Condoms
The LOVE Condoms campaign has condom dispensers in bars and clubs throughout Los Angeles, and distributes millions of condoms at events all over the world. Our goal is to promote widespread access, use and acceptance of condoms as a vital component of global HIV and STD control.
Take a look at the list of locations below to find a LOVE Condoms dispenser or a condom outreach event near you. You can also visit lovecondoms.org to order LOVE Condoms online.
The HARD Facts
Proper, consistent use of a condom:
- Prevents transmission of HIV by 80-95%
- Prevents transmission of HPV by 70%
- Reduces the risk of gonorrhea in men by 70%
- Reduces the risk of syphilis, herpes, chlamydia and pelvic inflammatory disease
- Reduces the risk of sexually transmitted infection during oral sex
- Costs a dollar per condom, on average, and $2.50–$5.00 for female condoms
MALE CONDOM
The more you use a condom, the more confident you’ll become with putting it on. Practice alone or with your partner. It can be a fun, loving and sexy thing you can learn together!
Putting on the Condom
- Carefully open the condom package at one corner, being careful not to tear the condom with your fingernail, teeth or a sharp object.
- Place the rolled condom over the tip of the hard penis. If there is no reservoir tip, pinch it to give it one and leave room to let semen collect.
- If you’re not circumcised, pull back the foreskin before putting the condom on the head of your penis.
- Pinching the air out of the condom with one hand (air bubbles can cause breakage), unroll the condom down the full length of your penis to the base with the other.
- Make sure the condom is right side out. Unroll it a bit to see if it unrolls easily. If so, you’re doing it right. If not, try again with a new condom. You just need a little practice.
- For anal intercourse, lube up! Put the lube on after you put on the condom. It can actually reduce breakage. Always use WATER-BASED lubricants with latex condoms.
Removing the Condom
- Pull out of your partner before the penis softens.
- Hold the condom firmly at the base of the penis at the rim so it doesn’t slip off.
- Remove the condom, being careful not to the spill the semen.
- Dispose of the condom by wrapping it in a tissue and throwing it away. Avoid flushing it down the toilet.
- Wash your hands with soap and water.
FEMALE CONDOM
Putting on the Condom
- Open the package carefully and choose a comfortable position for insertion. You may want to lie down, squat, raise one leg or sit.
- Make sure the condom is lubricated enough. You can add lubrication inside the condom or to the penis. Female condoms are polyurethane; so oil-based lubricants can be used.
- The inner ring should be at the bottom closed end of the sheath. Hold the sheath with the open end hanging down.
- Squeeze the inner ring with your thumb and middle finger. This will make it long and narrow.
- Insert the inner ring into the vagina and feel it go up. Place your index finger inside the condom and push the inner ring as far as it will go. Make sure the condom is not twisted.
- The outer ring should remain outside the vagina. The penis should be guided into the condom to ensure it doesn’t slip into the vagina during intercourse.
- Use enough lubricant so the condom stays in place during sex.
Removing the Condom
- Remove before standing up. Squeeze and twist the outer ring. Pull it out gently, keeping the semen inside.
- Wrap the condom in its original package or a tissue and throw it away. Avoid flushing it down the toilet.
- Wash your hands with soap and water.
Condom DOs
- Store condoms in a cool, dry place. Exposure to heat, air and light makes them more breakable.
- Lube up! Lubrication can prevent rips and tears in the condom. REMEMBER: Use water-based lubricants with latex condoms. Oil-based lubricants (like baby oil, petroleum jelly or body lotions) damage latex condoms.
- Check the expiration date. Condoms do have a shelf life. When it’s up, toss it.
- Use a condom only once.
- Use a new condom for each sex act.
- Use thicker condoms for anal intercourse.
Condom DON’Ts
- Don’t use condoms with Nonoxynol-9 – especially for anal sex. Nonoxynol-9 is a spermicide often contained in condoms and lubes. It has recently been found to cause allergic reactions, and sores that can actually aid in the transmission of HIV and other STDs.
- Don’t use novelty condoms. Novelty condoms, often for sale in sex shops or vending machines, shouldn’t actually be used. They are what they say they are – a novelty, or “toy”. But nothing to toy around with.
- Don’t yank the condom on like a sock. Roll it on.
- Don’t use a condom that is overly sticky, brittle or discolored, or that has come from a broken package.
- Don’t use flavored condoms for vaginal or anal sex. They should only be used for oral sex.