Condoms are great. They are a relatively inexpensive method of contraception and can greatly reduce the risk of sexually transmitted infections. And there has never been a better selection of materials and quality. If you hate condoms, there’s a good chance you’re using poor quality ones, not using them correctly, or possibly both. Fortunately, we’ve tested to find the best condoms and have recommendations for everyone.
There’s a wide world of tools and toys out there to improve the quality of your sex life, so be sure to check out our other sex-positive buying guides, including the best lubes, the best sex toys, the best clitoral suction toys , the best vibrators and the best sex toys. Machines.
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How to choose (and use) the right condom
The best condom is the one that you are going to use regularly and properly. The best-designed condom is not effective if it doesn’t fit or you don’t know how to put it on. Likewise, the worst condom you can buy still is. more to prevent unplanned pregnancies or sexually transmitted infections When used correctly you don’t use one at all. With this in mind, there are a few things you should consider when purchasing a condom, even beyond our recommendations here:
- What size do you need? Condoms generally come in different sizes, with average-fitting condoms targeting the vast majority of penises, but there are often large or “thin” options. A condom that is too large can slip off, and one that is too small can increase the risk of breakage. Take some time to try different sizes to make sure you get the right one for your needs. Also note that length and girth are not always correlated. If you have a longer but thinner penis, then how far a condom can stretch can be a major deciding factor.
- What allergies do you (or your partner) have? Latex allergies affect between 1 and 6 percent of the populationand if you have one, using a latex condom can cause serious negative reactions. Alternative materials such as lambskin, polyisoprene and polyurethane can prevent allergy problems while providing protection.
- What will you need condoms for? If you want to reduce the risk of transmitting infections such as herpes or HIV or of conceiving a human life during sexual relations, there is no simpler method than a condom. However, there are other scenarios to consider. Some people use condoms during oral sex (partly why we considered smell and taste in our evaluation), and it’s also a good idea to use condoms with any sex toys you plan to share with your partner or partners.
When considering condoms for this guide, we take into account a variety of factors including durability, comfort, and ease of use. Some of these factors will vary from person to person, so you should still try any condoms you buy to see which one works best for you. With that in mind, these are some of the factors we evaluate:
- Size variations. Most condom manufacturers offer some size variations. Wherever possible, we prefer to present condoms that provide consistent quality in multiple size options so you can get a condom that fits you well.
- Material. Latex condoms are the most common, but as mentioned above, there are many latex-free options that are better for people with allergies. Some materials, like polyurethane, may fit looser or break more easily, while newer condoms are (finally) starting to incorporate graphene to improve heat conduction and strengthen them against breakage. We take note of the strengths and weaknesses of different materials during testing.
- Do you need lubricant? Most condoms come lubricated. We took that into account and considered how often we needed to use lube after putting on the condom.
- Price. No one wants to think about the cost per condom when you have sex, but if you’re very active, it can start to add up. That said, a cheap condom that breaks is always more expensive than a more expensive condom that works, so we look for the best balance.
- Taste and smell. Nothing can kill the mood faster than a strange-smelling condom, especially if you plan to use condoms during oral sex. While it will always be a subjective experience, when testing condoms we take the entire sensory experience into account.
