There are now so many different condoms available from many different manufacturers, condoms come in different shapes, sizes, colours, flavours and now using different materials that have many benefits on and above latex. Each condom brand produces condoms that are sized slightly differently and this can make a huge difference to the experience of using a condom. There has never been a better time to experiment and find out which condom best suited you and your partner. If you find condoms uncomfortable we are sure that with a little experimentation you will find the right condom for you.
So which condom best suites you and your partner?
First of all if either partner has an allergy to latex, this will significantly reduce the options available to you. Currently condoms are made from three main material groups;
- Latex (Rubber) condoms
- Polyurethane derivatives
- Natural animal gut (Lambskin Condom)
So with an allergy to latex (rubber) you are left with the options of Polyurethane and natural gut (most often Lambskin condoms).
Polyurethane condoms have improved dramatically and have a number of advantages over the normal latex condoms. Polyurethane condoms are thinner, tend to be stronger, less restricting and more resistant to tears. Because of the material they also transfer/conduct heat much better than latex condoms. This improves sensitivity making the sexual experience much more natural.
Lambskin condoms also conduct heat better than their latex counterparts and reviews suggest that they have a fabulous natural feel over latex and Polyurethane condoms. Lambskin condoms pre-date latex condoms and are made from lamb intestine and act as a a good contraceptive. However Lambskin condoms do not give as good protection against sexually transmitted infections. The reason, lambskin condoms have pores which while small enough to act as a barrier to sperm, are not small enough to provide as much protection against Sti’s. It is possible for the molecules in some Sti’s to penetrate the pores in Lambskin condoms. So if you are going to use Lambskin condoms it is suggested that you do so to prevent pregnancy in a stable monogamous relationship where both partners have been tested and are clear of any known Sti’s.
Latex (Rubber) condoms have the greatest range of variations in the marketplace. You can get different sizes, colours, flavours, shapes, thicknesses, textures and more and more variations are appearing. Long gone are the times of ‘one condom fits all’. It is now possible to experiment with a varied range of condoms to find the ones that suit you and your partner the best. Lets have a look at some of the variations.
Condom Sizes:
First of all most condom brands make condoms of a difference size to each other. In other words Brand A’s standard condom is slightly different size to Brand B’s. For this reason alone it is worth trying out different brands of condoms to find out which tends to fit the best for you. When we talk about the size of condoms we are talking about length and width. Length is pretty straight forward from tip (end of the reservoir) to the base (the rim or bead of the condoms). Width however can differ at various points up and down the condom. It is for this reason that we at Condom Girl have decided to measure the width at Base, width of the shaft and width at the head of the condom.
The most straightforward variation in size is smaller and larger. Condoms now vary in length from 160mm to over 210mm. Condoms can vary in width (of shaft) from 49mm all the way up to over 60mm. This is great news for those whom have a penis at either end of the spectrum. Different brands address these size variations differently. Some increase the overall size of all measurements and some increase width whilst keeping the length relatively constant and visa versa.
Some brands are now producing condoms with different “fits”. Probably the best known of these is Durex’s easy on condoms. These are slightly wider at the base of the condoms in an effort to make it easier to roll the condom down the length of the penis. Other brands are also beginning to use this method.
Condom Thickness:
The thickness (of material) of the condoms can make a great deal of difference to the experience. Latex condoms come in increasingly varied thicknesses from 0.05mm all the way up to 0.1mm. The thickness of latex in a condom can vary from the stated thickness by up to 0.02mm. This is mainly due to the manufacturing process in which glass formers are dipped into liquid latex for a specific time. The quality of each batch of latex can vary and therefore the thickness of the material may vary accordingly.
It is possible to get the thickness of Polyurethane condoms down to as little as 0.015mm. The main reason for this is that Polyurethane is stronger than latex and consequently can give the same level of protection whilst only being 0.015mm thick.
Condom Texture:
Other than differences in material, condoms now come with very different textures. In an effort to ensure extra stimulation and increased sensitivity, condoms can be ribbed, dotted, ribbed and dotted at various places up and down the condoms. Each brand produces condoms with different sizes and quantities of dots and ribs, there is such a variance that only experimenting with different products will you find what works for you.
Condom Shapes:
Condoms now come in different shapes. This is one of the latest advances in the world of condoms. We touched on shapes in ‘Size’. There are condoms with pouches under the head of the penis (Pleasure Plus), there are spiralled (Inspirals and the Trojan Double Spiral) condoms which are shaped to encourage a spring action, there are curved condoms, dolphin shaped condoms and many more. Most of the different shapes we would describe as contours. In other words the condoms have been shaped to either improve the ease of fitting the condom or to improve the sensation or to improve performance. Again the only way to find out what works for you and your partner is a little experimentation.
Condom Flavour:
There are so many flavours available now in condoms that I am surprise that we have not seen them appearing on the cooking programs. Flavours include; Banana, Banana Shake, Orange, Orange Soda, Strawberry, Vanilla, Chocolate, Hot Chocolate, Mint, Spearmint, Kiwi, Blueberry, Tutti Fruitti, Coconut, Apple, Strawberry Sundae, just to name a few.
Condom Colour:
Just like flavours condoms now come in myriad colours, including glow in the dark versions (for an stimulating dance routine!) to add a little extra fun!
The Condom Girl message has to be ‘experiment and have fun searching for what works for you and your partner’.
Have fun