You've had the candlelight, the romance and the fantastic foreplay. Suddenly, the moment arrives: while you jump out of your silk stockings, he needs to slip into his – and sometimes you're expected to help. You know what they say: if you want something done right, it's best to do it yourself. With this step-by-step guide you'll roll on a condom like a pro – especially if you practise on a vibrator first.
1. Open the package carefully. Using your teeth may look sexy and carefree but it can result in tearing the condom.
2. Using your thumb and forefinger, squeeze all the air out of the tip.
3. Unroll the condom slightly to make sure you're heading in the right direction. The rolled-up ring should be on the outside.
4. Holding the condom by its tip, place it on the head of his penis, ensuring no air gets trapped. An air bubble could cause the latex to split during sex.
5. Slowly begin to roll the condom down his shaft. There is no real difference between gloving an uncircumcised and a circumcised penis but you may need to pull his foreskin back if he still has it. Also pull back any stray pubic hairs that might get in the way – you don't want painful tugging to ruin his experience.
6. Roll down the condom all the way to the base of the penis for a secure fit.
7. Apply additional lube if necessary. Make sure it's water-based, as oil-based products can weaken the latex. Yes, that includes baby oil and whipped cream!
8. Check up on the sin skin periodically – during a marathon sex session, it's possible for the condom to slip off or tear, especially if you're changing positions frequently.
CONDOM 101
They say good things come in threes and it's true of the makeup of the condom.
| PART |
FUNCTION |
| THE RING |
At the open end is a hard rubber ring that helps keep the condom from falling off. |
| THE TIP |
On the opposite end from the ring is the tip, which acts as a reservoir for ejaculate. |
| THE SHEATH |
In between is the sheath, which covers the shaft. |
SLICK FACTS
• Durex makes and sells almost a billion condoms each year.
• A condom can hold about 3,75 litres of liquid.
• Women are responsible for between 40% and 70% of all condom purchases. Way to go, girls!
• Carrying a condom in your bag doesn't make you a 'bad girl'. Almost l00% of one-night stands are unplanned, and almost 100% of planned sex is planned, so it really is essential to come prepared.
• According to the US National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, up to six percent of men and women show sensitivity to the proteins present in latex rubber. This can lead to itchiness, rashes and shortness of breath – but it's not a valid reason for skipping the wet suit. Non-latex condoms made from polyurethane material, such as Avanti, are now available at leading pharmacies.
WHAT'S A CONDOM MADE OF?
Condoms come in three materials. Here's what you need to know:
| MATERIAL |
LATEX
(A Type Of Rubber) |
POLYURETHANE
(A Type Of Plastic) |
NATURAL SKIN
(Usually Lambskin) |
| PROS |
The safest, most readily available, and least expensive material. |
Plastic is thinner and less constricting than latex. |
Natural membrane condoms offer more sensitivity than latex or polyurethane. |
| CONS |
One to six percent of the population is allergic to latex. |
They're not as widely available. Studies have found that they break and slip more often than latex condoms (though the incidence is still low). |
They are effective in preventing pregnancy, but they do not protect against STDs. They're also more expensive than latex. |
THE HOTTEST SHAPES AND STYLES
Pick one of these prophylactics for maximum pleasure...
TEXTURED (Ribbed/Nubbed/Studded): Additional texture stimulates nerve endings in the vaginal walls for your gratification. (However, some women say they can't feel a difference.)
POUCHED: Pouched condoms have 'pockets' on the sides or near the tip. These condoms are designed to be looser fitting in the areas that cover the nerve endings of the penis, increasing friction and sensitivity for him.
ULTRATHIN: The thinner the latex, the more sensation you'll both feel. There's no evidence to suggest these thinner condoms are any likelier to break if used as directed.
COLOURED, FLAVOURED, GLOW-IN-THE-DARK: These condoms are a great way to add playfulness and ease some of the tension, which leads to hotter sex.
TRICKS GUYS LOVE… BUT MOST GIRLS DON'T KNOW
Use these sexy moves to get Mr. Mojo rising and he'll be begging to put on a condom.
| THE TRICK |
HOW TO DO IT |
WHY HE'LL LOVE IT |
| CREATE A WARMING TREND |
Surprise him with a condom that has a warming agent built into the lubricant. |
The warming agent creates a sexy new sensation for both of you. |
| GIVE HIM A JIFFY LUBE |
Put a drop of water-based lube inside the tip (or dome) of the condom. (Oil-based lube causes latex to break down.) |
It increases sensitivity for him, making it feel more like he's not wearing a condom. |
| SAVE ROOM FOR DESSERT |
If you want to pleasure him orally first, put a condom on his member, then add a topping like chocolate sauce or whipped cream to avoid the rubbery taste. |
It will be a yummier pre-sex prelude for you. Just be sure he puts on a new condom before sex or it's a yeast infection waiting to happen. |
| GET BUZZZZED |
Try the vibrating condom ring, which fits around the base of the penis (over the condom) and omits good vibrations. |
These vibrations increase his sensation while the tiny buzzing motor is strategically placed to ring your doorbell. |
CONDOM TROUBLESHOOTING
Here are some strategies for banishing common condom conundrums:
IF ONE OF YOU IS ALLERGIC TO LATEX...
If reactions such as itching, irritation, and burning occur, try polyurethane or natural skin, and avoid condoms with spermicide, especially nonoxynol-9, which can cause irritation oven if you aren't allergic.
IF CONDOMS MAKE HIM LOSE HIS ERECTION…
In addition to larger or thinner condoms, he can try a cock ring (placed at the base of the shaft and around his testicles), which keeps the blood supply from draining from the penis.
IF HE EJACULATES TOO SOON...
lf your guy is more of an Olympic-level sprinter than a marathon man, try condoms which are lubricated with a slight numbing agent that may keep him in the race longer.
IF THE RUBBER BREAKS OR SLIPS OFF…
Wash yourself well, and see a doctor ASAP to be tested for STDs. If you're not on the Pill (or another form of birth control), a doctor can prescribe the morning-after pill.