PRIME – Condoms plus

In this programme we will tell you everything you need to know about condoms. Using condoms every time you have anal sex is very effective protection against HIV. They also protect you from many other sexually transmitted infections.

Choosing the right condoms for you

Not all condoms are the same – they come in different sizes, and different brands will have a different feel.  It’s worth taking some time by yourself to try lots of them out to choose the ones that are most comfortable for you. Make sure they’re in date – there should always be an expiry date on the packaging.

https://youtu.be/u3eIsxZOvRc

Using a condom properly

Using a condom is really easy, but it’s worth taking a little time to learn how to do it properly. Have a look at our demo video here.

Take some time to practice when you’re by yourself so you’ll feel confident when you’re with a partner.  Make sure the fit feels right – if you’re having trouble rolling it down or if it’s uncomfortable then it’s probably too tight.  It if feels baggy, it’s too loose and could slip off.

Using two condoms won’t make them any safer –in fact that can make them more likely to break so don’t double-bag!  Using lots of lube will reduce friction and enhance comfort; it will also prevent the small breaks in the skin that could be an entry point for HIV and other STIs, so you really can’t use too much.  Just make sure it’s water-based as anything oil-based can make break the condom break.

If you’re a trans man using condoms for anal and frontal sex, make sure your partner changes condoms between front and back. Using the same condom can cause infection.

Make condoms sexy

Some people fear that condoms will be a barrier to intimacy and sexual pleasure.  Thinking about how you make them a part of foreplay means the reverse can be true.  You can get some ideas in our article here:

http://prime.dean.st/2017/08/01/foreplay-and-condoms/

and our video from Gabriel Phoenix here:

How effective are condoms?

Condoms offer excellent protection against HIV along with other blood-borne viruses like hepatitis B and C, a bonus you don’t get with PrEP which protects you against HIV only.

Condoms can also protect you against other STIs like chlamydia, gonorrhoea and syphilis but we recommend you still get a full check-up regularly as these infections are more easily spread by oral sex or intimate genital contact.

Be prepared.

One difficulty with condoms is having them in the right place at the right time.  It helps to have a good supply at home, when you’re on holidays and one or two in your wallet in case sex happens when you least expect it.

If you are forgetting more than once and having anal sex without condoms, maybe it’s time to think again about PrEP? PrEP also provides protection against HIV.

Ooops!  What to do when it breaks…

Don’t panic.  The first thing to work out is whether you need PEP.  PEP is HIV medicine taken for 28 days taken soon after a possible risk.  It should be started soon as possible after sex – the sooner the better.  It won’t be of any benefit if it’s been more than 72 hours.  We will see you urgently at 56 Dean Street if you think you might need PEP, and A&E departments are able to start PEP when the clinic is closed. Evidence suggests PEP may reduce the chances of HIV infection by approximately 80%.

Our questionnaire can help you decide if you might need PEP.

If you’re a trans man and the condom breaks during front hole sex, you might also need emergency contraception (EC).  You can get this from us, from a pharmacy or (as a last resort) from A&E.

It’s natural to be worried about STIs after a condom break, but there’s no point in checking right away.  It can take up to 2 weeks to show up on our tests if you’ve picked up chlamydia and gonorrhoea, and up to 4 weeks if you’ve picked up syphilis or HIV.  Think about this when deciding when to book your check-up.

Condoms and sex toys

Using a condom to cover a sex toy can help prevent infections. If you are sharing sex toys with someone, make sure you change the condom each time the toy is passed from one person to another. Make sure the fit is right – tight enough to stay on, but not stretched or it could break.  As ever, use plenty of lube.

Staying hard with a condom

For some men, the time it takes to put a condom on can interrupt being sexual with someone, and that can be a time when worry or distraction can set in. This activates your body’s “fight or flight” response which can make you lose your erection.  You can learn more about this in our video here:

It’s normal for all men to lose their erections sometimes, but if this keeps happening when you use condoms it can set up a vicious cycle where the more your worry about staying hard, the more that worry makes you lose your erection.  It’s worth taking the time when you’re by yourself to practice losing and gaining erections with a condom. Our step-by-step guide here will lead you through this.