By Cassie Dellas, Guest Columnist

Oct. 25, 2013

I’m a little new to sex so I don’t know too much about condoms, is there a certain kind I should be getting? Do girls prefer a certain brand?

     -J

This is actually a very common question, J. Condoms are a great way to prevent pregnancies, and unlike other forms of birth control like the pill, it does help protect against the passing of STI’s. Though you should know that even with the use of condoms and another form of birth control, there is always a small chance of the passing of an STI or pregnancy.
When you go to buy condoms you will notice that there are several types with different features for each. There is spermicidal (which has a sperm killing lube in it), textured, flavored (FYI-don’t use this kind for vaginal sex!), ultra-thin, the female condom and several other kinds. Picking one kind can seem daunting but most will offer the same amount of protection. If you’re feeling overwhelmed try just buying a basic pack, you can always buy a more adventurous kind later.

I cannot speak for every female on campus but what I have gathered from different conversations is that girls generally cannot tell the difference with different condom types. A lot of the hype around “ribbed,” “textured,” or specialty condoms is honestly just hype. BUT this is not true in every case so try asking your partner to see if she has any preferences before engaging in any sexual acts. I would suggest buying a variety pack so you can try a medley of kinds and also be able to accommodate for any preferences a partner may have. I also suggest buying some non-latex condoms, such as polyurethane or lamb skin, in the case that your partner is allergic to latex.

If you are on a budget and do not have a lot of money to spend on condoms, fear not! There are plenty of resources on campus available to help keep you and your partner(s) safe. The health center sells condoms at a reduced price so you do not have to make a trip to the store. Also, organizations on campus like ReproCo, YoungFems and QnA will often table with condoms. ReproCo recently won 500 Trojan condoms from the Great American Condom Campaign and will be tabling soon, so be on the lookout for us on Wednesdays in the campus center!

Something to keep in mind with condoms is that they do expire, so always double check the expiration date before use. The longer a condom is expired, the higher the probability of it failing, and nobody wants that! Finally, make sure that you never use two condoms at once. It might seem like you’re getting double the protection but they‘re actually more likely to tear this way.

If you have any other questions feel free to email the ReproCo board at [email protected] or come to our weekly meetings which are held in McKinley’s private dining on Wednesdays at 7 p.m.