Birth Control

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Male Condoms

What Are Male Condoms?

The male condom is a thin covering that fits over an erect penis. Condoms can be made out of three kinds of material:

  • Latex, a thin kind of rubber
  • Polyurethane, a thin, soft plastic
  • Animal membranes, such as lambskin

Condoms made from latex and polyurethane can help prevent pregnancy and STDs, including HIV. Sperm and STD germs cannot pass through these types of condoms. Condoms are used to help protect yourself from STDs when you have vaginal, anal and oral sex.

Condoms made from lambskin help prevent pregnancy, but they do not protect against STDs. This is because STD germs are much smaller than sperm. STD germs can get through lambskin condoms because they have pores like our own skin.

Condoms come in different textures, colors and sizes.

  • Some condoms are lubricated. Lubricants make the condom more slippery. They can also make them more comfortable to use during sex.
  • Some condoms have spermicide in them. Spermicides are chemicals that kill sperm.
  • Some condoms have both a lubricant and a spermicide on them.
  • Some condoms have a special tip at the end for the semen.

Effectiveness

Perfect user: A person that uses their method of pregnancy prevention correctly all of the time.

Typical user: A person who does not use their method of pregnancy prevention correctly.

With perfect use, the condom is 98% effective.

This means that if 100 couples use the condom exactly the right way every time they have sex, 2 of the women may get pregnant in a year.

With typical use, the condom is 85% effective.

For couples who don’t use the condom the right way every time they have sex, 15 women out of 100 may get pregnant in a year.

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Advantages

  • Condoms help prevent some STDs, including HIV.
  • Condoms don’t cause serious health problems.
  • Condoms can be found in many places, like drugstores, local clinics and vending machines.
  • Condoms are easy to carry around.
  • Condoms may help a man keep an erection longer.
  • You only need to use condoms when you have sex.

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Possible Side Effects

Some men and women are allergic to the latex in a condom. Others may be allergic to the lubricant or spermicide. If you are allergic, your skin may itch, burn or turn red. Or you may get a rash near the vagina, penis or anus.

You can try other brands to find a condom or lubricant that doesn’t bother you. If the spermicide in the condom is the problem, you can try a condom without spermicide. If you are allergic to latex, you can try the polyurethane condom.

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Possible Warning Signs

The male condom causes no serious health problems.

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Important Warning

Though the condom is very safe, the spermicide found in some condoms or used along with a condom may not be safe for people who have sex with multiple partners.

Spermicide may cause changes in the vagina and anal area that make it easier to get HIV and other sexually transmitted infections. If you have more than one partner, or your partner has more than one partner, it is better to use a condom that does not already have a spermicide in it and avoid using any other type of spermicide.

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To Learn More

It is very important to learn how to use condoms correctly, so that they don't break or fall out. For instruction about how to use them, to go:

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