LETTERS From CAMP Rehoboth

CAMP Safe

The perfect night of passion can be ruined by a condom breaking at the worst possible moment! Sounds familiar, doesn't it? I've been there and done that and I will tell you that it's definitely a downer!

Condom breakage happens to be one of the most common problems that guys are experiencing. Many of the questions we get online, in person, or on the phone are about how to stop condoms from popping in the middle of a passionate pose! So, why do condoms break and how do we get them to stop from breaking? Well, the answer is very individual to the person experiencing a break but here are some common reasons why some of our callers are having trouble with their condoms. Here are six things you can do to help stop a condom from breaking.

Use the right lube and lots of it.

Only water and silicone based lubricants (ID Glide, Gun Oil, ID Millennium, etc) are okay to use with latex condoms. Anything with oil in it (suntan lotion, hand cream, motor oil!) will eat away at the latex material which makes it weaker. Spit may seem like a quick and easy alternative but spit dries up really quickly and leaves you dry as the desert. This increases your chances of that condom breaking. Studies have shown that guys who use plenty of lube on both partners have much fewer condom breakages than guys who just use lube on the condom alone.

Roll it, don't stretch it.

Remember your mother telling you not to stretch out the neck hole in your sweaters? Well, it's the same kind of thing with condoms. Rolling the condom down from the tips puts a lot less stress on the condom, meaning it stays stronger while you're having sex. Roll the condom all the way down to the base of your penis to limit the chance it will come off during sex.

Store your condoms in a safe place

You wouldn't keep your ipod in the freezer, so make sure your keep your condoms in a safe place. Condoms need to kept away from damp, hot places and out of direct sunlight. So, a box in your car, on the windowsill or on your radiator is not good. Condoms can go bad just like milk! Check expiration dates on those condoms in your nightstand and in your travel bag.

Change the condom after 30 minutes

Just like you, condoms can get worn out after 30 minutes. Condoms are more likely to break the longer you use them, so if your going at it like the energizer bunny, take a breather every 30 minutes and put on a new condom.

Use the right size condom

When it comes to condoms, size does matter. Using a condom that is too small for you makes it more likely to break. Using one that is too big for you makes it more likely for it to slip off. We have a variety of sizes at CAMP Rehoboth, so stop by and find one that's right for you.

Just use one condom at a time.

So, follow these tips if you want some uninterrupted passion time! For more information on safer sex and how to make condoms work for you, call Salvatore Seeley at 302-227-5620.

Sal Seeley is Program Director of CAMPsafe, an HIV/AIDS program funded through a contract with the Delaware Division of Public Health. E-mail salvatoreseeley@aol.com. Confidential HIV testing is available at CAMP Rehoboth. Call Sal at 302-227-5620 to schedule an appointment.

LETTERS From CAMP Rehoboth, Vol. 18, No. 14 October 10, 2008