Top Factors To Consider When Picking the Right Condom

Before we get to all the considerations for picking the best condoms let me first remind you why to use condoms in the first place.

Why Use Condoms

It is important to use a condom every time you have vaginal, oral, or anal sex. Using a condom protects you and your partners from getting HIV and other sexually transmitted diseases (STDs).

Besides HIV, the other STDs include Chlamydia, genital herpes, hepatitis B, gonorrhea and syphilis. Using a condom can also prevent unplanned or unwanted pregnancies.

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Although the only 100% true way to prevent disease and unplanned pregnancy is to not have sexual intercourse, condoms are approximately 95% effective in preventing STDs and provide protection against pregnancy.

To be completely safe from causing pregnancy, condoms should be used in conjunction with another form of birth control, such as the pill, IUD, diaphragm, Depo-Provera, etc.

Using this method offers greater prevention against both pregnancy and disease. Birth control methods such as the pill, etc. by themselves can help prevent pregnancy, but provide no protection from HIV and the other STDs.

Things to Consider When Picking the Right Condom

Before heading over to you neighborhood drug store to purchase a box of condoms, there are some things to consider. There are a wide variety of condoms available on the market today, and it is important to pick a style suited to you and your partner.

This will not only make for more enjoyable sex, but picking the right condom will help prevent malfunctions and make the sexual experience a better one. Table below lists some things to consider in selecting a condom to use.

Considerations for Selecting the Right Condom
Consideration	Reason
Fit	One size does not fit all. Condoms that are too tight are more likely to break, especially during vigorous sex. A condom that is too loose can fall off at any point. You want a condom with a snug fit, with some extra space at the tip.
Contour	Shape also has importance. Some condoms have more “regular” shapes, while others are more form-fitting. You need to pick the style that is more comfortable and provides you better fit
Thickness	Condom-thickness can affect sensation and sexual enjoyment. Thicker latex condoms can reduce sensation for some men. There are other condoms with thinner walls, such as those made from polyurethane.
Tip	Some condoms have a nipple-shaped tip to catch semen. Others have tips designed to increase sensation.
Texture	Condoms can have totally smooth walls, or they can come with ribs, bumps, or studs to increase sensations during intercourse. Browse texture condoms.
Color and Look	Condoms can have visual appeals, such as bright, flashy colors, or even those that glow-in-the-dark.
Lubrication/Spermicidal	Some condoms are lubricated, which can change the feel of a condom. Most condom varieties are available with a spermicidal lubricant, to help kill sperm. The spermicide is normally nonoxynol-9, which can help prevent pregnancy, but which may also irritate some people.

Adopted from FoxNews.com

As you can see the first consideration listed is condom fit or size. It’s mentioned first as it doesn’t only affect your pleasure but also your safety and be sure to read this post to learn more.

Others factors affect your pleasure more than safety, but are also worth considering. Now that you got an overview of important factors for choosing a condom, be sure to read our Best Condoms Guide.