Young People's Guide to
Sexually Transmitted Diseases (STDs)
and AIDS/HIV Disease
- Index of images
- Complete list of STDs
- Short STD guide in various languages
- Reproductive anatomy Diagrams
Table of Contents
- Introduction
- Message to parents
- Anatomy of the sex organs
- Physiology of the sex organs
- STDs
- How to check yourself for STDs
- AIDS
- How to prevent getting STDs and AIDS
- How to use a condom
HOW TO USE A CONDOM
Summary
- Use a new condom each time.
- Squeeze air out of the condom tip and place it on end of penis. Penis should be hard
first.
- Roll condom down over penis.
- After the man comes, he should hold the penis and the condom while taking them out
of the vagina to prevent the condom from slipping off and to avoid a spill.
- Condom should be thrown away and not reused.
- Both partners should wash their sex parts with soap and water.
How do I talk to my partner about using condoms?
First of all, it is best to talk about using condoms before having sex and not just at the last minute even though it is not easy to do. Wanting to use a condom means that you care about your partner and yourself. It is best to be honest with your partner. If you find it impossible to talk about, it may be an indication that you may be too immature to be having sex after all. There is nothing wrong with waiting until you are a bit older and more mature to have sex .
What kind of condom should be used?
You should always use latex condoms since they offer more protection than the natural ones. Natural skin condoms are made of sheep intestines and some germs can pass through them. The natural skin condoms are much more expensive and are not as easy to find in the stores these days anyway and the newer latex ones are more sensitive than them. The brand of condom is not that important since all condoms sold in the US are required to pass an inspection. Condoms come in different sizes and colors and some are lubricated and some have a coating that contains a chemical (called nonoxynol-9) to kill sperm. You will find which condom you like the best by trial and error. You can ask your friends which ones they like and try different ones. Condom packages have an expiration date on the that you should check to see if they are fresh. Also you should store condoms in a place where they won't be damaged by heat or pressure. This means not keeping them in your wallet in your back pants pocket where they may become crushed and damaged.
What is the little bulge at the end of most condoms?
Most condoms have a little bulge at the tip that acts as a reservoir to collect semen. You should pinch this tip to get the air out of it while you are putting it on. The reason you do not want air inside the condom once it is on your penis is that it will make more friction which will make it easier to break. The most common reason for condoms breaking is air bubbles inside them. It also makes the man feel a little less too. Another reason for condoms breaking is lack of lubrication.
Should lubrication be used with a condom?
A woman will produce a natural lubrication but it is not always enough and using an artificial lubricant can be helpful. A lubricant is the liquid that makes the sex parts(vagina and penis) slippery. It is important to use a water-based lubricant and never use a fat-based one. Oils including baby oil and Vaseline should never be used as they will actually dissolve the condom. KY Jelly or any lubricant specifically made for this purpose are the best. You can also put a little lubricant on the head of the penis before putting on the condom to increase the sensitivity during sex. Many condoms come with a lubricant covering them. Although it is not the best, many people use saliva (spit) as a lubricant.
When should the condom be put on?
The penis should be erect(hard) before putting on the condom. The condom should be put on before it gets near the vagina. Some guys will say that they want to start sex without the condom and stop before they come and put one on then. This is unsafe because you are both being exposed to germs if they are present. After pinching the reservoir tip with one hand, use the other hand to roll the condom down over the erect penis while taking care to smooth out any air bubbles that may form while you are doing this.
When should the condom be removed?
After the man has an orgasm (comes), the penis starts to gets smaller and the condom may slip off. Of course this could be dangerous so the man should withdraw the penis out of the vagina while at the same time holding on to the condom and the penis to prevent it's slipping off and spilling the semen. Hold on to the ring at the end of the condom as the penis is removed from the vagina. The condom should slide off easily. It should be thrown away and never reused. Don't flush it down the toilet but put it in the trash instead. When you flush it down the toilet it has a good chance of winding up in a river or the ocean as pollution.
What about oral sex?
Oral sex is safer than unprotected sex in the vagina or anal sex but that does not mean it is safe. There have been cases of AIDS that have been spread by oral sex and it is certainly possible to spread STDs such as herpes, gonorrhea, syphilis and others by oral sex. A condom should be used on a man's penis if someone is going to put their mouth on it. There are unlubricated and flavored condoms available. If someone was going to perform oral sex on a woman, a piece of plastic wrap such as Saran Wrap should be used to cover the vagina. It may sound strange but it could prevent you from getting a disease. It is important to keep semen and vaginal fluids out of the mouth since it is these fluids that can contain the AIDS virus and the germs of other sexually transmitted diseases. Remember that using protection such as a condom shows that you care about your partner.