2008 Woodie Awards
CONDOMANIA
Rechelle Jackson
Copy Desk Staff
Issue date: 2/11/08 Section: Arts & Culture
The time of year has come for loved ones to publicly and privately showcase their feelings for one another. It is unrealistic to assume that no one will be intimate this Valentine's Day, but students should remember that while the loving may be good, it is also important to be careful.
Condoms are the number one form of contraceptives on the market today and are used to prevent pregnancies and the spread of sexually transmitted diseases. By taking a couple of minutes to put a condom on, an unexpected life can be prevented and a life can be saved from infection.
Before use, the condom should be checked to make sure it is FDA approved and that the expiration date has not passed.
Below is a list of condoms that range from flavorful to old fashioned latex. Whether they are being used as a contraceptive method or just for bedroom fun, it is important to know what kind is offered and how to use them.
Male Latex Condoms
These are the most common types on the market and range in price from about $7 to $8 a dozen. Their drawbacks are their bad taste for oral sex and that water based lubricants are the only ones that can be used with them. Oil based lubricants like hand lotion or Vaseline can make a latex condom break.
Male Natural/Sheepskin Condoms
These condoms are actually made of lamb intestines, not sheepskin and are preferred because they "feel more natural." The price is a little more expensive being around $20 for a dozen.
These are only good for protection against pregnancy, not against STDs. Any type of lubricant (oil or water based) may be used with these condoms.
Female Polyurethane (Plastic) Condoms
The female condom is sold under the brand name, "Reality" and is only good for vaginal intercourse.
They are made of polyurethane and any lubricant can be used with them. They cost $3 each, and are usually sold in packs of three.
They have a higher failure rate than latex condoms because they are more difficult to insert and use. These cannot be used for anal intercourse.
Glo in the Dark
This is the only FDA approved glow-in-the-dark condom that is intended to prevent pregnancy and STDs.
The Night Light condom is non-toxic and will glow after about 30 seconds of exposure to ordinary light.
The Night Light Glow-In-The-Dark Condom is made of three layers. The inner and the outer layer consist of regular latex while the third layer contains a safe pigment that begins to glow and is sealed between the two latex layers.
Flavored
The flavor in these condoms may be contained in the lubricant or directly on the condom. Some flavored condoms are even colored to match the flavor - such as red for strawberry flavored or yellow for banana flavored.
Flavors can include mint, grape, orange, banana, strawberry and even chocolate, vanilla and cola. These condoms are meant to add a yummy dimension to oral sex, and many of the brands are also FDA approved for strength and protection.
If planning to use these condoms for vaginal sex, make sure they are sugar-free as sugar flavored condoms can throw off the pH in the vagina, which can lead to yeast infections.
Studded
These condoms are shaped and textured to increase pleasure for the female, male or both partners.
Some of these condoms have two sections of ribs on the top and at the base, which adds stimulation in just the right places for females.
Others contain hundreds of raised studs on the outside for female satisfaction and/or on the inside to enhance male enjoyment.
The condoms that are marketed for mutual pleasure tend to be wider, have bulb-like tips and a more contoured shape, which increases male comfort and allows nerve endings to remain at their most sensitive state - thus adding significantly more pleasure for him.
Edible
There are different brands of edible condoms that can be chosen.
They usually come in packs of four and are available in a variety of flavors.
The condom is rolled on, and then can be eaten off. Edible condoms are for novelty use only and they do not provide any type of protection against pregnancy or STDs.
Colored
Condoms are available in almost every color; in fact, one can even find tri-colored condoms that feature the national colors of 36 countries, such as America, France, Spain, Russia and Italy.
Dual-color condoms are also available, which may be fun to use during the holidays, like a black and orange condom for Halloween, red and green for Christmas and pink and red for Valentine's Day.
French Ticklers
These condoms either have a soft rubber tickler tip or are made of soft jelly.
Tickler condoms fit over the penis and come in various styles of nodules, nubs and ridges and shapes that provide stimulation by "tickling" the inner walls of the vagina.
These condoms are considered to be novelty types, so they do not provide protection against pregnancy or STDs.
If the woman is not on hormonal birth control pills, a man can wear a regular condom underneath the tickler to ensure contraceptive protection
Condoms are the number one form of contraceptives on the market today and are used to prevent pregnancies and the spread of sexually transmitted diseases. By taking a couple of minutes to put a condom on, an unexpected life can be prevented and a life can be saved from infection.
Before use, the condom should be checked to make sure it is FDA approved and that the expiration date has not passed.
Below is a list of condoms that range from flavorful to old fashioned latex. Whether they are being used as a contraceptive method or just for bedroom fun, it is important to know what kind is offered and how to use them.
Male Latex Condoms
These are the most common types on the market and range in price from about $7 to $8 a dozen. Their drawbacks are their bad taste for oral sex and that water based lubricants are the only ones that can be used with them. Oil based lubricants like hand lotion or Vaseline can make a latex condom break.
Male Natural/Sheepskin Condoms
These condoms are actually made of lamb intestines, not sheepskin and are preferred because they "feel more natural." The price is a little more expensive being around $20 for a dozen.
These are only good for protection against pregnancy, not against STDs. Any type of lubricant (oil or water based) may be used with these condoms.
Female Polyurethane (Plastic) Condoms
The female condom is sold under the brand name, "Reality" and is only good for vaginal intercourse.
They are made of polyurethane and any lubricant can be used with them. They cost $3 each, and are usually sold in packs of three.
They have a higher failure rate than latex condoms because they are more difficult to insert and use. These cannot be used for anal intercourse.
Glo in the Dark
This is the only FDA approved glow-in-the-dark condom that is intended to prevent pregnancy and STDs.
The Night Light condom is non-toxic and will glow after about 30 seconds of exposure to ordinary light.
The Night Light Glow-In-The-Dark Condom is made of three layers. The inner and the outer layer consist of regular latex while the third layer contains a safe pigment that begins to glow and is sealed between the two latex layers.
Flavored
The flavor in these condoms may be contained in the lubricant or directly on the condom. Some flavored condoms are even colored to match the flavor - such as red for strawberry flavored or yellow for banana flavored.
Flavors can include mint, grape, orange, banana, strawberry and even chocolate, vanilla and cola. These condoms are meant to add a yummy dimension to oral sex, and many of the brands are also FDA approved for strength and protection.
If planning to use these condoms for vaginal sex, make sure they are sugar-free as sugar flavored condoms can throw off the pH in the vagina, which can lead to yeast infections.
Studded
These condoms are shaped and textured to increase pleasure for the female, male or both partners.
Some of these condoms have two sections of ribs on the top and at the base, which adds stimulation in just the right places for females.
Others contain hundreds of raised studs on the outside for female satisfaction and/or on the inside to enhance male enjoyment.
The condoms that are marketed for mutual pleasure tend to be wider, have bulb-like tips and a more contoured shape, which increases male comfort and allows nerve endings to remain at their most sensitive state - thus adding significantly more pleasure for him.
Edible
There are different brands of edible condoms that can be chosen.
They usually come in packs of four and are available in a variety of flavors.
The condom is rolled on, and then can be eaten off. Edible condoms are for novelty use only and they do not provide any type of protection against pregnancy or STDs.
Colored
Condoms are available in almost every color; in fact, one can even find tri-colored condoms that feature the national colors of 36 countries, such as America, France, Spain, Russia and Italy.
Dual-color condoms are also available, which may be fun to use during the holidays, like a black and orange condom for Halloween, red and green for Christmas and pink and red for Valentine's Day.
French Ticklers
These condoms either have a soft rubber tickler tip or are made of soft jelly.
Tickler condoms fit over the penis and come in various styles of nodules, nubs and ridges and shapes that provide stimulation by "tickling" the inner walls of the vagina.
These condoms are considered to be novelty types, so they do not provide protection against pregnancy or STDs.
If the woman is not on hormonal birth control pills, a man can wear a regular condom underneath the tickler to ensure contraceptive protection
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