Condom: Frequency Asked Questions

The good news: flavored condoms are amazing for oral sex and can help prevent STIs from making camp in your throat. The not-so-good news: some flavored condoms contain sugars that can create chaos down below in the form of yeast infections. So, before jumping in for some fun down south pause and read the packaging to check for added sugars.

Both water-based and silicone-based lubricants are totally safe to use with latex condoms. Steer clear of oil-based lubricants (including massage oil, hand lotion, and Vaseline) that can cause condoms to break.

Unless you’re in a totally exclusive relationship and you and your partner have both been tested recently for every single STI, you should definitely use condoms with whatever other birth control method you choose. Using a condom with another form of birth control is called dual protection. It means you’re being super-safe and protecting yourself against both pregnancy and STIs.

Let's face it, we aren't always as nice to our condoms as we should be; we stuff them in pockets and leave them in hot cars or the bottom of our purse. That's why before using a condom you should always check the expiration date and then give the wrapper a thorough inspection.

To make sure your condom is still intact, first press on the wrapper—you should feel a little cushion of air. If you can feel the air cushion it means that the outside of the wrapper has not been damaged or punctured. Next, while still pressing on the wrapper, feel for the slip-slide feeling of the lube. (Unfortunately this won't work with unlubricated condoms.) When condoms are left in the heat or punctured, the lube can dry or leak out which in turn dries out the condom, weakening it and making it more likely to break in action.

Using lube with condoms can increase pleasure while reducing discomfort and the chance of condom failure. Many condoms come with lubricant on them, but it never hurts to add extra. Just make sure if you do that your lube is condom-compatible—oil-based lubricants (including massage oil, hand lotion, and Vaseline) can cause condoms to break.

Anal sex might seem like a viable option if you're concerned about pregnancy or losing your virginity in the traditional vaginal penetration sense; however, unprotected anal sex poses one of the highest sexually transmitted infection (STI) risks. The anal cavity is comprised of permeable mucous membranes which can provide an entry point for infection. Due to the nature of sexual activity involving the anus, small tears and cuts are common—especially if you're not using enough lube—so, additional points of entry present infection opportunities.

To protect yourself while having anal sex, use condoms or internal condoms with the inner ring removed.

Just like milk, condoms can go bad… And when they do, they can break more easily. That's why you should always check the condom's expiration date and give the wrapper a thorough inspection before opening it.

Heat, sun, moisture, and fluorescent light can also make condoms more likely to break. To reduce the risk of breakage, store your condoms in a cool, dry place.

If you'd like more lubrication than your lubricated condom provides, go for it. Just make sure you use water- or silicone-based lube. Applying more lube to the inside or the outside of a condom—or both—can add to the sensation that there's nothing in between you and your partner.

Latex allergies are rare, but they happen. If you or your partner are allergic to latex, there are non-latex polyurethane condoms you can use to protect against pregnancy and STIs. Lambskin condoms are another option for preventing pregnancy, but they don’t protect against STIs.

Whether alcohol affects your birth control really depends on what method you're using. If you rely on birth control that requires you to use it before you have sex, like condoms or a diaphragm, then alcohol may make it harder for you to use your method correctly or to remember or to use it at all. Here's more detail about how alcohol can affect sex and birth control.

BTW, if you're interested a party-ready method, we've got you covered.