condom
The condom is placed over the penis before sexual intercourse, to prevent sperm getting into the vagina. The condom is also a protection against sexually transmitted infections. Most condoms are made of latex (very thin rubber). People who are allergic to latex can buy condoms made of polyurethane or condoms made of sheep gut, which are very thin and also a little more expensive.
What are the advantages of the condom?
- You only need to use it when you have sex
- It protects against STI
- It has no side effects
- It is easily available
What are the disadvantages of the condom?
- It needs a little skill to put on
- It can be felt as an interruption or a putdown during sex
- It can slip off or break, especially if the sex is clumsy or wild
- It needs a little skill to withdraw the penis properly
How to use the condom
A boy can practise on his own first. He can put the condom on a soft penis. It is important, while putting the condom on, to hold the top of the condom between thumb and finger, so as to save space for the semen. Roll the condom all the way down to the base of the penis. Watch the penis grow hard and masturbate to orgasm and ejaculation. Also when having sex, the condom can be put on the soft penis before beginning the touching. The advantage of this is that there is protection from the very start and no interruption during the lovemaking. Of course, there is no objection to putting the condom on the erect penis, as the instructions say. The partner can also learn to do this, so that there is an element of playfulness and communication during the sex. Lovemaking with a condom on requires a certain amount of skill, control and co-operation. The condom is not very suitable when movements are wild or uncontrolled and positions change radically. This may be considered another disadvantage of the condom. After his orgasm and ejaculation, there follows ideally a short period of joyful and happy relaxation together. Then the boy can feel his penis losing its hardness. He must then hold the condom at its base and pull out the penis from the vagina carefully. He can leave the condom on for a while or slip it off right away, and drop it on the floor or into a bin. Do not put the condom down the toilet.
Lubricants
Most condoms nowadays are lubricated. Always check the ‘use by’ date and look for the European CE mark for quality control. If you need more lubrication, you can buy or order it. Some lubricants also contain spermicides, so that they provide extra safety by inactivating any sperm that might escape in case of mishap or split. You can also use saliva. Do not use oil-based products like body lotion as lubricants with latex condoms, because they may damage the latex. Vaginal cream, prescribed against infection, can also be damaging to latex.