There are two types of condoms: male and female:
Male Condoms
- A male condom is a thin sheath worn over a man’s erect penis to keep seminal fluid (cum) or pre-seminal fluid (pre-cum) from entering his partner’s body during oral, anal, or vaginal sex.
- Male condoms are made of different substances. Latex condoms provide the best protection against HIV. Polyurethane (plastic) or polyisoprene (synthetic rubber) condoms are good options for people with latex allergies. Natural membrane condoms (such as those made out of lambskin) do not protect as well against HIV and certain other STDs because they are porous, meaning that infections can pass through them.
- Lubricants can help prevent condoms from breaking. Water-based and silicon-based lubricants are safe to use with latex condoms. However, oil-based lubricants (e.g., petroleum jelly, shortening, mineral oil, massage oils, body lotions, and cooking oil) should not be used with latex condoms because they can weaken latex and cause breakage.
Female Condoms
- A female condom is a thin pouch worn inside the woman’s vagina to keep her partner’s seminal fluid (cum) or pre-seminal fluid (pre-cum) from entering her body during intercourse. The female condom has a ring on each end. The inside ring holds the condom in place inside the vagina. The outer ring stays outside the vagina so it covers the labia.
- Female condoms are made of a rubber-like substance called nitrile. (They are not latex.)
- When worn in the vagina, female condoms are just as effective as male condoms at preventing STDs, HIV and pregnancy. Some people use female condoms for anal sex. However, we do not know how well female condoms prevent HIV and other STDs when used for anal sex. But we do know that HIV cannot travel through the nitrile barrier.
- It is safe to use either water-based or oil-based lubricants with nitrile female condoms.
Source:AIDSgov
