tear is near the base of the condom, you probably don’t need to worry. Just remove the broken condom and put on a new one. If the condom breaks and you have ejaculated, safer-sex experts recommend that your partner urinate and insert spermicidal foam or jelly into her vagina to help destroy the sperm, viruses, and bacteria. She should leave the spermicide there for at least an hour. If you and your partner are concerned that she will get pregnant, your partner may wish to take the “morning after” pill, which she can obtain from her physician.