Condom myths
Nobody enjoys using a condom, but they're more fun than being woken up at 5am by a screaming baby
MYTH: "Condoms break easily. I know, because it happened to me"
TRUTH: If a condom breaks, it's probably been put on wrong. If there's an air bubble at the end, it can cause a tear and if
you put one on inside out, it will be very uncomfortable to get on, and could be weakened. It's very rare for a properly put on
condom to break.
MYTH: "It's safer if you use two condoms"
TRUTH: Using two condoms at once is a really bad idea. You won't feel much, and they'll cause a lot of extra friction and damage
themselves. One condom, properly put on, is fine for any kind of sex.
MYTH: "Condoms are too small for me"
TRUTH: Condoms can stretch to three feet long. If they feel tight or hard to get on, it's because you're not putting them on right.
If they're inside out, they will be really uncomfortable to put on and might feel tight.
MYTH: "You have to be 18 to buy condoms"
TRUTH: You can buy condoms at any age.
MYTH: "If you're using condoms, you don't need any other contraceptive"
TRUTH: Condoms are good because they're cheap, easy to use, and they prevent sexual infections. But if you're having sex
regularly, you should also consider another form of contraception, like the Pill, in case a condom does break.
MYTH: "You need extra lube - Vaseline is good"
TRUTH: A bit of extra lubrication can be very sexy, but be careful what you use. Don't use anything with oil in it - Vaseline,
hand cream or baby oil. They can dissolve the condom, which is nasty. Use a water-based lubricant from a sex shop or pharmacy. And
remember - lipstick is oil based, too.
MYTH: "Condoms make me less sensitive"
TRUTH: For some men, it's true that a condom will make them last longer before they come. That's good news for everyone.
Of course, if you can't last, she might find someone who can.
MYTH: "Condoms cut off your circulation"
TRUTH: A condom can stretch to 18 inches round. You'll be fine.
MYTH: "I don't need a condom - I can control myself"
TRUTH: Withdrawal - when the man pulls out before he comes - is the worst possible form of contraception. It's very unreliable.
Even if you're controlled and sober enough to pull out before you come, sperm comes out of your penis before you come. It gives you
no protection from sexual diseases, and it's irritating for men and women.
MYTH: "I don't need a condom, She's on the pill"
TRUTH: If you have unprotected sex with a girl who says she's on the pill, you're putting a lot of trust in her. Has she remembered
to take the pills at the right time every day? Does she know that antibiotics can mess up the effects? Has she slept with anyone
else who had a sexual disease? While you're at it, give her your PIN number and the keys to your car.
MYTH: "You don't need a condom if you're only getting a blow job"
TRUTH: Most guys don't use a condom for oral sex. That's because most guys don't know that chlamidya, herpes, and gonorrhea can live
in a girl's throat.
MYTH: "I don't need a condom, I only go with clean girls"
TRUTH: The problem is, some clean girls have diseases. If you sleep with a girl without wearing a condom, it's like you're
sleeping with every guy she's ever slept with. Would you do that?
MYTH: "Only a girl with a disease would ask to use a condom"
TRUTH: If she normally uses condoms, she's protected from disease.
Do it right
- Come equipped: Make sure you've got a few spare condoms with you, and that they're not out of date. Don't carry a condom in
your wallet for more than a month.
- Get an erection
- Tear open the condom packet: Or ask her to. Don't use your teeth, and be careful of sharp nails or jewellery.
- Put it on: Make sure it's the right way round - so the rolled up bit is on the outside. Make sure there's no air bubble in
the end. If it's hard to unroll, it's probably inside out. It's best to throw that one away and start again (if you turn it
round, there's a small risk it could have sperm on it).
- Do your dance
- Hold the base of the condom when you come out, to make sure it doesn't slip off
- Throw it out: Think of the surfers and don't flush it