Condumb? Lets get smart people.

Lets be honest people. 75% of my daily conversations are about sex, relationships and the like and a large amount of people don't use ANY sort protection when their having sex! We've all heard the talks abotu why you should use em, and here's a little section on ALL of the different kinds and how to put em on. Come on now people!

Let get down to business. I'm going to do my little public service announcement before we begin. If you're going to have sex, there really is only one way to protect yourself from contracting an STI, and that's by practicing safe sex. And it can't just be safe sex some of the time, or even most of the time...it HAS to be every time. The best and easiest way to protect yourself from STIs is to use either a male or female condom.

The Male Condom
How they work: The condom fits over an erect penis and collects semen after a guy ejaculates. This way, sperm never enter a girl's vagina.

The Good: Latex condoms will keep you protected against most STIs. They're cheap, easy to buy (check out your nearest drugstore), and small enough to carry around. They're pretty easy to use, too, but don't forget, the penis must be erect before you can put it on.

The not so Good: Unfortunately, condoms aren't 100% foolproof. Nothing is. Condoms are really good protection, but the sad truth is that it's impossible to have sex that is 100% safe. Condoms (or any other method) won't completely protect you from STIs like Herpes or HPV. Or, the condom could break when you open the package, especially if you have long nails. They can also break during sex if they're not put on correctly or you forget to remove the air from its tip, so make sure to read the instructions in the box. Or they can leak if they're not taken off correctly, so make sure the penis is still erect when you take it off.

The Great: Male condoms are really easy to get. You can buy a box at the drugstore or you can grab them for free at your nearest family planning clinic. They come in all types of sizes and varieties, even flavors, so experiment to find out which ones you like the best.

The Female Condom
How it Works: The female condom is like a thin plastic "baggie" that fits upside-down in the vagina. The closed end is held inside by a flexible ring attached to the condom, and a larger ring holds the open end outside of the vagina. The pouch collects semen and prevents it from entering your vagina.

The Good: It protects against most STIs, it can be inserted up to 8 hours before sex, and it's a great option for couples who are allergic to latex.

The Not-So-Good: Initially, it's a bit of a pain to insert them correctly (but keep trying!), and you have to careful to make sure the guy's penis doesn't slip in around the outside ring, pushing the condom aside. Don't forget to remove it after sex, before you stand up. They're also more expensive then male condoms.

The Great: Female condoms are easy to get. Check your nearest drugstore, or drop by your local family planning clinic to get one.

It's no wonder that so many people use condoms. Protecting yourself from STIs is really important and, if you're going to have sex, condoms are your best bet at staying safe. There's really no good excuse for not using them - they're cheap (or free) and easy to use.