Condoms

A condom is a device, usually made of latex, or more recently polyurethane, that is used during sexual intercourse. It is put on a male partner's penis, for the purpose of preventing pregnancy and/or transmission of sexually transmitted diseases (STDs) such as gonorrhea, syphilis and HIV. more...

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Overview

Male condoms are packaged in a rolled-up form, and are designed to be applied to the tip of the penis and then rolled over the erect penis. They are most commonly made from latex, but are also available in other materials. As a method of contraception, condoms have the advantage of being easy to use, having few side-effects, and of offering protection against sexually transmitted diseases. With proper knowledge and application technique - and use at every act of intercourse - condom users experience only a 2% per-year pregnancy rate. Condoms may be combined with other forms of contraception (such as spermicide) for greater protection.

Some couples find that putting on a male condom interrupts sex, although others incorporate condom application as part of their foreplay. Some men and women find the physical barrier of a condom dulls sensation. Advantages of dulled sensation can include prolonged erection and delayed ejaculation.

Materials

Latex

Most modern condoms are made of latex. This material has outstanding elastic properties. Tensile strength exceeds 30 MPa. Condoms may be stretched in excess of 800% before breaking. Natural latex condoms have a minimum thickness of 0.046 mm.

Some latex condoms are lubricated at the manufacturer with a small amount of nonoxynyl-9, a spermicidal chemical. According to Consumer Reports, spermicidally lubricated condoms have no additional benefit in preventing pregnancy, have a shorter shelf life, and may cause urinary-tract infections in women. The World Health Organization says that spermicidally lubricated condoms should no longer be promoted. However, they recommend using a nonoxynol-9 lubricated condom over no condom at all.

In contrast, application of separately packaged spermicide is believed to increase the contraceptive efficacy of condoms.

Polyurethane

Polyurethane can be considered better than latex in several ways: it conducts heat better than latex, is not as sensitive to temperature and ultraviolet light (and so has less rigid storage requirements and a longer shelf life), can be used with oil-based lubricants, is less allergenic than latex, and does not have an odor.

Read more at Wikipedia.org