Condom: Warnings, Advantages, Disadvantages

Importance of the condom

After sexual abstinence, the condom (both male and female) is the only contraceptive tool which, in addition to protecting the woman from unwanted pregnancies, guarantees a high level of protection from venereal diseases.

The reason is not well understood but, in fact, when we hear about condoms and contraception we tend to be ironic, addressing the subject lightly and superficially. Of course, love affairs, intimacy and excitement, with all the baggage of the hopes that follow, they tend to trample on the "idea of" running into unwanted pregnancies or sexually transmitted infections.
Such an approach to sexuality is objectively unintelligent, given that the issue is very delicate: it must not be forgotten that a relationship at risk (where by "risk" we mean the possibility of encountering sexually transmitted diseases and unexpected pregnancies) undermine your own health and that of your partner.
The condom, like any other reliable method of contraception, must not be considered a third inconvenience in the life of a couple; specifically, the use of a condom must rather be considered a gesture of maturity and responsibility, an act of protection for their health and love of neighbor.
The aim of this article is to sensitize young people and adults to the use of condoms: for this purpose, advantages and disadvantages will be compared, giving answers to frequent and often unspoken doubts.

Condoms: Tips for Buying

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These condoms, made with natural rubber latex, transparent and lubricated, are developed with an Easy-On shape and with a reservoir to offer greater comfort and wearability; in this way, the condom does not tighten and does not reduce sensitivity and is quick and easy to put on. The nominal width is 52.5 mm.
Directions for use: use only lubricants recommended for use in combination with condoms. Oil-based lubricants (petroleum derivatives, baby oils and vaginal pessaries) and some topical products that are applied to the penis or vagina can damage the condom. Discontinue use if you feel discomfort or irritation while using the condom.
This box contains 144 condoms and comes in an anonymous shipment, to offer your privacy.

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Conceived after 7 years of development, this condom is able to offer safety and pleasure in equal measure. Adapting to everyone's shape, these reinvented condoms reduce the risk of slipping, increase resistance and enhance sensations.
In fact, they take advantage of a network of 350 individual hexagonal cells that helps protect partners from breakage, without the need to increase the thickness of the latex. The network of hexagons is distributed over the inner surface of the condom, increasing the grip on the body. This "rib" also allows for improved resistance while the condom remains thin and ensures that the condom is able to adapt to each one's unique shape.
The extreme wearability allows an incredible intimacy between the partners, for an extremely satisfying and equally safe experience.

Warnings and recommendations

It is now well established that in order to fully experience love, it is good to use all the attentions and precautions of the case, thus avoiding unpleasant inconveniences. For this purpose, it is necessary (and indispensable) not only to use the chosen contraceptive method correctly, but also to keep it in a safe way. adequate.
To maximize self-protection from unexpected conception and venereal diseases, it is therefore important to respect some basic rules and put into practice some simple recommendations that unfortunately we often tend to overlook:

Check the expiration date: even condoms - which, let's remember, are medical devices - have an expiry date that must always be checked before purchase (and especially before use)
Make sure that the size of the condom is adequate for that of the penis: a condom that is too adherent and tight risks breaking and unrolling; a condom that is too large, on the other hand, can come off more easily.
Take care to insert the condom from the right side (with the rubber ring facing outwards): otherwise, it is recommended to throw it in the garbage (never in the toilet) and replace it with a new one to avoid any traces of sperm (accidentally ended up in the inner walls of the condom and then turned outwards) go to determine a conception.
Each type of condom is for single use only; therefore, it is recommended not to re-use it for a second report.
To increase vaginal lubrication or for anal intercourse, it is recommended NOT to use oil-based lubricants together with the latex condom: oily substances can undermine the structural integrity of the condom. The latex with which the condom is made can be altered by oily substances such as massage oil and petroleum jelly Instead, use water-based lubricants that are compatible with the material from which the condom is made.
Store the product in a cool and dry environment: condoms fear heat.
Before putting on the condom, make sure that the waterproof sheath is perfectly intact.
After the removal of the condom (following the male embrace) check its perfect structural integrity again. If the condom is damaged, the spermatozoa dispersed in the vagina may have reached and fertilized the female egg: to minimize the risk of unwanted pregnancy, the woman will be able to use the morning-after pill. To make sure that no venereal diseases have been transmitted, specific investigative investigations are also recommended.

Advantages and disadvantages

To dispel any and hypothetical doubts - in the event that they still exist - let's now compare the advantages offered by the condom with the potential disadvantages related to the contraceptive method.

Protection against unwanted pregnancy

When used correctly, the effectiveness of the condom against unwanted conception is very high, so much so as to touch 99.9%. However, the data reported is unfortunately only theoretical because many lovers tend not to put into practice all the general indications (which prove to be fundamental ) for a correct use of the contraceptive method. In practice, the approximate value of contraceptive efficacy tends to drop to 84-85% because errors are made both in terms of use and time of use.
The contraceptive efficacy can be compromised when:

A condom is worn only at the end of intercourse
The use of the barrier method is avoided when the woman believes that she is not in the ovulatory period (many young women, not fully knowing their body, make a mistake in calculating the fertile and non-fertile days)
A condom is used after the expiration date
The condom is stored in unsuitable places (e.g. in a bag or on the dashboard of the car)
Do not throw away the condom after realizing that it has been put on backwards
It is not used correctly (it slips in backwards and does not throw it in the trash immediately afterwards)
A torn condom is used and not in perfect condition
Oil-based lubricants are used together with latex condoms
The condom package is opened with scissors or teeth: doing so runs the risk of traumatizing the sheath
Condoms that are not suitable for the size of the penis are used: a condom that is too large could slide off, while a condom that is too tight could roll up on itself.

Curiosity

Even hormonal and implantable contraceptive methods guarantee "extraordinary effectiveness against unwanted pregnancies: forgetfulness aside, the contraceptive pill, for example, protects women from unwanted conception in 99.9% of cases.
However, these contraceptive tools have the limit that they do not protect against sexually transmitted diseases in any way.

Protection against venereal diseases

Except for sexual abstinence, the condom is the safest method of contraception able to protect against sexually transmitted diseases such as chlamydia, gonorrhea, HIV, Candidiasis, genital herpes, sharp warts, etc. Clearly, what is stated is valid when they are respected all the general indications listed above.
Not even the (almost) infallible contraceptive methods such as the contraceptive pill, the contraceptive patch, the vaginal ring and the IUD coils can compete with the condom in terms of safeguarding from venereal diseases: let us remember once again that hormonal contraceptives do not protect in any so from venereal diseases.

Availability

Unlike hormonal and implantable contraceptives, the condom is much more advantageous in terms of availability: it does not require a medical prescription and can be easily bought in supermarkets, pharmacies, vending machines, on the internet and even in discos.

Cost

The cost of condoms is also quite advantageous because, being relatively low, it is affordable for everyone. Typically, the average cost of each individual condom ranges from € 1 to € 2.

Risks

By itself, the condom is a safe and, in a sense, risk-free method. The "risk" in question is not so much linked to the condom itself, but rather to its indiscriminate or unsuitable use. For example, anal intercourse can traumatize the latex sheath of the condom because it is subjected to a "rather stressful action for its integrity: to avoid the risk, for this type of intercourse it is advisable to prefer lubricated condoms (with water-based substances). ).
Another non-negligible risk is constituted by the breaking of the condom: also in this case, the failure of the method is almost always explained by its clumsy use.
In patients allergic to latex, the use of classic condoms can induce allergic reactions (irritation, itching, redness, swelling, etc.). In these cases, it is advisable to use hypoallergenic condoms, therefore made with materials other than natural rubber latex ( eg polyurethane).
Even the simultaneous use of condoms with spermicides can create unpleasant side effects: the spermicide - while increasing the effectiveness of the barrier method - can irritate or even damage the vaginal and rectal walls, up to burning, itching and local rash.

Comfort and sexual pleasure

There are no excuses for not using a condom (especially in polygamous or occasional relationships). Often, the couple decides not to use this type of protection because they believe that the condom can reduce sexual pleasure or hinder the understanding of the relationship. In reality, the loss of sensitivity produced by this very thin sheath is almost negligible and does not negatively interfere with the pleasure.

What to do if it breaks?

As reiterated several times, the contraceptive efficacy of condoms against unwanted pregnancies and venereal diseases can be compromised when the correct way of use is not respected.
However, should the condom break or tear, the protective effect is nil.

How to behave in these cases?

The risks, as we know, are two:

POSSIBILITY OF CONCEPTION: to prevent a hypothetical pregnancy after condom breakage, the woman can take the morning-after pill (which is not the abortion pill) no later than 72 hours after the risky intercourse. Alternatively, the woman can use the IUD copper spiral: it is another contraceptive method that must be implanted in the uterus of the patient by a competent figure (gynecologist). When inserted within 5 days of unsafe intercourse, the copper IUD coil offers an "excellent contraceptive guarantee."
POSSIBLE TRANSMISSION OF VENUS DISEASES: it is recommended to contact a doctor for further diagnostic tests.

No contraceptive method is without risk: consuming sexual intercourse lightly and superficially can sometimes cause unpleasant consequences (failure of the method).
After becoming aware of all the risks and dangers that could follow from a relationship, using and proposing to the partner the use of condoms is synonymous with awareness, respect for others and maturity.