Condoms -- Male, Female Condoms and Pregnancy

Condoms are sold in drug stores and are put on a man's penis before sex. Condoms are the only good protection against sexually transmitted diseases.

How to Use It?

To use a condom:

1. Hold the condom at the tip to squeeze out the air.
2. Roll the condom all the way down the erect (hard) penis. Do not try to put a condom on a soft penis.
3. After intercourse, hold onto the condom while the penis is being pulled out of the vagina.

Prevent From Pregnancy

• If the woman also puts spermicidal jelly or foam (available in the drug store without a prescription) inside her vagina right before sex, it helps make the condom method even better at preventing pregnancy. The jelly can kill sperm, but it doesn't work if used without a condom.
• Never use the same condom more than once. It is a good idea to have two condoms available in case one breaks.
• Buy latex condoms. Never use condoms made from animal skins because they can leak.
• If a condom breaks, as soon as you realize it take it off and put on another one. If you don't have another condom, stop having sexual intercourse until you can get another.
• The man should pull out of his sexual partner while his penis is still hard. If his penis gets soft first, the sperm can leak out of the condom.
• If you use a lubricant with condoms, make sure it is water based (like K-Y jelly). Do not use Vaseline or Crisco; these can cause the condom to break.
• Some condoms are lubricated with a chemical, Nonoxynol-9, which helps kill some of the germs that cause STDs. But it doesn't matter which kind you use as long as you use a condom every time you have sex.

Female condom

The Reality Female Condom, approved by FDA in April 1993, consists of a lubricated polyurethane sheath shaped similarly to the male condom. The closed end, which has a flexible ring, is inserted into the vagina, while the open end remains outside, partially covering the labia.

The female condom, like the male condom, is available without a prescription and is intended for one-time use. It should not be used together with a male condom because they may slip out of place.