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Talking To Your Partner About Condoms

reproductive health, family planning, condoms, safe sex

For a country with a population of 108 million, the conservative attitude towards contraception seems like a glaring contradiction. But talking about condoms, for example, should always top the list of your priorities especially before having sex.

You may have a very strong opinion about what contraceptive method you would like to use, but your partner might not feel the same way. Being on the same page when it comes to something as intimate as contraceptives is a pretty important thing to make things smooth in a relationship.

So how can you overcome your embarrassment? Well, for starters, it can help to know what a condom looks like, how it works, and what it’s like to handle one. Buy a box of condoms so you can familiarize yourself with them. You don’t want to feel embarrassed at the look and feel of a condom in the middle of the heat…

The next thing to get comfortable with is bringing up the topic of condoms with your partner. Practice opening lines. If you think your partner will object, work out your response ahead of time. Here are some possibilities:

Your partner says: “It’s uncomfortable.” You might answer this by suggesting a different brand or size. Wearing a condom also may take some getting used to.

Your partner says: “It puts me off.” Say that having unsafe sex puts you right off. Permanently. An unwanted pregnancy or a sexually transmitted infection (STI) will be much more difficult to talk about.

Your partner says: “If we really love each other, we should trust each other.” Say that it’s because you love each other so much that you want to be sure you’re both safe and protect each other.

Your partner says: “Are you nervous about catching something?” The natural response: “Sometimes people don’t even know when they have infections, so it’s better to be safe.”

Your partner says: “I won’t enjoy sex if we use a condom.” Say you can’t enjoy sex unless it’s safe. And plus, some condoms have pleasure enhancing features.

Your partner says: “I don’t know how to put it on.” This one’s easy: “Let’s start learning.”

Timing

After you’ve familiarized yourself with condoms and practiced your routine, you’ll want to pick the right time to bring up the subject with your partner. A good time to do this is long before you’re in a situation where you might need a condom. When people are caught up in the heat of the moment, they may find they’re more likely to be pressured into doing something they regret later.

Try bringing up the topic in a matter-of-fact way. You might mention that you’ve bought some condoms and checked them out. Offer to bring the unopened condoms along. Or suggest that your partner buy his or her favorite brand (and then bring some of yours with you, just to be on the safe side). Offer to try different types of condoms to find which works best for both of you.

Make it clear that you won’t have sex without a condom. If someone threatens you or says they’d rather break up than wear a condom, it’s time for you to say goodbye. Tell the person you won’t have sex with someone who doesn’t respect you or themselves enough to use protection.

Here are some tips for using condoms:

  • Check the expiration date (condoms can dry and crack if they’re old). Don’t use a condom if it seems brittle or sticky — throw it away and get another one.
  • Choose condoms made of latex, which is thought to be more effective in preventing STIs. (If one of you has an allergy to latex, use polyurethane condoms instead.)
  • If you use lubricants with condoms, always use water-based ones. Shortening, lotion, petroleum jelly, or baby oil can break down the condom.
  • Open the condom packet with your hands, not your teeth, and open it carefully so you don’t tear the condom.
  • Choose a condom with a reservoir tip to catch semen after ejaculation. Lightly pinch the top of the condom and place it at the top of your (or your partner’s) penis. This gets rid of trapped air, which can cause a condom to burst.
  • Roll the condom down until it’s completely rolled out — if it’s inside out, throw it away and start over with a new condom.
  • Remove the condom immediately after ejaculation, before the penis softens. You or your partner should hold the condom at the base of the penis (the part nearest the guy’s body) while he withdraws to prevent the condom from slipping off.
  • Slide the condom off the penis, keeping the semen inside. Since condoms can clog the toilet if they are flushed, tie it off or put in a plastic bag (so it’s not a health risk for others) and throw it out.

Of course, the best way to prevent pregnancy and STIs is abstinence (not having sex). But if you do decide to have sex, using a condom allows you to protect yourself. Using condoms properly every time is the best protection against sexually transmitted infections.

Source: https://kidshealth.org/en/teens/talk-about-condoms.html

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