3 Myths about Condoms

Condoms have become a big part of life today, but there are still many people that refuse to see the benefit these particular contraceptives bring to the marketplace. People that are against condoms for political or religious reasons tend to perpetuate myths about them. For that reason many people are confused through no fault of their own when it comes to considerations regarding this product. In order to help clear the air a little bit, here are some of the more common myths perpetuated about condoms.
Myth #1: They make sex less enjoyable
This used to be true when condoms first came out onto the market, but the free market being what it is, this was ratified by the condom creating companies when they realized that it was indeed something that was starting to impede their sales. There are now condoms that are ribbed to increase the sexual pleasure a woman can get out of the act as well as ones that are ribbed on the inside to provide that same stimulation for the man. There are flavored condoms that make oral sex a lot more interesting. There are in fact a multitude of different options available for condoms nowadays that really have turned this partial reality into a complete myth.
Myth #2: They do not work
This used to be the biggest myth that was perpetuated regarding condoms, but as the general public has become more knowledgeable regarding matters of contraception, this myth has really collapsed. For this reason, people against the use of condoms will usually resort to myth #1 before this one nowadays. Condoms are one of the most reliable products around and this statement has been continually backed up by facts on a regular basis. When used properly, condoms are usually over 99.9% effective on average. In other words, condoms are basically foolproof when they are employed as the instructions indicate. If condoms are combined with other birth control methods however, they are even more effective.
Myth #3: They are expensive
Expensive is a word that is really a matter of opinion and for this reason one can not entirely call this a myth. There are probably some people out there that would view the cost of condoms as one that is far too expensive. That having been said however, when the packages are purchased, the individual condoms within them usually work out to something like pennies per condom, with individual packages often being sold for something like twenty-five cents per package. For this reason, most people that have experience with the full range of contraceptives would regard condoms as being relatively cheap to purchase.
Conclusion
For all of the reasons stated above in the debunking of those three myths, it is quite clear to anyone that has experimented with different safe sex methods that the condom is one of the most reliable and most cost effective methods out there. This is why in spite of the development of other methods over the years, this particular method has endured for such a long time.

Scouts Given Condoms to ‘Be Prepared’

The British Boy Scout Oath pledges that a Scout will perform his duty to God, his country, his fellow scouts and other people in addition to keeping himself “physically strong, mentally awake and morally straight.” He also lives by the motto to always “be prepared.” In an effort to help scouts live up to these goals and always be prepared for anything, the Scouting Association of Britain is urging that young Scouts between the ages of 14 and 18 add outings to sexual health clinics to their yearly trip agenda.
In an effort to get young Scouts to open up and be more at ease in discussing sexual topics with other members of the Scouting group, the Scouting Association is recommending these visits to health clinics. The association feels that by visiting the clinics, it may help “break illusions of what these services are and improve the uptake of advice.” Peter Duncan, a Chief Scout, is realistic about the situations young teenagers face in their daily lives, “We must be realistic and accept that around a third of young people are sexually active before 16 and many more start relationships at 16 and 17. Scouting touches members of every community, religious and social group in the country so adults in Scouting have a duty to promote safe and responsible relationships and, as an organization, we have the responsibility to provide sound advice about how to do that."
The association has stated that leaders of Scout troops may distribute condoms - Durex condoms, to be precise - to Scouts only on the condition that “they believe the young person is very likely to begin or continue having intercourse with or without contraception.” If the Scout leader feels that the “physical or mental health are likely to suffer” for one of their Scouts, they can go forth and distribute condoms to that particular Scout. Furthermore, the association urges Scout leaders to “encourage young people to resist pressure to have early sex.” If necessary, the leader can open up a dialogue with the Scout’s parents or guardians to discuss any concerns; however, the leaders “should be prepared to offer appropriate information” to the Scout if he is asked.
Duncan states, "I firmly believe that the confidence, skills and self esteem young people gain through the incredible range of activities Scouting offers is the best way to equip them not to feel pressured into a sexual relationship before they are ready." In addition, Beverly Hughes, the Minister for young people, has voiced her support of the association’s new policies, “While our teenage pregnancy rates are coming down and are at the lowest rate for over 20 years, there is much more to do to ensure young people have the knowledge of safe sex and they need to prevent early pregnancy and look after their sexual health."

Relationships and Sex

The biggest areas of advice that men look for help in are actually not areas of advice that deal with contraceptives. Within the field of contraceptives, it is reasonably obvious that whether they know about contraceptives or not, men are going to keep that information to themselves and not solicit advice on the topic. That having been said however, the area of sex in general does get a lot of discussion amongst both men and women, far more than the specific area of contraceptives receives in relation to safe sex. The advice that people seek however is not about the use of contraceptives or safe sex, but rather about sex and timing. People want to know how much pressure can be put on the other partner to have sex or even when the timing might be right in order to try and initiate a sexual act. The answers to these questions are not easy, but if you start with some ground rules you should be on safe ground when it comes to having sex with your partner.
Always be Prepared
The single most important piece of advice that anyone can give you when it comes to relationships and sex is that you should always make sure that you are prepared for sex one way or another. Condoms should always be available in your house when your partner is over so that if sex does happen, you will be ready for it. If you do not have any contraceptives available and sex does happen, you run the risk of unwanted pregnancy or illness, both of which can be effective at derailing any future attempts at sex that you or your partner might attempt to initiate. For this reason, always being prepared with some contraceptives so that any sex you have is safe sex is always the best piece of advice that you can get.
Read your Partner’s Feelings
The next thing you need to do when it comes to sex is read your partner’s feelings. Regardless of whether you have contraceptives or not, the sexual act is one that needs to be wanted by both partners in order for it to be truly fulfilling. It is legitimate to a certain extent to be a little pushy when it comes to initiating sex with a partner, as there are nerves that come into play that can quickly be dispelled by actually engaging in the act of sex. That having been said however, there is a big difference between nervousness and a genuine lack of interest in having sex at that point and as a loving partner, it will be your job to ensure that you are able to understand this difference within your partner. When in doubt, err on the side of not having sex just to be safe, just as you would be purchasing and keeping condoms around just in case.
Conclusion
When it comes to relationships and sex it is always better to be safe than sorry. This is analogous to the use of contraceptives during sex as contraceptives help promote the idea of safe sex. If you keep this in mind, you’ll be fine in your sexual endeavors.

Safe Sex Methods, Part II

Method #3: Withdrawal
The withdrawal method was perhaps the first real birth control or safe sex method to be developed as part of the sex education curriculum and the reason for this is a very simple one. The withdrawal birth control method is really the only one that does not utilize anything else in a material sense and for that reason it is quite easy for different couples to utilize this method for their birth control needs. The withdrawal method is simply a method that has the man pull out of the woman before orgasm and in doing so prevent the sharing of fluids that is where the problems can start both in terms of unwanted pregnancy and in terms of sexually transmitted disease. This method is a cheap and effective one if used properly, but it does require discipline on the part of the man to pull out before any ejaculation occurs. For this reason, many people prefer the other methods available. That having been said however, withdrawal is a foolproof safe sex practice if two people with discipline practice it whenever they happen to engage in sexual activity.
Method #4: Male Condoms
Perhaps the most popular birth control method currently available on the market is the male condom. It was the first one to be created on a manufacturing basis and ever since its creation, birth control has become a big part of the safe sex curriculum as tools have become available that have the ability to actually help in curbing the exchange of fluids that is the main causal element in disease transmission and pregnancy. A male condom is essentially a sheath that is placed over the man’s penis before penetration occurs. The man can ejaculate while still penetrating the woman and all of the fluid will be contained within the condom rather than spread out into the woman’s vagina. It is a simple principle yet one that has been effective enough for condoms to be utilized all over the world in campaigns to help stop the spread of sexually transmitted diseases as well as to stop unwanted pregnancy from happening. Male condoms are disposable after a single use however and over time can end up getting expensive if the couple has sex often.
Method #5: Female Condoms
Hot on the heels of the release of the first male condom was the release of the first female condom. Female condoms function in the same way as male condoms do essentially, but are created with the female anatomy in mind. This particular birth control method, rather than forming a sheath around the man’s penis, instead forms a protective barrier around the interior of the woman’s vagina. In doing so, it prevents any sperm from entering into the vagina and potentially causing any harm. Both female condoms and male condoms are 99%+ effective on their own but when the two are combined, the end result is that a practically foolproof birth control method is created. The price concern with male condoms is also present with female condoms however, which is probably the main drawback to this particular method.

Condoms, Contraception and Women

Literally moments ago, I had an e-mail conversation with a friend who had an appointment to get birth control pills this afternoon. After having a longer than normal lunch with her husband, she lost track of time and realized she would have to reschedule her appointment with her gynecologist. Normally, for most women, this would not pose any problem, but my very good friend has had two oops moments that resulted in two precious babies born fifteen months apart because she had done exactly what she did today…miss her appointment for birth control. Birth control is one of those things that you don’t really want to mess with…ask my friend. According to recent research out of the Kinsey Institute at Indiana University, however, women see birth control as more than just a way to prevent pregnancies; the method a woman chooses to prevent pregnancy and the transmission of STDs also helps determine how pleasurable and satisfied she is sexually.
The new study reveals that many women feel that condoms actually decrease the pleasure felt from sex, but that those women who utilize both condoms and some type of hormonal contraception like birth control pills actually feel that they are more sexually satisfied. The researchers understand that the findings sound inconsistent but they believe it is an indication that women think of sex in two different arenas: sexual satisfaction (overall) and sexual enjoyment (each encounter). When women were asked about the satisfaction they felt overall about their sexual lives (which consists of how a woman feels about the relationship she is in and her sexual self-esteem), those women who utilized a hormonal birth control method combined with condoms ranked the highest in terms of being satisfied sexually. However, when these women were surveyed on how their choice on contraception (whether it was a hormonal method or condoms) affected their enjoyment of sex, those women who utilized condoms (alone or combined with alternate forms of contraception) seemed to feel that they made the sexual encounter less pleasurable. Women who simply used hormonal birth control did not feel that this type of contraception took away from their sexual enjoyment.
Those researchers who involved themselves with this study did so largely in part because the link between the contraception a woman chooses and her sexual enjoyment and satisfaction is an area that has not been studied thoroughly. Stephanie Sanders, one of the co-authors of the study, states, “The public health community has paid little attention to women's sexual experiences with contraceptive methods, especially condoms. If women think condoms detract from sexual pleasure, they may be less inclined to use them consistently." The study determined that of those women who used only a hormonal type of birth control, 4% of them felt that it decreased their sexual pleasure; these women were also the ones who felt the least sexually satisfied of the bunch. Of those women who utilized both condoms and a hormonal type of birth control, 23% of them felt it decreased their sexual pleasure; however, these women felt the most sexually satisfied of all the respondents.