It is your best armour against unwanted pregnancies and STDs, but a lot depends on how you use it. Here are the most common faux pas that reduce its effectiveness
| Condoms aren’t 100 per cent effective. Using and storing them in an incorrect manner can significantly lower their effectiveness. Dr Rajan Bhonsle lists the most common mistakes that you must watch out for. • Storage issuesHow you store your condom has a bearing on its effectiveness during intercourse. If they are exposed to heat, for instance when kept in your wallet or the glove compartment of a car, the latex tends to break down. As a result, the condom might give in easily when used. Word of advice: Always store your condom in a cool and dry place, like a bedside drawer. • Opening move Be extremely careful when putting on the condom. Fingernails can puncture them without your knowledge. Also, when tearing the packet, avoid using your teeth or any sharp object. Word of advice: No matter how eager you are, handle with care. A minuscule of space is all that the naughty sperm needs. • Two is troubleThis is one area where double doesn’t mean better. One condom offers good protection, but using two of them simultaneously, one over the other is no good. On the contrary, it increases the chances of the condoms slipping or tearing. Word of advice: Don’t be greedy. One is good enough. • Wear it rightThe condom covers only the penis — the scrotums, groin and area around it remain unprotected. Any cuts, abrasions, invisible scratches and skin infections in or around the genitalia area could allow exchange of body fluids. This can lead to transmission of infection. The degree of protection that condoms provide against STDs and HPV infection from this area is extremely low. Word of advice: The most reliable way to avoid infection is to refrain from sexual relations — vaginal, oral, or anal — with strangers or multiple partners. It’s safer to be in a long-term, mutually monogamous relationship with a known, uninfected partner. • Anal sex Regular condoms are not designed for anal sex as the act involves a totally different kind of pressure dynamics. The normal latex or polyurethane ones are far more susceptible to tear and hence, put you at a risk of various STDs and even HIV. Indulging in anal sex even while using the condom can definitely be categorised as ‘high risk behaviour’. Word of advice: Refrain from anal sex. • Artificial lubricantsMost of the condoms available are pre-lubricated. However, if you feel the need for extra lubrication, the choice of lubricant becomes crucial. Water-based or silicone-based lubricants are safe to use with condoms. Oil-based lubricants are not. They weaken the latex and can damage the condom making it highly unreliable and unsafe. Word of advice: Avoid using Vaseline, cooking oil, butter, or baby oil as lubricants if you have a condom on during intercourse. • After the actNot withdrawing the penis at the correct time can play spoilsport to an otherwise safe encounter. If the penis loses its erection and becomes soft, there are chances that the condom might be left in the vagina or slip off and spill the semen in and around the vagina. Word of advice: Hold the condom from the base and withdraw your penis soon after you ejaculate. When used right… • Condoms are 86 to 98 per cent effective at preventing unwanted pregnancy. • They help some men have better ejaculatory control and thus help them last longer during intercourse. As a result, the intercourse can be more pleasurable for both partners. • They prevent spillage of semen in and around the vagina, making the act less messy. • The dotted and ribbed versions can help enhance pleasure by providing variety in stimulation How to wear it The condom is to be worn only on an erect penis, and just before penetration. It is packed with its borders rolled up. When putting it on, unroll it over the erect penis, till it opens fully and covers the entire erect penis. There is a small pocket at the tip that collects the semen after ejaculation. Pinch this pocket to avoid any air trappings. (Dr Rajan Bhonsle is a senior sex therapist and counsellor and head of department of sexual medicine at KEM Hospital) |