EVERYTHING YOU NEED TO KNOW ABOUT CONDOMS AND LUBE

Condoms and lube...best friends or unlikely allies? It seems like putting something slick on something rubbery would result in mediocre chemistry, yet the truth is that condoms and lubrication are perfectly suited to each other. It’s a complete love connection.

The first thing you need to know is that condoms are an excellent, easy way to prevent you from catching anything unsavory. Regrettably, the fun part of exchanging fluids comes along with a few hazards, such as the risk for STD’s transferred from a partner. Keep your beautiful body healthy, by being aware of what it takes to make sex safer.

Lubrication can even help condoms to do the job better than going without! Too much friction without the added benefit of lube can stress the condom. Additional moisture eases the tension during movement. Your protection could break under pressure, and when are condoms not useful for this all-important task? When they become torn or damaged. Encouraging your condom to perform at optimal capacity with a water-based lubricant will equal a safe, happy, entirely intact ending, that you’ll both appreciate. Plus, a malfunction is sincerely bad for romance when you are in the heat of a big moment. A rip in the condom stirs up stress and dismay, counterproductive elements to hot magical sex.

Only use water-based or silicone lubricants that are latex safe to ensure that your condom will be effective throughout the act. You can add some in the tip, all over the outside, and you can reapply during sex. Pull out, apply, reentry and repeat. Don’t overdo it though, slathering it on in excess can cause the condom to skid and slip off.

Oils, creams and petroleum jelly can degrade the exterior, making a condom more prone to breakage. So don’t just reach for whatever happens to be available nearby. Spontaneity is sexual seasoning, but just say “no” to that hand cream on the nightstand or the jar of olive oil in the kitchen (“let’s make dinner later...,” yes, later on after you’ve shopped for water-based lube). Latex has chemical properties that make it susceptible to fatty acids, which weaken the bonds. Weaker bonds produce instability, and instability leads to...the dark side. Don’t obliterate your smart decision to use a condom for safe sex by following it up with the immensely unwise, evil decision to use a product that could injure the integrity of that condom.

Also, if you don’t know each other’s last names, you probably don’t want to procreate together. Condoms are good for that too - but for many, latex can be a bit off-putting. Fear not - some water-based lubricants offer tasty flavors like chocolate and strawberry, which can offset any latex smell or lingering taste on skin. So there’s actually a bunch of really great reasons to add in a little lube when you are sliding a condom on.

Let’s not forget that lubrication’s main gig is to create a comfortable environment, so that all of the machinery slides together smoothly. Condoms shield and lube safeguards, so the advantage is that you don’t have to choose safety over bliss!