Everything You Need to Know About Condoms

The condom is rumored to have been named after the Earl of Condom, an English knight that was physician to King Charles III in the early 1600's. Well, ole King Charles liked his women and had many. He tasked Dr. Condom to develop a foolproof method to protect the him for syphilis and other sexually transmittable diseases of the day.

The male condom of today is, to this day, the most effective method of birth control and protection against sexually transmitted diseases, second to abstinence. Condoms are made out of latex, polyurethane, or natural membranes (think lamb's intestine) and are placed over an erect penis. Condoms of today are manufactured in just about any color, size, and style you can think of. They all serve a common purpose however, and that is to prevent sperm from entering a woman's body.

Some condoms are more effective than others, depending on the types of materials they are made from. There are a few do's and don'ts when it comes to condoms. Never use petroleum jelly or any other oil-based lubricants or mineral oils with a latex condom, because they can make the condom disintegrate. If you must use a lubricant, choose one that is water-soluble such as the ever-popular K-Y Jellies. You can use other products in conjunction with the condoms for more protection against pregnancy and disease as well, such as spermicidal jelly, foams, or creams.

When preparing to use a condom, there are a few things you can do to make the whole ordeal a little easier. One of the minor turn-offs of using condoms is the fact you have to stop mid-love-making to put it on. If you open the package ahead of time and lay the condom out, this cuts down on your interruption. If you are not seasoned in the use of condoms, it might be of interest to you to open a few packages and practice the art of unrolling and applying the condom first. If you're a guy, it is best to know what you are doing, as the woman you are with may not always know the proper way to put a condom on.