Condom

1 in 2 people will contract a sexually transmitted infection (STI) by the time they reach the age of 25—some curable, some not. An astounding 20 million people in the U.S. contract an STI every year, and those are only the STIs which get reported. That number is likely much higher due to under-reporting and many STIs not getting reported at all—some are diagnosed visually, and others are not documented by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Of the 30-plus STIs out there, the CDC only reports on about 8 of them. Things like pubic lice, scabies, and HPV infections among guys are not part of those numbers.

In so far as HPV is concerned, outside of the visual symptoms of genital warts caused by low-risk HPV strains, there’s no way to know if a man has it since he can’t be tested for it. This is one of the reasons why by the age of 50, at least 80% of women will have acquired the infection.

To protect yourself from STIs, use condoms or internal condoms, get tested regularly, and talk openly about sexual health with your partner(s).

When the Center for Sexual Health Promotion led a team of researchers to look at data from the 2009 National Survey of Sexual Health and Behavior, they found that sex was rated to be pleasurable whether or not it involved using condoms or lubricant, and that condoms don’t have much effect on sexual enjoyment overall.

The only birth control options for guys that are currently available are condoms, sterilization, and the withdrawal method. There have been some promising leads for other options, but they’re still in development.

In the U.S. the only forms of birth control available over the counter (OTC) are condoms, internal condoms, spermicide, the sponge, and emergency contraception pills. There’s been some debate about whether birth control pills should be sold OTC too as they are in many other countries, but for now you need a prescription.

If you’re looking for a method that requires a prescription, visit your local health clinic or find the nearest one here.

Latex allergies are rare, but they happen. If you or your partner are allergic to latex, there are non-latex polyurethane condoms you can use to protect against pregnancy and STIs. Lambskin condoms are another option for preventing pregnancy, but they don’t protect against STIs.

Let’s face it, we aren’t always as nice to our condoms as we should be; we stuff them in pockets and leave them in hot cars or the bottom of our purse. That’s why before using a condom you should always check the expiration date and then give the wrapper a thorough inspection.

To make sure your condom is still intact, first press on the wrapper—you should feel a little cushion of air. If you can feel the air cushion it means that the outside of the wrapper has not been damaged or punctured. Next, while still pressing on the wrapper, feel for the slip-slide feeling of the lube. (Unfortunately this won’t work with unlubricated condoms.) When condoms are left in the heat or punctured, the lube can dry or leak out which in turn dries out the condom, weakening it and making it more likely to break in action.

Oral sex isn’t necessarily safe sex. Sexually transmitted infections (STIs) like gonorrhea, chlamydia, and herpes can be transmitted orally—that is, from mouth to genitals and vice versa—especially if either of you have an open sore or bleeding gums. Using condoms or dental dams is a great way to make oral sex safer—and safer is more fun!

If a condom is too tight or uncomfortable, he can lose his erection. It’s not you, it’s the condom, so don’t feel embarrassed.

A good way to avoid this problem is to try out different kinds of condoms. Lucky Bloke has a “Not Sure What Size to Buy” condom sampler if you think size could be the issue. They also offer lots of other samplers if you just want to explore your options. You can also get variety packs through a bunch of other online retailers like Amazon, Condom Jungle, Sustain, and Condomania.

Using lube with condoms can increase pleasure while reducing discomfort and the chance of condom failure. Many condoms come with lubricant on them, but it never hurts to add extra. Just make sure if you do that your lube is condom-compatible—oil-based lubricants (including massage oil, hand lotion, and Vaseline) can cause condoms to break.

Whether alcohol affects your birth control really depends on what method you’re using. If you rely on birth control that requires you to use it before you have sex, like condoms or a diaphragm, then alcohol may make it harder for you to use your method correctly or to remember or to use it at all. Here’s more detail about how alcohol can affect sex and birth control.

BTW, if you’re interested a party-ready method, we’ve got you covered.

According to ASHA, “disease” suggests a medical problem associated with clear signs and symptoms. Since several of the most common sexually transmitted viruses have little to no signs or symptoms, it is more accurate to refer to them as infections rather than diseases. Also, the use of STI instead of STD reflects the reality that not all sexually transmitted infections turn into a disease.

The best way to prevent Zika is to protect yourself from mosquitos and practice safer sex by using condoms consistently for all kinds of sexual contact. Zika is also another great reason to use birth control carefully and consistently if you’re not trying to get pregnant.