Exposing Common Condom Myths

Oh, what a tangled web of myths we weave when we are trying not to conceive! Growing up, my neighborhood friend began having sex relatively early. While drinking our Capri Suns on my front porch, I vividly remember her recounting the frequent sexcapades she engaged in and saying things like, “Oh, we don’t use condoms…he says it won’t feel as good.” I would stare at her slack-jawed and wide-eyed since I was never quite able to wrap my mind around the concept of sex until much, much later when I actually began having it myself. Needless to say, my childhood friend had two children by the time she dropped out of high school in the 11th grade. She was a casualty of the condom myths.
 
Myth #1: Condoms make sex unsatisfying OR Condoms hurt when they are on

If a condom is uncomfortable for a man, chances are it is simply the wrong size or not using enough lubrication. Like clothes, condoms come in different sizes. If you were a 280 pound man, why would you buy a toddler boy’s t-shirt to wear? Same concept goes for condoms. Look for a size and style that fits comfortably. If the sensation of sex feels as if it has dwindled with the use of a condom, try using a condom that is ultra-thin. Depending on the style of condom, the sensation of sex may even be enhanced due to extra ribbing in the condom or due to the erection being maintained longer.
 
Myth #2: Condoms are notorious for breaking during intercourse
 
Some partners toss out condoms altogether because they figure they will break anyway. Research has shown that less than two percent of condoms actually break during intercourse and usually there is a culprit – the user. If you are using Vaseline (oil-based) as lubrication, your condom may thin out and break.  If you have five inch long nails and are in charge of handling the condom, the condom may rip. If in the heat of passion you are feverishly ripping the condom package open with your bare teeth, the condom may tear. If the condom you are about to slip on has been sitting in your wallet since you were in high school and you are now 39 years old, there might not even be a condom in the package anymore due to disintegration. In short, handle your condoms with care and learn how to use one properly.
 
Myth #3: Condoms are not even that effective
 
While it is true that condoms are NOT 100% effective in preventing pregnancy, they are 99.8% effective if, and only if, they are used properly. Many a couple talk about how baby #2 was conceived despite the use of a condom, but if that same couple was asked if they used a condom each and every time they had intercourse, they might be telling a different story. Incorrect use can also render a condom pretty ineffective. It is vital that condom users know the proper way to store, put on and dispose of a condom.
 
Myth #4: Condoms will protect sexual partners from all sexually transmitted diseases (STDs)
 
While effectively and consistently using condoms can protect users against STDs like HIV, other sexually transmitted diseases like genital warts or herpes are caught by coming into contact with an infected person’s skin. Condoms cover the penis, not every area in the genitalia where STDs may reside, so they may not be 100% effective in guarding users against every STD.
 
Myth #5: Your partner-to-be is allergic to latex, so condoms are out of the question
 
If I had ever heard this one, my initial response would be “Well, I’m allergic to getting pregnant, so no sex,” but that’s just me.  Fortunately, condoms are not ALL made of latex. Condoms can also be made of lambskin and polyurethane, so if this myth is thrown your way, there are alternatives.