Finding the Right Condom: Everything You Always Wanted to Know

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Everything You Always Wanted to Know About Condoms
But Were Afraid to Ask

Big ones, Small ones, Fat ones, Skinny ones, Purple Ones, Blue Ones, Chocolate Ones, Peppermint Ones.... THEY ALL EXIST.

There are as many different condoms as there are imaginations to make them. At one time this wasn't true, but in the days of Safe Sex someone had to make them more fun as well as good for us. Some of these are great incentives to use condoms - even if you are in a long-term monogamous relationship. This is a short rundown of what you can find now, including the newest materials to make them.

WHAT ARE CONDOMS MADE FROM?

Latex, a type of rubber, is used most often in condoms. Neither Sperm nor the HIV virus can pass through its small pores. Putting a silicone or water based lubricant on both the inside and outside of the latex condom can help stop breakage. While it is very strong, excessive friction or pressure can cause breakage.

Animal Membrane was the original condom material and has been used since ever since. The most popular is lamb skin, which is really not made of the skin. However, since it does not protect against HIV because they're so porous, they are not as popular today. Couples who are in a monogamous relationship may want to use them. They do protect against pregnancy.

Polyurethane, the newest material used for condoms, is a type of plastic nearly twice as strong as latex. This means they can be made extremely thin. It retains heat better than latex so it warms to the body's temperature. It has not been approved against the HIV virus as yet. These are good for people with latex allergies.

FAVORITE FLAVORS AND YUMMY COLORS

Colors, colors and more colors. You can find them in a rainbow of colors - even glow-in-the-dark. You don't have to be stuck with the boring beige ones any more. Gold metallic ones were made popular by the movie Pretty Woman. Since then everything from neon to pastel, metallic to patterned have been made. Some of them may be hard to find, but anything is possible.
If you use condoms for oral sex (It's Recommended), why not make it taste good. Condoms are now made in more flavors than Baskin-Robbins. Chocolate, peppermint, cherry, and more than you can imagine. Just check around. They're also great for when you partner puts on your condom with their mouth. Then they don't get that latex taste.

SMALL TO LARGE, SHORT TO EXTRA-LONG, THICK OR THIN

NOT ALL PENISES ARE THE SAME SIZE! NOT ALL CONDOM USERS WANT JUST A UTILITY VEHICLE!
Once condoms were manufactured on a large production scale, it was one size fits all. No one knows exactly who set the standard, but it was set. Over the last several years , different sizes started appearing. Now there are many different sizes, lengths and thickness. To check the size of the condom, you have to look at several things.

     First is the diameter. This is the distance across the condom and should roughly equal the diameter of your erect penis.
     Next is the length. This should be the length approximately of the shaft of the penis. Some come with more room at the end to provide more pleasure for the wearer. The head of the penis is rich with nerve endings. Having the extra room at the end of the condom allows movement over the head, thus increasing the sensation rather than decreasing it.
     Thickness means the thickness of the condom material. Thinner condoms are available that give a more natural feeling. This means there is very little, if any, loss of sensation. They are also just as durable as regular condoms, so you shouldn't have more breakage because they are thinner. Thicker condoms are made for when there may be more friction involved, such as with anal intercourse, and you want the extra strength a thicker condom provides. It is also for men who seem to have problems with the condom breaking. Using extra lubrication is recommended for the thicker condoms, both inside and out. this will help prevent breakage.

LUBRICATED OR NON-LUBRICATED,
THAT IS THE QUESTION

Two types of lubricant are used for condoms: jelly and silicone. Jelly is is water-based and condoms lubricated with it are sticky. They also get dry because the water evaporates. Silicone is a polymer and is slippery when felt between the fingers. Silicone condoms do not dry out and may be more comfortable. Either type of lubricant can contain a spermacide, usually Nonoxynol-9. This spermacide is excellent for it's ability to kill sperm but it has the added benefit of killing the HIV virus and bacteria. This means it also kills bacteria based STD's. That's the good news. The bad news? A lot of people are allergic to it. Women tend to be more allergic than men.

To help with lubrication, you can always add a few drops of one of the personal lubricants available on the market today. There are a number of them. Just make sure that it is a water-based lubricant. Some of the newer lubricants are silicone-based. This is also works well since silicone slides easily. DO NOT USE ANYTHING OIL BASED. This will weaken the rubber in the condom and cause breakage.

If you prefer non-lubricated condoms, the personal lubricants work very well to make it more comfortable to both put on and to insert the sheathed penis.

IT'S NOT OVER YET !

Just when you thought we had covered it all. There are still more condoms available. At one time, there was only a condom single condom available that had any kid of nubbing or texture. But that has changed. Now they can be ribbed, studded with latex, and thickly veined. This can all be on the outside for partner pleasure; or both inside and outside to give the wearer as well as the partner added pleasure.

This type of condom, however, should not be your choice the first time you use condoms. Get used to using condoms first, and then go for the added touch of ribbed, nubbed, and textured condoms.

NOW IT'S OVER !

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