How To Choose A Condom That Will Actually Make Sex With Your Boyfriend Better
Make safe sex even more enjoyable.
Getty When it comes to your sexual health, you probably already know that using condoms in your relationships is a smart choice. No matter if you're dating or having regular sex with your boyfriend or girlfriend, finding the right one will enhance your intimacy and sex life.
So if you think condoms aren’t for you, you just haven’t found the right one yet.
If your boyfriend’s a condom skeptic, there's a way to get him excited to use them! Converting non-believers to a better sex life with condoms is definitely possible, and if you or your boyfriend don't feel like you're benefiting from the use of condoms in your sex life, the problem might be as simple as picking and using the wrong type of condom type.
Everyone is told to use condoms. Ad nauseum. But very, very few are taught how to choose condoms.
So if you file yourself in the “love-to-hate” condom category, you’re sleeping with someone who is a condom foe, or even if you’re just curious about better sex with condoms.
Here are the top 4 things you need to know about how to choose a condom that will help you and your boyfriend have better sex:
1. Condoms aren’t one-size-fits-all.
Condom size is the most critical factor in increasing safety and pleasure with condoms.
Have you ever worn running shoes that didn’t fit well? Whether the shoes gave you blisters, slid at your heel or cramped your toes, you understand that an ill-fitting shoe is at best distracting and at worst downright painful.
Just like a perfect-fitting shoe, a well-fitting condom will allow you (and your partner) to forget about the condom and focus purely on pleasure.
2. Condoms are available in three basic size categories.
Smaller (snug-fit, more secure) condoms are the best option for 35 percent of men. If you’ve ever had sex and the condom slipped around or came off inside of you (and yes, that does happen) — or if your partner’s chief complaint is that wearing condoms feels like a plastic bag — you might benefit from trying a slimmer-than-standard condom.
If your partner would benefit from a slightly-smaller-than-standard condom yet doesn’t need a true “snugfit condom,” there are a few excellent Japanese condoms that are simply narrower than standard condoms. These include some of the thinnest condoms on the market—so there will be very little getting between you and your partner.
Standard condoms are the best option for 50 percent of men. If your partner is in this category, you’ll have a wealth of condoms from around the world to choose from. That includes lots of premium options that are likely superior to anything you’ve tried before.
And the secret here is exploring better condoms than what you can find at the supermarket or other local store. This is why condom samplers, which allow you to try 12 different condoms without having to buy 12 different boxes, are both an affordable and adventurous option!
Larger condoms are the best option for 15 percent of men. If your partner has a history of broken condoms and serious discomfort when it comes to wearing condoms, he’s likely been using condoms that were too small. He’d definitely benefit from trying a larger, wider condom.
Many condom users first (and sometimes only) experience with larger condoms is the Trojan Magnum. Unfortunately for many couples, Magnum condoms feel thick, smell rubbery, and some women find the lube irritating. Happily, there are many other options.
It’s also good to be aware that there are also a number of between-size condom options available that bridge the gap between “standard” and “large” size condoms.
3. Play with different shapes, materials and flavors.
Not all condoms in the same size range will feel the same to you or your partner. You won’t like some, and you’ll love others.
The good news is there are so many options to explore that you're guaranteed to find one that works for you and your boyfriend. In fact, lots of condom users like to switch up the shape, texture, and flavor of their condoms to match their mood.
And while high-quality condoms are typically well worth the price, it’s important to choose a condom that fits your boyfriend's body, your lifestyle, and your budget — so that you keep using them and practicing safe sex.
4. Give your condom some help from lube.
The truth is most everyone's sex life can benefit greatly from some high-quality lubrication. However, there are many myths that may be keeping it out of your bedroom.
Do you think you need to be a certain age to use lube? You don’t! Are you afraid that using lube might mean that there's something wrong with your sex life? Really, nothing could be further from the truth!
For condom users, extra lube has some major benefits. Not only will it ensure that your condom is less likely to break during sex, simply put, exposing your most delicate parts to latex will dry you up — no matter how excited (or young) you may be. In fact, a study published in the Journal of Sexual Medicine that looked at people’s arousal levels with and without condoms found that men who used a condom without lube were slightly less aroused than those who didn’t use a condom or lube.
And the best part? The study found that men who used a condom with lube got just as aroused as those who didn’t use a condom at all!
It’s time to declare your days of condom mediocrity officially over. Your sex life will thank you. And your boyfriend will recognize you for the wise and sexy goddess (and condom expert) you are.
Melissa White is a condom expert and the CEO of Lucky Bloke, a company that raises global awareness about condom use, proper fit, and safety. Melissa educates smart men and women about the benefits of safe sex — and teaches them how to make using condoms fun, too.