WHAT THE MEANING OF CONDOM?

                        Condoms, when used consistently and correctly, are the only form of protection that can help stop the transmission of sexually transmitted diseases (STDs) and prevent pregnancy. Condoms are very effective at preventing HIV transmission, and will also help to prevent the transmission of any other infection that's spread through semen or vaginal fluids. However, they are only effective if they're used properly every time you have sex. Condoms are quite simple to use, but like anything, it can take a bit of practice to get it right. To fully understand how to use one, visit our using condoms page.A female condom is similar to a male condom, but is wider and is worn inside a woman's vagina rather than over the penis. It is made of polyurethane rather than latex. The condom has two rings - the ring at the closed end of the female condom is pushed up inside the vagina, while the ring at the open end surrounds the entrance to the vagina. The man's penis is guided into the condom through this ring. There are a range of tests performed by both regulatory agencies and the condom manufacturers to ensure they're safe and strong enough to use during sex. These include electronic testing, the water leak test, the air burst test and the strength test. Visit our condoms page for more information.You need to make sure the condom has not expired, it carries the standards approval mark (either FDA, ISO, CE or the British Standard Kite Mark depending on where you are), and that it has been properly stored. Visit our using condoms page for more information. Studies have shown that when used properly, less than 2 in every 100 condoms fail. Visit our condoms effectiveness page for more information. 

                 Some people claim that condoms have tiny pores or holes in them through which sexually transmitted diseases such as HIV can pass. This is not true. Many studies show that condoms do not have pores big enough for HIV to travel through. Most latex condoms have walls that are approximately .05 mm thick – a virus such as HIV would therefore have to pass through a barrier around 500 times thicker than itself to reach the outside. Condoms are usually made of latex or polyurethane. Latex condoms are more widely available and cheaper, although some people are allergic to them, in which case a polyurethane condom may be more appropriate. To understand more about these two types of condoms and the correct lubricant to use with them visit our using condoms page. Condom use can be traced back several thousand years and were once simply strips of linen. Animal intestines have also provided an alternative to today's more practical latex and polyurethane varieties. 

                 Visit our condoms: effectiveness, history and availability page for a complete history. It will depend on which country you are in, but in most countries you can buy condoms from chemists and supermarkets. Condoms are often available from vending machines in public toilets. In some countries condoms are available free or at low-cost from clinics. They can also be purchased from a variety of websites online.