Now that I’ve caught your attention….

The last time I heard condoms mentioned in dramas was in Because This is My First Life. One of the female characters ordered her young boyfriend to wear two condoms as a double protection…and I was flabbergasted.  Nope dope! That was a totally wrong, and dangerous advice. To counter it, I wrote a public service announcement to the ladies on this blog.

Condoms were again mentioned in this drama The Great Seducer and this time, I was relieved that TaeHee gave a correct advice: check the expiration date of condoms before use.

As a public service announcement, I’m going to write a short list of do’s and don’ts about condoms. If you’re under 18 years old (or whatever is the age of consent in your region, state, country, religion, culture, etc), please stop reading now AND read your biology textbook first. Like many things in life, it’s better to start with the scientific or theoretical knowledge before proceeding to the experimental or experiential knowledge.

Do’s

1. Do learn how to put on a condom beforehand. The most common mistake couples make is to wear the condom upside down or inside out. lol. Like a banana, there are no instructions printed on the latex.

2. Do time it. Putting the condom on too late or taking it off too early reduces the effectiveness of the condom.

3. Do use water-based lubricant like KY Jelly and not an oil-based one. Say no to Vaseline.

4. Do check expiry date, as TaeHae said, because condoms do grow old, too. They become brittle and weak with age (hahaha. like my @#$@% broken wrist).

5. Do use one condom at a time. Doubling it up doesn’t mean double protection, but zero protection.

6. Do dispose of used condom in the trash bin AFTER wrapping it up in tissue or toilet paper. If I ever see one sticking to the trash bin – ewwww – I’ll have to throw out the whole bin in the dump…as a hygiene thing.

Don’ts

1. Don’t buy in bulk. It’s not a good idea to scrimp and go to Costco to buy the 100 ct or 40 ct box of condoms. For one, just THINKING of going through the whole box is too intimidating. And for another, it’ll be difficult looking at the Costco cashier with a poker face while she/he scans the 100 ct box.

2. Don’t recycle. One condom per use. And if it’s been worn for an extended period of time, just get a fresh one. When I think about it, SJoo was probably right to dump a whole lot of packets in there. Not because he’s a pervert, but because he got the conversation rolling. A responsible couple should have a discussion about protection before the act.

3. Don’t store in the fridge. I know it says to store condoms in a cool dry place so some idiot out there might think a fridge is an appropriate place for them. As a mom, I’d freak out if I saw condom packets mixed in with the mayo, soy sauce and ketchup packets.

4. Don’t store in direct heat (i.e., your back pocket in case you sit on a hot seat) or direct light (i.e., display it under the lamp on your study desk).

5. Don’t be intimidated by flavored condoms. Even if you don’t get to taste it, lol, these “fancy” condoms can lighten the mood for newbies or break up the tension of having to wear a condom. Check out the textured kind, the colored ones, the glow-in-the-dark one, and the tattoo-designer ones. I haven’t seen the tattoo kind but that would be absolutely hilarious seeing a fake tattoo on a male part.

6. Don’t exaggerate the size. You decrease the condom’s effectivity when you overestimate the size of the condom and it doesn’t fit. Just think: small size = fun size.

Lastly, be proactive about condoms. Be neither prudish to talk about them nor squeamish about using them. You’re an adult and therefore in control of your own sex life.