National Condom Week

National Condom Week! February 14 - 21

Every year during Valentine’s Day week, we at Planned Parenthood of South, East and North Florida observe National Condom Week. Everyone deserves a sex life that is safe, healthy, and pleasurable. Using condoms is a great form of self-care, community-care, and a way to contribute to public health.  

In honor of these observances, we’re breaking down all your condom-related questions. From the basics to tips and tricks, keep reading to learn why you should put one on before you get it on every time you have sex!   

Some condoms are red. 

Some condoms are blue. 

All condoms help make sex safe. 

And so can you! 

It’s important to let your partner know that you want to keep each other healthy by using condoms every time you have sex, the whole time you’re having sex.  

If your partner says they are not fans of condoms, try using lubricant! Lube and condoms are best friends — lube makes condoms feel better and helps keep them from breaking or pulling off, so they work better to protect you from pregnancy and sexually transmitted infections (STIs). Water-based or silicone lubes are always safe to use with any kind of condom.  

Pulling out, or withdrawal, is a method of birth control that can prevent pregnancy. But pulling out can be tricky, so it's not guaranteed to work every single time, and pulling out does not protect you from STIs.  

This video explains the risk of using the pull-out method as your only form of birth control, and why you should always try to use a condom when having sex.  

No! Condoms are thought to be about 87% effective, which means that 13 out of 100 people who use condoms as their only form of birth control will get pregnant each year. The better you are about using condoms correctly every time you have sex, the better they’ll work, but there’s a small chance that you will get pregnant even if you always use them the right way. 

To get the best protection from pregnancy, explore using another form of birth control, like an IUD or implant! 

There are many varieties of condoms to choose from – latex, non-latex, ribbed, sizes, and more – to meet the needs of you and your partners. Other great options include barrier methods, like internal condoms or dental dams.  

When it comes to effectiveness, using condoms correctly every time you have sex is more important than buying a certain brand.  

All latex and plastic condoms provide similar protection against pregnancy and STIs. Whether they’re flavored, ribbed or studded, or just regular condoms, just check the box or wrapper to make sure it says that the condom protects against both STDs and pregnancy, as well as the expiration date to ensure it’s still good to use. 

No. Putting on a condom might take some getting used to, but it does not interfere with the ability to maintain an erection unless it is the wrong size or type of condom for you. 

Condoms that are too tight or cause skin irritation can cause you to lose your erection. If you’re experiencing discomfort using condoms, you should check if you have a latex allergy. It’s worth trying other brands until you find the perfect fit. You can also work with your partner to find a good lubricant. 

Condoms help you and your partner practice safe sex. You can check out this blog post for more information about the different types of condoms and which one might be best for you! 

Boxes of 3 cost about $2 to $6. Condoms usually cost less than $1 each if you buy packs of 12 or more.  You can also walk into any Planned Parenthood of South, East and North Florida health center and ask for free samples any time you need them!  

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Condoms that are too tight may break and condoms that are too big could slip off or cause semen to leak. All of these increase your risk of STIs or unintended pregnancy. 

The best way to figure out what size condom you need is to try different ones. Start with a regular condom. Does it roll on easily and stay in place? It’s the right size. If it feels loose or seems to slip off, go for a smaller size. (They’re labeled “small” or “snug.”) And if it’s painfully tight or looks like it’ll tear, try a bigger size. Start with “large” or magnum” condoms. If those are still too tight, try “extra large” or “XL.” 

You may be surprised to learn there are five steps to ensuring you’re using an external condom correctly! Check out this video from the Planned Parenthood education team to learn all the steps.  

Yes! Condoms last a long time, but they break down with age and when they’re not stored properly. No matter where you get your condoms, check them out before use. Make sure the wrapper doesn’t have holes or leaks and the expiration date hasn’t passed. 

Yes! Condoms are the only form of birth control that also prevent Sexually Transmitted Infections (STIs). While condoms do offer great protection against STIs, they are not 100 percent effective, so STI testing is recommended each year or before each new sex partner. 

One important thing to note however, is that while most condoms and barrier methods prevent the spread of STIs, lambskin condoms do not. The best choice for protection from both STIs and unintended pregnancy is a latex or non-latex condom. 

Even if you didn’t use a condom the first time or the first 20 times, it's never too late to start and still prevent future health issues!