Condom

If you’d like more lubrication than your lubricated condom provides, go for it. Just make sure you use water- or silicone-based lube. Applying more lube to the inside or the outside of a condom—or both—can add to the sensation that there’s nothing in between you and your partner.

If you’re under the influence of alcohol—or anything else—a birth control method that doesn’t require action right when you’re about to get your freak on may be your safest bet. Fortunately, there are plenty of options. Note: These methods will cover you against pregnancy, but you should pair them with a condom for STI protection.

And speaking of covering all your bases, here are some tips for safer, smarter hookups.

Just like milk, condoms can go bad… And when they do, they can break more easily. That’s why you should always check the condom’s expiration date and give the wrapper a thorough inspection before opening it.

Heat, sun, moisture, and fluorescent light can also make condoms more likely to break. To reduce the risk of breakage, store your condoms in a cool, dry place.

In an absolutely perfect world, condoms are relatively effective—around 98%. But (and this is super important) in the real world, people mess up. They don’t use them 100% of the time. Or the condom breaks, or slips off. So with typical use, they’re only around 82% effective, which is a big difference.

In other words:

Of those women who use condoms exactly as directed, about 2 in 100 will experience an accidental pregnancy during the first year they use this method.

Of those women who do not use condoms exactly as directed, about 18 in 100 will experience an accidental pregnancy during the first year they use this method.

You should also make sure to check the expiration date before using a condom and check the package to make sure it hasn’t been damaged. It’s also possible that you’re not putting it on properly. Check out our section on how to put on a condom.

It may be that you’re talking about the condom slipping as your partner is pulling out, after he’s ejaculated. You should be able to avoid that by having him pull out while he’s still hard. Give it a shot.

Not all condoms are created equal, so try a few different brands or types to see if that helps. You might want to check out the condoms marketed as “ultra-thin” or “ultra-sensitive.”

Yep. Try using a internal condom. It’s latex free. Also, there are condoms available that are made out of polyurethane that you might want to check out.

If the condom breaks—or leaks or spills—use emergency contraception as soon as you can and up to five days after it happens. You may also want to get tested for STIs.

The good news: flavored condoms are amazing for oral sex and can help prevent STIs from making camp in your throat. The not-so-good news: some flavored condoms contain sugars that can create chaos down below in the form of yeast infections. So, before jumping in for some fun down south pause and read the packaging to check for added sugars.