Condoms

A condom is the one product in this shop that does a job beyond pleasure: it prevents pregnancy and stops most sexually transmitted infections. The right one is the one that fits, feels good enough to be used every time, and suits the lubricant and toys it will meet. This guide explains size, material and type, and the few rules that make condoms work as well as they are supposed to.

Fit comes first

Condoms are sized by nominal width, the width of the flattened condom, usually 49 to 60 millimetres. Standard is 52 to 54. A condom that is too tight is uncomfortable, breaks more often and dulls sensation; one that is too loose slips. Measure the circumference of the erect penis at its widest and divide by two for the width to look for. Trying two or three sizes in small packs is the quickest way to find the one that stays on and disappears.

Material

Latex is the standard: strong, stretchy, cheap and safe with water based and silicone lubricants. Polyisoprene is a synthetic latex for people with a latex allergy; it feels similar and stretches nearly as well. Polyurethane is thinner and conducts heat, suits allergy sufferers, and is compatible with oil, but stretches less and slips more easily. Lambskin prevents pregnancy but not infections and has no place in a first purchase.

Types

Thin condoms give the most sensation and are as safe as thicker ones when they fit. Extra safe or thicker condoms suit anal sex and anyone who tears the thin ones. Ribbed and dotted add texture for the partner. Delay condoms carry a little benzocaine inside the tip. Flavoured condoms are for oral sex and not for anything else. Latex free are for allergies. A variety pack is the sensible first buy.

Lubricant and toys

Water based and silicone lubricants are safe with latex; oil, including massage oil, coconut oil and most lotions, weakens latex within minutes. Polyurethane tolerates oil. A drop of lubricant inside the tip and more outside improves comfort and reduces breakage. Condoms on toys are a good idea for anything porous or shared, and they make cleaning up faster.

Using them properly

Check the date and the mark on the pack. Open with fingers, not teeth. Pinch the tip, roll on before any contact, and roll all the way to the base. Hold the base when withdrawing and withdraw while still erect. One condom per act; never two at once, which increases friction and breakage. Store away from heat, sunlight and wallets that sit on a hip for months.

Frequently asked questions