How to choose a condom?

Sex therapist Tatiana Zagorovskaya helps to choose condoms

Text: Tatiana Zagorovskaya

Russian version

In Russia, the market is not as equipped as abroad, but we also have something to choose fr om. Most people, if they were not specifically interested in this topic, see what brands are on sale. Contex, Durex and some others that are not worth buying at all. In general, this is where most people's knowledge is exhausted. In fact, there are more brands of condoms and now they are available in our country.

Let's start with wh ere not to buy condoms, and this is a matter of reliability. Don't buy: in stalls, grocery stores, supermarkets. Because the temperature regime is not always observed. Condoms should be stored at temperatures between +1 and +25 degrees, away from heating appliances and sunlight. That is, in the heat, which was this year in St. Petersburg and Moscow, latex condoms had to lie in the refrigerator.

You should definitely look at the expiration date of condoms, they cannot be used if they become brittle or sticky. And of course, it is better to buy them in pharmacies or on thematic sites.

The next point that we pay attention to when choosing a condom is the size. Size matters because if a condom dangles, it will wrinkle, chafe, and even come off at some point. If the condom is too tight around the penis, then it can simply break in the process, ruining all the pleasure. This “tightening” can provide additional friction, can cause burning, acceleration or slowdown of ejaculation. When we talk about size, we mean the width of the condom, diameter. It is measured in a special way and in some brands of condoms, for example, My.Size – there is a special ruler with which you can measure the penis and find out what size is needed. By the way, they have the widest range of sizes – from 49 to 69.

The second parameter that is meant by size is the thickness of the material from which the condom is made. The sensitivity depends on the thickness. That is, you have probably seen that there are classic condoms, and there are ultra-thin condoms. They differ in material thickness. Pleasure can also be influenced by the ability of the condom to warm up. It makes you feel the warmth of each other, as if the skin touches the skin.

For this, just the next parameter is material. Condoms are available in latex and polyurethane. Latex condoms can cause allergies, polyurethane condoms are hypoallergenic. There are still other materials, but so far, we will divide into two groups, because they are mainly represented.

You've probably heard the name Sagami. These are condoms made of polyurethane, very thin, their thickness is 0.01mm. Through this material we can feel warmth, they fit more tightly, and due to this we can practically feel each other's cells. Polyurethane condoms are very durable and are sometimes said to be more reliable than latex condoms. The only drawback of such condoms is that they are often small and do not stretch well. Therefore, XXL size may only be suitable for an average penis size. Try, experiment and find out which condoms are right for you. Everything is individual.

Condoms that are worthy of attention: this is My.Size – I already said above, they can be picked up right in size. These are condoms Durex, Contex (with a check for counterfeit packaging), Unilatex, Masculan, Skyn (editor's note: Skyn condoms are made from polyisoprene, aka synthetic latex), One, Sagami. And then there are Royal Vegan Condoms – made from materials that have not been tested on animals. They have a delicate taste, aroma and are good for oral sex.

Important! During oral sex, when we perform it in the direction of a man (who does not have a fresh certificate of the absence of STDs and STIs), it is imperative to use a condom, because diseases can be transmitted through the mouth in the same way as through genital contact. During oral sex in the direction of a woman, people often forget that protection is necessary, because there is contact of the mucous membranes. At this point, it is worth using latex wipes, which are intended for oral sex. You can buy them, or you can make your own from condoms.