Don't be silly, protect your willy.
Written: Mar 02 '00
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Product Rating:
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Pros: easy to buy, no prescription needed, protects against STDs
Cons: diminish sensation, interfere with spontaneity
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| clooneyfan's Full Review: Birth Control |
Condoms, jimmy hats, Trojans, rubbers.
Most of us at one point or another in our reproductive lives will have the opportunity to use this barrier method of birth control.
I've read the statistics. They say the 1st year failure rates average around 14%, which is pretty scary but as someone who has used them successfully for years, I'm here to tell you that the rate wouldn't be this high if people would use them consistently and properly.
This means every single time. From start to finish. Not just for the grand finale if you know what I mean.
Also, condoms do have an expiration date and they are susceptible to heat. That means if you've been carrying around the same old nasty rubber for a year in your wallet (or worse yet, in the glove compartment of your car) I'm telling you to ditch it and buy a new pack.
Another important thing to know about condoms is.....NEVER, EVER use Vaseline petroleum jelly or any other oil based lubricant (such as baby oil) with them. This can cause the latex to disintegrate, which defeats your whole purpose of using the darned thing. If you need a lubricant, use a water based one such as Astroglide or K-Y jelly.
There are so many kinds out there. You can even buy them online if facing the pharmacist embarrasses you. Personally, I just bought them in the grocery store and threw them in with the food. Much less embarrassing if they're mixed in with a lot of different stuff :)
You have a choice of different textures and I've recently even seen flavored ones!!!
My personal favorite is the spermicidally lubricated ones with the reservoir end. These offer a little bit more protection.
We've tried the Lamb skin ones but they didn't fit properly and really stunk. They also offer no protection from sexually transmitted diseases so I don't recommend those for the average user.
I've heard hundreds of different reasons why people forget to use them but much like brushing my teeth, I simply got myself into the habit of using one when I decided to become sexually active.
I've had a few of my girlfriends tell me their boyfriends refuse to wear one but I don't understand that mentality. First of all, I tell them , "don't sleep with them, then!" but I've been lucky that I never had that problem. I've heard some guys complain that it lessens their sensitivity and this may be true to a certain extent but like my husband always says, "there's no such thing as bad sex". He is willing to help take responsibility for it because the birth control pill made me sick.
Deciding what type of birth control to use is a personal decision and one that can sometimes change over the years as your family planning needs change. It does tend to interrupt spontaneity, however the woman can get creative and help her partner with it and make using it a little more interesting.
Since I'm a long-time married and we've finally decided not to have children, we recently opted for hubby to get a vasectomy but for you youngsters out there, it's the most effective method for protecting you against sexually transmitted diseases.
AIDS is no joke, be sure to wrap before you poke!
Recommended:
Yes
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Epinions.com ID:
clooneyfan
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Location: Baltimore, MD
Reviews written: 206
Trusted by: 169 members
About Me:
I've worked in health care all my life.
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