Swobidu Health

Posts Tagged ‘condoms’

Probably one of the biggest selling items in any convenience store in North America. in this article I am going to try and enlighten you a little on the different types of condoms and what women like about them.

Chrysler has cars, Trojan has condoms. Condoms have come a long way over the years. Today condoms come in different sizes, colors, shapes and even flavors. Small, large, ribbed, purple, black, chocolate, peppermint, if you can name it you can probably find it associated with a condom. there was a time when there was only one kind of condom on the market but just like anything else times have changed and advances have been made. all condoms can fall into eight different categories.

For the most part condoms fall into two different material categories. one is polyurethane and second is latex.

Once upon a time there was only one size of condom to be found. That’s usually still the case when you’re buying them at convenience stores. What’s different now however is that there are specialty stores and mail order that you can now get different sizes from. there are smaller ones, longer ones, wider ones and narrower ones.

Different condom companies use different lubrications for their condoms. some people even have allergic reactions to certain lubes. it is however buyer beware. you should know what you’re allergic to so a sudden rash doesn’t wreck a planned night of passion.

Spermicidal lubricants are often used on condoms to reduce the risk of pregnancy. one of the most common used is nonoxynol-9.

There are mixed feelings on ribbed condoms. Younger people for some reason think they are disgusting while older people think this is a condom sent from heaven. The ribs advance the feelings in sex making for stronger orgasms

Not much can be said about color other than years ago all you could get was a transparent condom while today you can actually buy your condoms in packs with varieties of different colors.

Again this is pretty self explanatory. The varieties of flavors are endless and of course these are used with couples who are more into oral sex. one warning about flavored condoms is that they should not be used for vaginal or anal sex.

Some condoms have reservoirs built into the end to store the semen after ejaculating. one thing to remember when putting this condom on make sure you pinch the end to get all the air out. Without doing this you stand the chance of the condom breaking and we all know what that can lead to.

So what do women want in a condom? many condoms are packaged to look like a tampon so they can be carried in a women’s purse without anyone knowing anything different. French ticklers are a long time favorite because of how they intensify the sexual pleasures. a funny little story that one woman told was that it annoys her that condoms are made by men because if women made them they would be padded on the sides to add girth since for most women length isn’t an issue but wider is better for hitting that certain spot.

There are many other factors to condoms and this is just meant to be a guide line. Couples will experiment and get comfortable with what they like. while condoms are on the market to prevent pregnant and STDs you have to be careful of the novelty products because they don’t all work alike. If unsure read the container they come in and if still not sure talk to your doctor or the pharmacist at the drug store.

despite what you may have learned in high school sex ed class, the rhythm method may actually be quite an effective form of birth control.

New research says a birth control method that tracks a woman's 12-day "fertile window" is more effective than a condom at preventing pregnancy. Best Birth Control Options

Traditionally, the rhythm method consists of a woman keeping track of her menstrual cycle. that 12-day window takes into account the 24-hour lifespan of an egg and the five-day survival rate of sperm.ad20751d300x100A

a previous study showed that the method was more than 95 percent effective at preventing pregnancy, which is a higher success rate than contraceptive devices like condoms or diaphragms. The new research, published in the October issue of the Journal of Family planning & Reproductive Health Care, found that more than 1,600 women indicated they would likely continue to use the method. ’What’s your Number’ Movie Contest: Dish your Number, Win a Prize

Those seeking an easy way to track their "window" can opt to use CycleBeads. Developed by the Institute for Reproductive Health, each of the 32 color-coded beads on this string represents a day of the menstrual cycle. 

Here's how it works: The woman moves a small rubber ring over the bead that represents her current "day." The first day of her period if signified by a red bead. The following brown beads mean pregnancy is very unlikely. Beads 8 through 19 are glow-in-the-dark white, but act as a "red flag" to represent fertile days.

The problem that this study doesn't address is one that was really driven home in my high school health classes—sexually transmitted diseases. sure, CycleBeads may help you prevent a bun from conceiving in your oven, but if you're not married or in a committed relationship where you know your partner is clean, the rhythm method won't prevent you from contracting HIV, syphilis or the handful of other diseases that can be passed during intercourse. Are Married Couples at Risk for STDs?

What do you think? would you use CycleBeads, or try the rhythm method?

Condoms are probably the safest way to prevent the spread of STDs and also one of the most effective means of avoiding unwanted pregnancies. Around the world, condoms are promoted by NGOs striving to stop AIDS and to teach men and women about family planning and responsible sex. not everybody agrees with the use of condoms, but they are still the cheapest and easiest way of dealing with STDs and unwanted pregnancies.

However, many men are not very comfortable with buying condoms from pharmacies because they don’t like to inform other people about their private activities. just thinking about going into a pharmacy or drugstore and asking for condoms, possibly even a female vendor, is enough to make them queasy. They are also afraid that some people might prove judgmental and criticize their choice of using condoms or start joking about it in a malicious manner. This is why condoms are sold in Western countries through vending machines that allow buyers to preserve their privacy. Still, this convenience has triggered a new problem of its own.

Men who avoid buying condoms from pharmacies are also unable to get advice on the features of this or that brand of condoms, especially regarding the length and circumference. This is a very important issue, since buying the wrong size means that the condom will either tear or slide off the penis during sex, thus defeating the very purpose for which condoms are bought. Professional advice is very important because most men have no idea what size of condoms fits them best, while other men can’t even rely on the standard sizes. a recent study conducted in India has shown that the 60 percent of Indian men find standard size condoms too big for them.

Having a small penis is very embarrassing when buying condoms. no man wants to be seen purchasing the smallest size available because of the possible negative opinion of those who happen to be in the store at that moment, while the wide range of colors, shapes and flavors available is enough to baffle anybody. And the feeling of embarrassment is not the exclusive property of men with small penises. Men with larger than average penises are also embarrassed when it comes to identifying the exact size that fits them. although well-endowed men tend to command the respect of others, it’s still unpleasant to be stared at.

If you are not sure what condom size fits you, then here’s a quick reference guide that will let you identify the right size on the spot. The standard condom sizes used in the Western are small, medium (also known as regular), large and extra large. These sizes translate as follows: small means a length of 6 inches or 15 centimeters and a circumference of 3.9 inches or 9.8 centimeters; medium means a length of 6.5 inches or 16 centimeters and a circumference of 4.1 inches or 10.4 centimeters; large means 7 inches or 17.5 centimeters in length and 4.1 inches or 10.4 centimeters in circumference; extra large is 7.5 to 8 inches or 18.5 to 20 centimeters in length and a circumference of 4.3 inches or 10.8 centimeters at the base and 4.7 inches or 12 centimeters around the glans.

So you are smart enough to practice safe sex (preventing both pregnancy and STDs) by properly using a condom. but what do you do with the condom when you are done with it? here are some hints on environmentally-friendly condom disposal.

Firstly, don’t flush your condoms, ever Flushing condoms is not the way to deal with them. Condoms can clog the plumbing in your house (or the plumbing wherever you happen to be). This can be an expensive and embarrassing situation. if the condom manages to make it through your septic system, it will only end up with the solid waste. This means that somebody has to pull it out of the sewage treatment, which isn’t pleasant for anybody. The condom might even make it past the treatment plant. This is not good because it means that it could end up in the water supply, and the last thing we need is more pollution in our rivers, lakes, and oceans.

Not all condoms are made equally. Most condoms are made of latex, which means that they will biodegrade. Latex, however, does not biodegrade when it is under water, which is why it is not good to flush your used condoms. Condoms are not entirely made of latex, however, and the other things on condoms (spermicide, lubricant) might affect the biodegradability. The best option seems to be to send them to a landfill and see how they pass the test of time.

Some condoms, including all female condoms, are made of polyurethane, a type of plastic. these will not biodegrade. there is no option, however, except to put them in the garbage, because your local recycling depot won’t recycle used condoms. They won’t even recycle new condoms.

Other condoms are made of lambskin. these are completely biodegradable condoms. Don’t run out and get lambskin condoms just yet though Lambskin condoms do not protect against sexually transmitted diseases. The pores in the lambskin are small enough to stop sperm, and so prevent pregnancy, but the pores are large enough to let sexually transmitted diseases and infections through. This option is only viable for people in monogamous relationships who have been tested for sexually transmitted diseases. if this is the case, you could consider an even more environmentally friendly barrier form of birth control such as a diaphragm, cervical cap, or shield. Ask your doctor what is best for you.

Regardless of what material of condom you use (latex, polyurethane, or lambskin), you are going to have a wrapper to dispose of. these foil wrappers will not biodegrade, nor can they be recycled. This simply has to be put in the garbage.

Even if your latex or lambskin condoms are biodegradable, it is best not to try to compost or bury your condoms. Animals will smell the human scent and try to dig up what you have buried. This means that there will be unsightly used condoms around. Burying your condom is tantamount to littering: and there are better ways to deal with your condoms available.

So, in the end, what is the best way to dispose of your condoms? The best thing is to wrap it in a bit of toilet paper or paper towel (or any other biodegradable material: think paper bases such as paper bags) and then to put it in the garbage. Don’t wrap your condom up in plastic, as then it certainly won’t biodegrade. The good news is that the semen and vaginal fluid on the condom certainly will biodegrade, and might facilitate the condom biodegrading.

And lastly, remember.never reuse a condom. Although reduce, reuse, and recycle is the motto for environmentalism, you need to put your health first on this one. Don’t minimize your condom use, don’t reuse your condoms, and it’s too bad that you can’t yet recycle them. to think on an environmentally broader scale, using condoms is environmentally friendly because it is preventing the spread of communicable diseases. It is also preventing conception, and children have been documented to be hugs consumers of global resources.

Hopefully soon we will be able to figure out an environmentally friendly way to practice safe sex. until then, we’ll make do with what we can, and we will continue using condoms.

External as in, condoms, nuvo ring, etc.
I need to start using a form of contraception, but I'm kinda tired of condoms and don't want to ingest anything like birth control pills.
Thank you for your help!!

you can get the needle to stop your period

can anyone tell me which the prefer and why? We have only been using non lubricated but am thinking the others might be better. What do you prefer and why?

its a personal choice. iv had the lubricated tear with me several times before and i started using non lubricated and if shes wet enough then it works just as well. then again there is alway bareback and pulling out.

Personally, I dont like condoms at all, they irritate me, but lubricated are better because they wont dry out and start to burn.. i guess you could say, try em =]

Lubricated most def because it feels more natural for those really hard to reach places :_)