Have you ever been there? You meet this gorgeous woman, there’s a real click and sooner or later it’s going to happen… sex. But it has to be safe right? No one wants to end up with an unplanned pregnancy after a one night stand, or an STI (short for Sexually Transmitted Infection) like Chlamydia.

Do you expect her to be on the pill and think there’s nothing for you to worry about? Or do you worry she’s going to expect you to ‘be prepared’? What does that actually mean – being prepared??

Being prepared means not waiting till you’re in the heat of the moment and stopping isn’t on either of your minds anymore. There are things you can do on your own, as well as with your partner, to prepare and it will help make safe sex both fun and amazing.

If you’ve ever wondered about how to be prepared and have safe sex, rest assured you are not the only one. Here at iCopona, suppliers of New Zealand’s biggest size range of condoms, we get asked about this all the time, so we wanted to share some insights and tips with you.

Being prepared doesn’t mean you expect to get laid

Let’s be really clear, carrying condoms with you doesn’t imply you’re desperate to get laid, but rather that you’re prepared and take protecting yourself and your partner against unwanted pregnancy and STIs seriously. It’s about showing respect and taking responsibility for yourself and your partner.

Preparing for safe sex – finding the right condom for you

Wearing a condom is the best way to protect against unwanted pregnancy and STIs. So how do you use and wear a condom correctly?

Firstly, be aware that one size doesn’t fit all. Condom size does matter. Condoms that are too tight or too loose are an issue more often than you think. And let’s face it. The consequences of that aren’t great at all. Lack of enjoyment is the lesser evil of them!

So how do you find the right size? Well, that starts with knowing what to measure. It’s the girth (circumference) of your erect penis that matters for condom size. So to get the right size, a good place to start is to actually measure with the MY.SIZE measuring tape, but really any measuring tape will do.

Once you know your size, buy condoms that are the right size for you. You’ll find that most condoms in supermarkets and pharmacies have a very limited size range, and will not be a good fit for a lot of guys.

MY.SIZE condoms come in 7 sizes - from 47 mm to 69 mm width, covering almost all penis sizes. To help you find the perfect size for you, we’ve got 5 different MY.SIZE Test Packs here at ICopona, each with 3 different condom sizes and a free measuring tape to make it easier to find the perfect fitting condom. Grab your Test Pack from MY.SIZE and you’ll always carry several size options with you. Use the discount code #measureup58 to get 25% off any test pack.

Practicing putting a condom on

Having the ‘Condom Conversation’ can seem a bit difficult, or even a bit embarrassing. But it doesn’t have to be. It really helps to know what a condom looks like, how they work, and be comfortable using one.

Buy a box of condoms, so you can familiarise yourself before your talk. You could also make it part of the experience – learn how to use one together with your partner and have some fun!

Having the condom conversation

So you’ve met someone special and you’re about to take the next step. Just carrying condoms with you isn’t going to cut it, you will need to have that conversation… yes the one where you talk about safe sex and protecting yourself and your partner.

To get comfortable with talking about condoms with a partner, practice some opening lines. Sometimes people don’t like to use protection for sex, so it can be helpful to think about how you might respond if you’re ever with a partner who doesn’t want to use a condom. Remember, you have a right to protect yourself and your health, and using condoms is a way to take care of your partner too – so you’re not being selfish at all. Here are some common objections and possible answers:

Objection: Condoms are too tight. They hurt when I use them and are too restrictive. OR: I loose feeling because condoms are too tight. OR: I’m worried about them breaking because they’re too tight.

Answer: This shows you haven’t found the right size yet. Let’s measure first and then get a MY.SIZE Test Pack and find the one that fits perfectly.

Objection: They don’t make condoms big enough. 

Answer: Don’t worry, I have condoms from MY.SIZE and they come in 7 different sizes, so there’s definitely one that fits!

Objection: It puts me right out of the mood.

Answer: Having unsafe sex puts me right out of the mood. Permanently.

Objection: Are you nervous about catching something?

Answer: Sometimes people don't even know when they have infections, so it's better to be safe.

Objection: We’re monogamous, we don’t need them.

Answer: How about we get tested first.

Having safe sex

While the pill is effective in protecting against 99.9% of unwanted pregnancies, it doesn’t stop you getting an STI. To protect against STIs you should;

• Avoid sharing towels and underwear.
• Wash before and after having sex.
• Know your sexual partners and limit their number—your partner's sexual history is as important as your own.
• Use a condom correctly every single time you have sex.

If you use condoms perfectly every single time you have sex, they're 98% effective at preventing pregnancy. In this case ‘perfect use’ means using condoms consistently and correctly. With typical use (like when you put it on incorrectly, don't use it the whole time, or don't use it every time), the failure rate goes up to 18 percent. There are lots of online videos that show you how to put on a condom correctly – check them out!

Penises come in all shapes and sizes, and so do condoms. Without a properly fitting condom, you don’t have the contraceptive benefit of using it. A condom that’s too-tight might break more easily, and a condom that’s too-big might come off too easily. The point is to create a barrier strong enough to withstand ejaculation, so correct fit is vital!

Find the MY.SIZE condom Test Packs here.

Contact us if you have any questions at all, we’re here to keep you safe!