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Important Information on Condoms
By Ursula McLean

Most people really have no idea as to just how much important information there is to learn about condoms, not just in general but also in regards to your health and potentially your life. There is some very valuable information available regarding condoms that everyone should be aware of.

What They Are
Condoms are a barrier method of contraception. Condoms of today are made of polyurethane, as opposed what they used to be made of, which was latex. Condoms are worn by the male during sexual intercourse. Their job is to block ejaculated semen from entering the body of a sexual partner, thus helping to prevent pregnancy. They are also the only barrier method available that can prevent the transmission of sexually transmitted diseases, such as Syphilis and Gonorrhea. If worn properly, condoms typically have about a 99.9% success rate of protection in all these areas.

Types and Sizes
There are more types and sizes of condoms than you would think, so it is important that you choose the right ones eg., safex condoms. Otherwise you could be putting both yourself and your partner at risk. First, you should know that condoms come in a variety of shapes. They may be regular-shaped with straight sides, form-fitted where there is an indent below the head of the penis, and flared, in which the condom is wider in the part just above the head of the penis. You will want to choose the shape of condom that is going to be most comfortable for you and also one that fits properly so it won’t be too tight, which can cause the condom to tear, or too loose and have the condom accidentally slip off.
When it comes to size, there is no standard length, but most condoms are able to stretch naturally in order to fit the size of the man’s penis. You will have to pick and choose from the different sizes to find the condom that best fits your own particular size.

How to Use
Condoms should come with the directions listed on the box. However, the rules are pretty basic and simple. Just open the condom package at the corner, making sure to be careful so that you don’t rip the latex, and then place the rolled condom over the tip of the penis, pinching the reservoir at the top of the condom in order to ensure that all the air is out of the tip. Be sure to roll the condom all the way down to the base of the penis as far as it will go, and smooth out any air bubbles that may be present along the sides of the condom. You can also add extra lubrication onto the condom once it has been put on, but make sure not to use too much because you do not want the condom to be able to slip off during intercourse.

Health and Safety
One of the most important things about condoms in general is that they protect against sexually transmitted diseases, and there is no other form of contraception that is capable of this. However, in terms of pregnancy, even though condoms have an incredibly high success rate when used properly, you may still want to include an additional form of contraception, such as the birth control pill or a diaphragm. It is up to you to look after the health of both you and your sexual partner, and together you are going to have to come up with a plan that is going to work for you both.