Condoms are thin, stretchy pouches that are worn on a penis during sex. Condoms provide great protection from both pregnancy and most STDs. They're easy to use and easy to get.
Condoms prevent contact with semen and vaginal fluids, and help limit skin-to-skin contact that can spread sexually transmitted infections.
Lambskin condoms do not protect against STDs. Only latex and plastic condoms do.
How do condoms help protect against STDs?
Using condoms every time you have oral, anal, or vaginal sex is the best way to reduce your chances of getting or spreading sexually transmitted infections. Condoms protect you and your partners from STDs by preventing contact with bodily fluids (like semen and vaginal fluids) that can carry infections. And because condoms cover your penis, they help protect against certain STDs like herpes and genital warts that are spread through skin-to-skin contact (but they're somewhat less effective with these because they don't cover all your skin).
Pro-tip: if you cut a condom up the side, you can open it out and put it over the vulva for safer oral sex there. Condoms are helpful for everyone!
Condoms are the only type of birth control that also help protect against STDs. So even if you're using another form of birth control, it's a good idea to also use condoms to prevent the spread of STDs.
Keep in mind that condoms made of lambskin or other animal membranes DO NOT protect against STDs — they only help prevent pregnancy. Only synthetic condoms (latex or non-latex synthetic) help prevent the spread of STDs.