Ask MetaFilter questions tagged with condom

Condom recommendation request (possibly NSFW)

Anonymous — Sun, 22 Mar 2009 12:44:40 -0800

Condom recommendation request (possibly NSFW). I'm a grower, not a shower. My penis gets much bigger when erect. I've been happiest in the past with Trojan Magnums, but there are a couple of problems. It's pretty easy for the condom to come off after I lose my erection. Also, while they are plenty tight at the tip, I think they might not be tight enough at the base as it doesn't tend to stick there as well. I've tried using a few varieties of regular-sized condoms, but they get so tight when I am fully erect that it is actually painful. Maybe I would be better off with something with a size in-between or with a different shape?

Can you suggest brands, models, and retailers that might be better? I am in the U.S.

This is for penis-in-vagina sex, if it matters. Condom technique suggestions may be helpful.

As a side note for anyone else experiencing this problem. Female condoms solve these problems pretty well, and eliminate many issues involving keeping an erection while putting a condom on, but have problems of their own. First, I don't have a partner right now and I think most women are not used to them, so it's not a good initial plan. Second, I find them less satisfying somehow.

allay my pregnancy paranoia!

sarahj — Thu, 12 Mar 2009 15:35:30 -0800

Can I use the birth control pill without a condom? I feel silly asking this question, but I want to make sure. I'm not new to taking the pill, but I'm new to sex and I'm nervous! (I'm 20.)

I'm currently taking the Yasmin birth control pill (used to take Ortho Tri Cyclen Lo, just switched to Yasmin a month and a half ago) but we've also been using condoms. I'm very good about remembering to take my pill daily, but the time of day I take it usually varies (usually not by more than 2 hours, but occasionally there are larger/lesser gaps).

Last night the condom broke, but I'm not really worried about it because I'm protected by the pill (which I am, right?!?!) and this brought up the question - do we really need the condom? I know and trust my partner, and even though he's okay with continuing to use one, personally I would much much much prefer to lose the condom (and so would he). I'm just hesitant because my pill use is very good but not absolutely *perfect.* So would we be okay without a condom? Reading other threads and internet statistics is making me nervous and I'm not sure if I'm overthinking this.

After that I'm finding myself looking into getting an IUD but since I've never been pregnant i'm not convinced I'll be able to get one easily plus I'm concerned about cost. But could I even forgo a condom with an IUD, assuming I know/trust my partner, got tested, etc? Are they that much more effective than the pill?
Help me allay my pregnancy paranoia!!

Can I be pregnant?

esolo — Tue, 03 Mar 2009 05:54:30 -0800

can I be pregnant? I've been on DEPO until few weeks ago, and used a condom every time since then. I have been on DEPO (injectable contraceptive) for 7 years, and went off it few weeks ago. It takes around a year for the cycle to normalize. Also, my partner and I have used a condom every single time since I went off.

However, my partner is freaking out that i may be pregnant, because of some changes in my body - tender larger breasts, spotting, etc. I think the chances are understandable given all the hormonal changes taking places, after I went off DEPO. It's illogical for me to run to a gynecologist for a blood test, given the facts. What do you think?

When you masturbate for "practice" do you wear a condom?

Anonymous — Mon, 02 Feb 2009 13:30:16 -0800

Guys, a question about 'practice' masturbation... If/When you masturbate for the purposes of having better control and stamina during actual sex, do you wear a condom? This would be, presumably, to give a better feel for what sex will actually feel like, and thus give you better control when you get back to partnered sexing. jackhoff@webname.com if you need it

Condom Troubles

Anonymous — Fri, 23 Jan 2009 17:23:50 -0800

Proper condom usage - what is leaking out? Is it semen? My female partner and I think we're using the condom correctly, but each time there is something in her and on the condom's outside.

To put it on we close the tip with one hand, roll it down over the erect shaft to the base with the other, making sure there are no air bubbles.

I pull out right after I come, usually after 3 spurts of ejaculate. Today and last time the semen was in the last (near the tip) inch and the tip of the condom (though it doesn't all leak out), and there some "goo" on the outside and in my partner. The goo doesn't really smell/taste like semen, but sort of looks like it. The condom scent and taste sort of overpower everything, making it hard to tell.

We're freaking out about it being a bit of semen, and thus about pregnancy risk.

What else could it be? Should I pull out after one spurt? Is it possible the condom is too big/loose (Durex brand)? Is it just a mix of her lubrication and the condom's?

Not really looking for advice on other forms of birth control :)

NSFW condom/sex question.

Anonymous — Sun, 16 Nov 2008 08:57:14 -0800

Mid-20s guy needs first-time condom/penetrative intercourse advice. This will be NSFW. I've done a lot of sexual things with the women I've been in relationships with, but never had penetrative intercourse. Long story short, I (and the people I dated) used to be pretty uptight about risk and morality. I'm less so now, and I'm in a relationship with a great woman that's heading into sexual territory. I've only once bought condoms before, and that was with a girl who had really specific requirements (and I ended up never using them, heh). Never even really looked at them in the store. It's a bit of embarrassment left over from my history, I guess. Yeah, I know I need therapy. I'm working on it. In the immediate term, how on earth do I weigh the various features/risks of condoms and pick out something that'll work well/as safely as possible? I'm not interested in gimicks like texture/studs/ribbing/etc, but even in the realm of "plain condoms" there's a lot of description that isn't very meaningful to me. I see the sampler packs referenced here, but I probably need to work out something before next weekend. That thread also has some good specific advice, but I guess I'm asking for advice for the neophyte rather than the experienced. Also: is there a "size chart" for these things anywhere?

And yes, I will talk with the lady about her own preferences, but I'd rather get educated to a point somewhere beyond "complete ignoramus" before I go and make a fool of myself.

I'm in the US.

NSFW Condom question

Anonymous — Thu, 07 Aug 2008 17:25:33 -0800

Condom question (NSFW) At the risk of sounding incredibly naive:

I hope to find myself in a position (so to speak) to perform fellatio sometime soon. But I have recently moved, and in my new city the stores do not seem to sell condoms that would seem appealing for this purpose. Back where I used to live, unlubricated condoms and minty condoms were readily available. Here, though, they all seem to be seriously lubricated. What do I do?

What do most people do, for that matter? What will happen if we use regular lubricated condoms? Am I missing out on some other option?

I get the impression that a lot of people just don't use condoms for oral (but I haven't exactly polled my friends on this subject). Am I being overly cautious not wanting to do that, at least with a new relationship?

I am in the UK.

Public health filter

Anonymous — Sun, 22 Jun 2008 16:15:18 -0800

Where can i find free municipal NYC condoms in bars or locations in the city or in Brooklyn that are placed abundantly and in discreet locations? I would like to grab a few (ok, stock up) but find that many locations have them by the door or the atm machine in order to advertise them. Can anyone list a bar they have been to that is a reliable source for these things so that i dont have to grab a handful on my way out and alert the room to my sexual habits. thanks! (bonus points for williamsburg or mid/low manhattan.)

Oh baby i'm gonna...

Anonymous — Mon, 17 Dec 2007 02:55:16 -0800

BirthControlFilter: My girlfriend believes that in order to be properly safe during sex (in this case baby free) 2 types of preventative measures should be used (condom + pulling out). Any hard facts to back that up? I believe just a condom used properly will be fine. She believes that it is many times safer to both use a condom and have me pull out before I cum than just having me use a condom. The pill is not out of the question just not availible yet, and if the pill is in use so will a condom, but I am mostly wondering if it really is much safer to pull out when using a condom than not.

CondomFilter: Leaking down at the base?

Anonymous — Thu, 05 Jul 2007 19:36:28 -0800

CondomFilter: What are the chances of a condom leaking down at the base? I recently started trying out Trojan Elexa condoms, and noticed that they are a little loose around the base. (Particularly since they have a tendency to unroll during use and leave a lot of the condom bunched up near the top [which is nice, unless it makes the condom kind of useless from a contraceptive standpoint])

Assuming I adhere to proper condom use procedure and hold the condom on as I withdraw, what are the chances of semen leaking out before that and causing a pregnancy? If basically nil, why not? Seems like it shouldn't be too hard to force liquid out of the slightly stretched latex band at the bottom, and it seems like sex is just about the right set of motions to put that to the test.

(Switching from Durex ultra sensitive, have average-sized penis, if relevant.)

Your Favorite Condom?

Anonymous — Thu, 21 Jun 2007 08:57:58 -0800

Condom recommendations, anyone? So we've talked about the difference between ribbed and non-ribbed, but I'm looking for any other suggestions of brands, varieties, etc. This is for penis-in-vagina sex.

Neither of us have latex allergies, but if you have a favorite non-latex condom, you may as well mention it as well, in the interest of making this As Useful As Possible.

Obviously, the ideal thing to do is to try a bunch out. But does anyone have any particular favorites?

Erectile dysfunction while using a condom because of a heart condition?

yeoz — Fri, 15 Dec 2006 09:13:35 -0800

A boyfriend of a friend of a friend claims that he cannot maintain an erection when using a condom because of a heart condition. How likely is this to be true? Or is it just bullshit? Bonus Question: Can we or can we not beat the guy up for being a lying asshole?

How dumb am I, ya know, sexually?

Ignatius J. Reilly — Wed, 13 Dec 2006 16:27:01 -0800

Stranger, please pass judgment on our most intimate moments! So, my fiancee and I have been in a monogamous relationship for 8+ years, and the only method of birth control we use is condoms. Are we stupid? We've never had a break or a pregnancy scare, and only a couple of near slip-offs. She had negative effects from hormonal birth control early in our relationship, and I don't really mind condoms (not nearly as much as I mind the idea of her suffering for the sake of the raw-dog).

We don't cheat on each other, and we have enough self control to just hang it up for the night if we find ourselves without condoms. Are we still taking a huge risk of an unwanted pregnancy? Us getting a baby right now makes as much sense as us getting a walrus.

Does the coital alignment technique cause condom slippage?

Anonymous — Mon, 30 Oct 2006 18:29:39 -0800

Does the Coital Alignment Technique work with condoms? I haven't ever used this position, but it sounds interesting. However, from what I read, it seems to be the ideal recipe for handless condom removal.

Is this the case? If not, are there any videos or diagrams because I'm obviously missing something.

Safe way to use second condom?

Anonymous — Thu, 14 Sep 2006 12:57:22 -0800

Do I really need to take a freaking shower before I put a second condom on? Sex ed websites seem to agree that the penis should be washed "with soap and water" after the first condom is removed (after ejaculation) before another one is put on to go again. Is this really necessary? How carefully do I need to wash? Any tips on how to make this process less annoying?

I'm concerned about pregnancy, not STDs.

I can't come.

Anonymous — Sat, 24 Jun 2006 04:08:20 -0800

I'm male, in my early twenties. Ever since I popped my cherry, I've had issues orgasming from sex. Condoms make this only a small fraction below impossible; without, it's still very likely I won't be able to come from sex. Sex feels great, and I'm able to get up to a nice plateau, but then I just can't seem to get the rhythm down, or something. Times that I do orgasm, it takes a lot of work, and is extremely draining. The payoff, of course, is great. However, the partner's vagina usually gets sore before I'm able to get there. My penis is of average length, and a bit more than averge girth, and this issue has plagued me between seven different partners, of varying vaginal, personality, physical, and other qualities. The level of attraction has ranged from extreme casualness to full-on infatuation and love.

I masturbate between once and twice daily, typically, during the week. Weekends are sex time, and as result of the vaginal difficulties, we resort to a helping-handjob to take care of the frustration. Which by this point takes less than thirty seconds. Between all my partners I've had in the last five years or so, none have been frequent sex partners. The most would be once or twice a week. Is this simply an issue of not being in the 'getting laid all the time' routine? How normal is this?

Yet another condom question

smithmac_99 — Tue, 28 Mar 2006 08:55:53 -0800

Ladies, when using condoms, can you tell the difference between regular condoms and "ribbed for her pleasure" condoms?

Best way to carry condoms with you

Anonymous — Fri, 20 Jan 2006 11:01:00 -0800

CondomFilter: What is the best way to carry condoms around with you for use away from home? Looking around on the Net, you find advice that keeping it in your wallet or pocket is unsafe (heat and friction), so what other options does a guy have? Will your suggestions work for carrying more than one condom as well?

Latex problems

Anonymous — Thu, 12 Jan 2006 12:53:50 -0800

My girlfriend is allergic to latex. Can you recommend any online retailer than sells different varieties (ribbed, flavoured, etc.) of nonlatex condoms and also ships to Canada? We can't seem to find any in local stores. Thanks!

Condoms on uncut males

Anonymous — Sun, 23 Oct 2005 22:32:40 -0800

A condom question! I often have problems with condoms sliding off during sex. I am not circumsized, and I think the problem has to do with the skin under the condom moving during intercourse.

It's not a huge problem if I'm a little bit careful, but I'm curious to see if any other uncut males experience this problem and if there's an easy fix that I'm not seeing.