Condoms and Lube

How well do condoms work?
What do condoms protect me from?
How do I use a condom right?
Can someone be allergic to condoms?
Where can I get condoms?
What’s the point of a flavored condom?
What is lube?
Where can I get lube?
I got a packet of flavored lube in my condom bag, what’s that for?

How well do condoms work?

When used correctly and every time, condoms are 98% effective in protecting you from pregnancy.

That’s right, condoms aren’t 100% (to learn what is 100%, click here).

But hey, 98% is way way better than 0%, so in comparison, that’s pretty good!

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What do condoms protect me from?

Condoms are awesome because they protect you both from pregnancy and STIs at the same time, if you use them right.

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How do I use a condom right?

Watch this video OR read below to find out!

• Start by checking the expiration date and making sure there are no holes in your condom package.
  
• Then, tear the condom open with your hands and take it out.
  
• Flip the condom so that you can roll it down.
  
• Pinch the tip and while pinching the tip, roll the condom all the way down to the base.
  
• While still pinching the tip, take your hand and smooth out any air bubbles that are still there.
  
• You can then use water or silicone based lube on your condom.
• When you’re done, pull out while the penis is still erect (hard) so the condom doesn’t fall off!
  
• Hold onto the bottom of the condom, so it doesn’t fall off.
  
• Throw it away in the trash (not in a toilet, you could clog it.)

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Can someone be allergic to condoms?

Yes.  Condoms are made out of latex, and some people start to get itchy or swollen when they come in contact with latex.

If you’re one of those people, don’t fear, as you have a few options to keep yourself safe!

• Polyurethane (plastic) Condoms – The Durex Avanti is one kind of polyurethane condom.
  
• Female Condoms – Designed to go inside a vagina or anus instead of over a penis, these are also made out of polyurethane (plastic)
  
• Animal or Lambskin Condoms - WARNING - These ONLY protect from pregnancy, not from Sexually Transmitted Infections (STIs).

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Where can I get condoms?

At the Daly City Youth Health Center of course!  We give you a bag of 16 condoms and a packet of flavored lube to go with it!  (And it’s all free!)

If you can’t make it into the Health Center, you can get condoms pretty much anywhere: Target, Walgreens, Rite-aid, 7-11, etc.

There’s no minimum age to by condoms, but keep in mind that if you stop in to your local corner market, the clerks have the right to refuse service to anyone, so they might not sell them to you.

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What’s the point of a flavored condom?

To protect you during oral sex (mouth to penis).  Flavored condoms are ONLY for oral sex, and should NEVER be used for Anal or Vaginal sex.

Why?  Because they’re not designed for anal or vaginal, so they break a lot easier.  Also, the sugars in the flavored lube (even if you think you’ve licked all that off) can cause infections inside the vagina and with friction can make it easier to get an STI.

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What is lube?

Lube is slippery stuff that:

• Helps your condom last longer.
  
• Makes it less likely your condom is going to break.
  
• Makes anal and vaginal sex more comfortable.

If you’re going to use lube, make sure it’s water or silicone based. 

If the lube you're using has oil in it (lotions, Vaseline, baby oil, massage oil, etc.) it will make your condom break, so don’t use it!

REMEMBER: If you’re using lube inside a condom, only put 1 or 2 drops.  Otherwise, your condom could slip right off.  On the outside, you can use as much as you need.

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Where can I get lube?

Anywhere they sell condoms, they usually sell lube.

When buying lube, make sure that the bottle says “compatible with latex condoms.”  Common brands they usually sell in stores are Astroglide and ID Glide.

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I got a packet of flavored lube in my condom bag, what’s that for?

The packet of flavored lube is for you to use if you want to protect yourself by wearing a condom during oral sex on a penis.  The condoms that you get from the health center aren’t already flavored, so you can add the flavored lube to the non-flavored condoms you’re given.

Remember not to use that lube for vaginal or anal sex!

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