Of all the methods of birth control out there – and, trust me, there’s quite a few – there’s none more popular than condoms, but why? Is it because they protect your wellbeing against unwanted pregnancies? Yes, but all methods of birth control do that – hence the name. Where condoms win out against all other contraceptives is that they’re dynamite for protecting your sexual health against sexually transmitted infections (STIs). Some other contraceptives do this too, but as condoms are the most readily-available and widely-used barrier method of birth control out there – meaning that they provide a barrier between partners that prevents the spread of STIs – I say that means you need to know a little more about them.
The reason why condoms are so widely used is that you don’t need to apply one in advance for them to be effective. Unlike the Pill, which requires you to remember to take it every day at the same time, or the Injection, which involves going in to your doctor’s for an injection on a regular basis, you can crack a condom out just before getting down to business and still protect you and your partner against pregnancies and STIs. Therefore, it’s important that you know how to use a condom properly and always have some with you. That said, some people forget to use their condoms when they’re in the heat of the moment, or are worried about bringing up the subject altogether. So how do you mention condoms to your partner?
Let’s think about this logically; if you’re getting hot and heavy with your partner, are you really going to stop to have a well-informed, logical discussion about the merits of birth control? Probably not. Therefore, you need to have this conversation well in advance of having sex with your partner for the first time. You need to first need to tell your partner that you want to use condoms, and then explain why you feel it’s important well before the heat of the moment. However, this is easier said than done, so if you are about to have sex that hasn’t been planned – which is often the case with sex – simply say “condom?” before things get too heavy. If you don’t have one, and neither of you have been tested for STIs, stop what you’re doing. If you know you’re both in the clear for STIs, but don’t want to begin a pregnancy, stick to oral sex. Bear in mind that drinking alcohol and taking other drugs may affect your ability to make safe decisions.
You may be worried that your partner will think badly of you for having condoms on you – like you expected sex to happen – or that he or she will be offended by the insinuation that they might have an STI. However, talking about using condoms doesn’t mean that you don’t trust your partner or that you have something to hide yourself, it just shows that you care about your health – and theirs. Don’t forget that, if nothing else, condoms provide a barrier against unwanted pregnancies, or extra protection if you’re already using a birth control method. Remember that anyone who has had previous sexual contact can have an STI, even people with just one or two previous partners, so it’s always worth using condoms just to be sure. If you’re in a long-term relationship and want to stop using condoms, both you and your partner should get tested for STIs first, even if you don’t have any symptoms. Most STIs don’t have any obvious signs, so screening is a must.
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