I'd like to know which brand of condom gives the best protection from both STD's and pregeancy.

The reason I ask is that I just moved to college, and in order to promote safe sex, they give out free Durex and Lifestyle's brand condoms.

Now, I've heard the blue box spermicidal Trojans are simply the best, but I'm curious as to the quality of these other brands. Are they any good? Will they prevent the spread of disease (a big concern now that I'm in New York) and pregeancy?

Durex is an excellent brand as well.

I like lifestyles, mainly cuz theyre cheap

when buying condoms, cost should not be a factor.

trojan, durex, and lifestyles are all very safe, reliable condoms. you'll be fine if you use any of those. everyone has their own little horror story about how they don't like trojans cause they always break. or the don't like lifestyles because they're too small and they break. it's all pretty much just personal preference.

quote:Originally posted by Prometheus:

when buying condoms, cost should not be a factor.

Agreed, i here durex set up us the bomb. go for durex.

Ford versus Chevy. Go with the one you like most, but don't be a cheapass either (Prometheus is right).

-Infrared

I once bought a condom in a vending machine...made in india, I didn't have sex that night :P

durex, trojans, and lifestyles are all good...but i like "Ruff Riders". never had problems with em breakin and they make my girl go crazy.

Yeah, the "Ruff riders" are good for her, but for me seem to provide less sensation. They are thicker, so less likely to break, but you cant feel shit. Ive never had a durex break on me though. 'Au naturual' is the best but unless you are in a committed monogamous relationship and not worried about kids it isnt an option.

Yep, I'm a blue boxer. Honeslty, evcer single god damned LifeStyle I've ever used has broken. Whether it's due to my hot fucking action or if it's just shitty condoms, I don't know. But I have a thing against those condoms. %*#)^!

Any condom with nonoxyl-9 (spermicide) will help prevent pregnancy. As far as STIs, I'd say all condoms pretty much cover the same area so they'll be efficient and deficient in the same areas.

I've only used a Rough Rider once. It broke. It also didn't cause any extra sensation, so it was for nothing.

Durex, Lifestyles and Trojan are all very well known, good quality brands. I prefer Durex.

Durex. its all i use and its great.

i use either durex or trojan

There's a new brand of condoms called Inspiral. They are the best ever. Try them once and you will never buy any other kind.

quote:Originally posted by AlCaTrAz:

Durex. its all i use and its great.

yeah, we ONLY use Durex Sensi-Thin. we tried lifestyles (I HATED them, she didnt really notice a diff), and we also used a pack of Trojans, which were great at the time, but after using Durex, they get blown away.

quote:Originally posted by fa'ad:

Agreed, i here durex set up us the bomb. go for durex.

Man, that is some funny-ass shit.

Condoms suck. Hate them, hate them, hate them.

That said, I will once again promote Kimono Microthins, if you can find them. They're the condom for those who hate condoms. Really, you can barely feel them, and those suckers do NOT break.

Durex polyurethanes are a nice alternative for those who can't tolerate latex and still want the STD protection the "natural lambskin" type don't offer. Spendy, though.

Thanks to everybody for the responses.

I have another question though. It seems from your responses that Durex are preferred by most to be very effective as well as pleasurable for sex.

However, it seems that only MrMojoRisin has brought up the more serious of my two concerns, that being pregneancy. While doing some research on the subject I stumbled onto Planned Parenthood (not that I didn't know they exist, but it hadn't occur to me to check that out) and I got this statistic: "Of 100 women whose partners use condoms inconsistently or imperfectly, 15 will become pregnant in the first year of use. Only two will become pregnant if condoms are used perfectly (Trussell et al., on press). " Ok. With proper condom use, that leaves you with a 1 in 50 chance of getting pregneant during your first year of sexual activity. All of my friends who are sexually active who use condoms have managed not to get pregneant despite being sexually active for well over a year.

My question to anybody on this board is whether any of you have been, or have known any one of those one in 50, or whether you think that is an inflated statistic used to promote abstinance? If you have been in the one in 50, was it because of breakage? If you remember, what brand? Also, how important is spermicide in preventing pregeancy? The ones they give out for free at school have water based, not spermicidal lubrication. Are those going to be effective?

I apologize for asking questions that probably have obvious or easily researchable answers, but I'm pretty ignorant about condom usage (through lack of sexual experience, not through unwillingness to use protection) but its recently become a somewhat serious concern for me, and I'd like to know that I'm not taking any unnecessary risks.

Once again, thank you in advance.

EDIT: I think it makes sense to note that if the ones they give out here suck, and arne't going to do a damn thing as far as protection goes, then yeah, obviosly, I'll spend the money on something that works. But if the ones they give out here (very specifically) : Durex Natural Feeling w/ Water Based Lubricant and Lifestyles Ultra Sensitive Thin Lubricated (a brand which it seems only one or two people actually trust) then are effective, than it's not worth spending the money (and as a college student, there's not a whole lot of it).

[This message has been edited by jack's missing mind (edited 09-02-2003).]

It's difficult to determine the variables involved for those two unfortunate gals who get pregnant with "perfect" condom use. As you suggested, I suspect condom defects are the culprit in this statistic.

Spermicides can provide an extra measure of protection insurance but aren't sufficient on their own.

There are no birth control guarantees, and silly abstinence is touted as the only 100% effective birth control. But with proper and intelligent use of birth control, preganancy is *highly* unlikely.

Teen girls often don't have regular and predictable cycles, but ask your girl to keep track of hers so y'all don't go through monthly panic attacks because she's "late."

Since you seem interested in taking responsibility and such, I'll also say this. If pregnancy is a major concern or fear, be sure to have some sort of "plan" in case something unexpected happens. Sort out the moral and ethical issues of teen parenthood, adoption and abortion. Better to have a plan and not need it, than to need a plan and not have it when time is very much of the essence.

in the case that breakage occurs, go to a planned parenthood. you can get the morning after pill for about $50 (free if you're under 18). those few who do get pregnant, become pregnant because of things like condoms breaking, even though used properly. or what we professionals call "spillage" when some of the contents of the condom spill out onto her from the open end of the condom.

Don't use lamb skin!!! They are pourous condoms, meaning microbial things can easily get through....might as well use nothing.

I personally use Durex, trojan, or gold Coins. They are all great.

There are new ones made of polyurethane, or something like that...they are thinner, but tougher. It's stuff that some rollerblade wheels also use. But it isn't hard...its very unlikely it will tear though. But they all protect great from STD's and what not. I think the some of the condoms I use are made of this. You can tell, they same like heavy duty rubber.

use a zip-lock baggie with a rubberband man or some tape or glue if you ever want an adventure . . . seriously though use durex not only because i work for them but because they are the safest and most sensetive

yeh, ive heard horror storeys about each & every brand infact, i just use durex extra safe, they dont sell trojan in NZ, the other brand we have is ansell, they are pretty decent also