Condoms
What
is condom?
Condom
is a thin sheath or "skin" of latex or polyurethane fitted over the
erect penis to prevent the escape of ejaculated semen during vaginal, oral, or
anal intercourse or manual foreplay.
Condoms
are available in various shapes, colours, flavours and specialty condoms which
have pleasure ribs, bumps, and reservoir tips (for added sensations during
sex). Non-lubricated or flavoured condoms should be used during oral sex to
protect against STDs. The condom is 85-98% effective as a method of
contraception. For maximum protection, condoms should be used in combination
with a vaginal spermicide such as in the form of:
- Creams
- Foams
- Jellies
- Suppositories
- Sponges
- Vaginal spermicides
Diaphragms or the Pill should
be used for maximum protection against pregnancy. These are intended to block
the cervix and kill sperm, but effectiveness varies greatly.
Caution
for using condoms:
- Have expiry dates
- Must be kept away from heat
- Should have an air bubble in the
package. If the condom is flat, cracked or dried out - throw it away
- Should be used only once and then
thrown away responsibly (e.g., put the used condom in a sealed bag and
place in the rubbish bin).
- Condoms should not be used
with oil-based lubricants such as petroleum jelly, baby oil or hand
lotion. Only lubricants such as KY Jelly that are not oil-based should be
used.
- They should always be made out of
latex
STDs
can be transmitted during vaginal, oral and anal sex. If you are using a condom
for oral sex, you may prefer to use a non-lubricated or flavoured condom.
A
condom can be cut to form a latex square for use as a barrier during
cunnilingus or during oral-anal contact,
If
a condom breaks, immediate withdrawal is recommended. A new condom can then be
used. To reduce the risk of pregnancy, a woman can immediately insert two
applications of spermicide into the vagina.
Steps to follow when first
using a condom:
Ø Condoms come ready-rolled and most end in a teat which catches
the semen.
Ø Take the fresh condom out of the packet carefully and avoid
tearing it on fingernails or jewellery
Ø Expel the air from the teat at the tip of the condom by
squeezing it
Ø Place the opening of the condom on the head of the penis
Ø Unroll it down the shaft so that it fits comfortably onto the
erect penis (do not try putting it on unless you have an erection)
Ø When fully unrolled the condom should extend almost to the base
of the penis and fit snugly like a second skin
Ø Make sure the condom is placed on the erect penis before it
contacts any mucous membranes or genitalia
Method to disposal of the
condom after sexual intercourse:
Ø After ejaculation the condom should be removed carefully to
prevent the semen from spilling out
Ø The man withdraws his penis from the woman's vagina while
holding the condom securely to the penis so it does not come off
Ø The condom is removed and disposed of properly by wrapping it in
paper or tissue and placing in a bin
Ø Care must always be taken that any semen left on the penis does
not get transferred to the woman's vagina, especially from the fingers
Ø If the condom tears or comes off during vaginal intercourse foam
should be inserted immediately and the Morning after Pill should be considered
Ø Never try to reuse a condom
The Female Condom
The female condom is a
disposable sheath made of colourless odourless polyurethane and was designed
about 10 years ago to protect a woman from pregnancy and STDs by lining the
vagina
An inner ring covers the
opening to the uterus and sits over the cervix and an outer ring lies flat
against the labia covering the outside of the vagina to stop sperm from
entering. Before intercourse the inner ring with the closed end is inserted
just up past the pubic bone (a couple of inches inside your vagina) leaving the
open outer ring outside of the vagina.
How to Use the Female Condom
ü Some women put it in
place while lying down, others while standing with one leg on a chair, and
others while squatting. Insert it by doing the following:
ü Hold the closed end of
the female condom (the tip) feeling the ring inside it
ü Squeeze the ring between
your fingers and open up the lips of your vagina and insert with your other
hand
ü Push the squeezed ring
inside and up to the top end of your vagina
ü Put two fingers inside
the female condom and use them to push the inner ring as far into the vagina as
it will go so the whole vaginal cavity is snugly lined
ü Make sure that the outer
ring now covers the opening of your vagina
ü It comes ready lubricated
for easy insertion and no spermicide is necessary
The
penis has to be guided into the sheath as it is easy to mistakenly put the
penis outside the condom, but after intercourse there is no need for immediate
withdrawal, as the man may stay in the woman, unlike with traditional condoms.
Method
to remove the condom after sex:
- Twist the outer ring to keep the
semen inside
- Pull the condom out gently
- Wrap and dispose of the condom in
a bin
Caution
for using The female condom:
- Must only be used once
- Must not be used with a
male condom as they will stick together and tear
Advantages
- Protection from pregnancy and
STD's
- Penis need not be erect for pouch
to be inserted
- No need for immediate withdrawal
Disadvantages
- Information on effective use is
somewhat limited
- Sheath may move
- Sheath may be noisy or
uncomfortable
- Must be used correctly every time
Dental
Dams
The
dental dam is a square piece of thin latex used to prevent the transmission of
STDs when oral sex is performed on a woman. The dental dam is stretched across
a woman’s vagina to prevent exchange of bodily fluids. The dental dam itself is
not lubricated, but a water-based lubricant on the vagina side of the dental
dam may be useful to keep the dental dam in place and to increase sensation.
Advantages
- Protection against STD's including
HIV
- Low health risk
- Easily accessible
- Latex used with spermicide blocks
and may kill sperm and STD's
- Can protect against infection,
herpes and genital warts
- Effective when used with other
contraceptives
Disadvantages
- Allergic reaction to latex or
lubricant (a polyurethane type is also available for people allergic to
latex)
- May interrupt foreplay
- Dulls sensation (KY jelly placed
on the inside of the tip improves feeling)
- Allergic reaction to spermicidal
- Irritation from condoms
- Oil-based lubricants such as
Vaseline can make holes in latex condoms
Diaphragms
& Cervical Caps
The
diaphragm can be used by most women without any kind of inconvenience or
discomfort. It is a good option for women:
- who cannot take the Pill for some
reason
- women who dislike the idea of
hormonal contraception
- who are older
- who are in committed relationship
The
diaphragm is a soft, thin rubber cup that is placed in the vagina before
intercourse. It is a barrier method of contraception with minimal side effects.
The diaphragm looks like a little hat without a brim. It is elastic and can be
folded so that it goes into the vagina easily.
Caps and diaphragms
act as a contraceptive by:
- forming a barrier across the neck
of the womb preventing the sperm from reaching and fertilizing the egg
- covering the opening to the uterus
and holding contraceptive cream or jelly which destroys sperm
- creating a protective seal using
spermicidal cream or jelly around the cervix trapping and immobilizing any
sperm that make it past that seal (spermicidal cream or jelly is essential
when using a diaphragm to be effective in preventing pregnancy)
A
medical examination by your doctor or family planning clinic is needed so that
the right-sized cap or diaphragm can be chosen as a good fit is essential.
However, it is necessary that it be inserted for the first time in the company
of your doctor or family planning nurse to ensure correct usage. This is done
during a pelvic examination and takes only a few minutes.
You
will also need to see your doctor if your weight changes by more than 3kg
either way or if you resume wearing a diaphragm after a pregnancy to see if the
size is still correct.
If
the diaphragm does not suit your particular vaginal shape an alternative can be
the closely related contraceptive cap which is also a good method. It is
smaller and fits over your cervix, so you have to be very sure that you can
find your own cervix and fit the cap over it.
How
to Use Diaphragm
- smear a little spermicide on to
the diaphragm and around the rim to make insertion easier
- squeeze the diaphragm into a boat
shape
- open the lips of the vagina with
one hand and insert it similarly to a sanitary tampon
- the diaphragm is placed high up in
the vagina so that it covers the cervix
- when the rim rests behind the
pubic bone at the front and the dome covers the cervix at the back it is
in place and cannot be felt by either the woman or the man during intercourse
Before
sexual intercourse the diaphragm with cream or jelly is inserted into vagina
and must be left in place at least 6 hours after intercourse but not longer
than 24 hours.
Care
of Diaphragm
Once
you have your diaphragm it is important that proper care be taken so that in
remains in good condition.
- do not use cold cream, Vaseline or
other oily substances as a diaphragm lubricant as these may be harmful to
the diaphragm
- wash carefully after use with a
mild soap
- do not use perfumed soaps containing
cold cream or detergents as the elements in these soaps may have a harmful
effect on the latex rubber diaphragm
- rinse with clean water
- dry carefully
- do not allow the diaphragm to air
dry
- dust the diaphragm lightly with
cornstarch and replace it in the container
- do not use any type of body
powder, baby powder, flour or face powder as they may contain elements
that could affect the latex rubber diaphragm
- if your diaphragm perishes or gets
damaged in any way get a replacement immediately
This
combination of diaphragm or cap used with a spermicide has been found to have a
95% effectiveness rate.
It
is important to keep in mind that the spermicide will be effective for about
only three hours. More spermicide is needed if you have intercourse after the
diaphragm or cap has been in place for three hours.
Some
diaphragms available are:
- Dumas Vault cap
- Prentif Cavity Rim
- Vimule
Advantages
- No major health concerns
- Allows sex to be spontaneous
- Can be reused many times if
properly cared for
- Will last several years if it is
carefully looked after
- May make love as normal during
menstruation if desired as with a diaphragm in place there is usually no
sign at all of any bleeding
Disadvantages
- Allergy to a certain brand of
cream or jelly (can change brands)
- Allergy to the material that the
diaphragm is made from.
- May increase risk of toxic shock
if used during period
- Cystitis occurs in some women
- May lead to increased risk of
urinary tract infection (bladder infection)
Cervical
Cap*
The
cervical cap works much the same way as the diaphragm with similar
effectiveness rates. A small latex cap is inserted before intercourse fitting
over the cervix to act as a barrier to semen.
The
cap cannot be pushed into the uterus, even though it is smaller than a
diaphragm. Spermicide inside the cap is held against the cervix destroying any
sperm that make it past the barrier (see information on Diaphragms
above).
*Only
available by prescription in the US.
==--==
