It’s ~harder~ than you think.
Alice Mongkongllite / BuzzFeed
So condoms are a fantastic way to prevent STIs and babies. But you probably already knew that.
They're your best defense against STIs and HIV, and they're up to 98% effective at preventing pregnancy when used correctly. But actually, using condoms ~correctly~ is little more complicated than just grabbing the nearest rubber and calling it a day.
So whether you're using condoms as birth control or a barrier against STIs that can be transmitted via oral/anal/vaginal sex, make sure to keep the following facts in mind:
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The condom needs to be worn the WHOLE time.
In order for condoms to work their magic, they need to be worn for the entire duration of the sex — even if you're also using another method of birth control. In one recent study, only 59% of people who used condoms with another birth control actually kept the rubber on the whole time (the rest of them put it on after some genital contact or took it off before they finished). This is a big problem, because any skin-to-skin genital contact can lead to STIs. So put it on right at the beginning, and keep it on until you're finished.
Add lube outside AND inside the condom.
Pro tip: Adding a drop of lube into the condom will make everything feel more awesome for the person wearing it. Some condoms already come lubed up, but adding your preferred kind can't hurt, sex therapist Ian Kerner, Ph.D., founder of GoodInBed.com, tells BuzzFeed Life. Plus, extra lubricant on both sides of the condom may also help prevent tearing.
safeinthecity.org / Via youtube.com