STD Barriers: Condoms, Gloves & Dams
There are a number of products designed to protect against either oral, digital, or genital transmission of STDs. We've restricted our selection to what we consider the best available in each category. When we decide what latex products to carry, there are two essential qualities that we look for:
• First, the product has to have a low protein content. Latex allergies are triggered by the proteins in latex which are airborne once the glove, dam, or condom is out of its packaging. The lower the protein, the greater degree of contact possible with the latex before exposure triggers allergic reactions.
• Second, the product has to be well-designed. There are a lot of latex products out there that are cheap in design and quality. Yuck. Safer sex should be made easier, not yuckier. We look for, and have finally found, gloves in a variety of sizes with cornstarch (not talc) powder, dams that are thin and have a wide surface area for ease of use in oral sex and rimming, and condoms with a high approval rating for comfort, sensitivity, and non-allergenic lubrication. By the way, we don't care for nonoxynol-9 spermicide due to the high rate of allergic reaction so none of the condoms we offer comes with it.
As mentioned, some people are allergic to latex. There are now a few alternative materials available, the highest performing of which is polyurethane. Since this is a new material, only a couple of products have made it through Health Canada's rigourous screening program. We will add more products as they are approved (by both Health Canada and us!)
Some latex pre-use (storage issues) and post-use (disposal) tips that you can apply to all the STD latex barriers, be they glove, condom or dam:
(1) Health Regulators say: "Store latex in a dry place at room temperature, away from direct sunlight and heat." We add: Ignore this advice at your peril! Sunlight and heat will degrade the latex, at first causing microscopic holes, eventually obvious break down.
(2) Regulators say: "Single use only." We add: STD barriers are not reusable. Don't be cheap! You've contaminated the material through use. Use once. Use another, new, and properly stored one next. Think of your pileup of used latex as souvenirs of what an exciting time you've had.
(3)Which leads us to the final regulatory wisdom: "Dispose of in a safe manner, in a trash receptacle. (be it bag, box, etc.)" We say: Used latex is presumably covered in or full of stuff you didn't want on you or in you. Bag it or box it! Don't flush it! Our sanitation systems don't need your disposed latex washing up on beaches later. That's gross. It's also rude to throw them out a window of a parked car, for gawds sake. Be kind to neighbours and the environment and use a trash receptacle, please.
We've got a printable, foldable, put-it-in-your-pocket brochure with condom tips!
The Condom Q&A, featuring questions by Josey Vogels:
Josey Vogel asked us some questions and we, being naturally chatty, answered them. ('We' in this case being Cass King our condom queen (!) and her single-minded pursuit of a better condom). Here's the Q&A:
Josey: I'm writing about new-fangled condoms -- Pullit condoms, Condomania's Custom Fit condoms, Durex' Sensation-elle condoms etc. I wanted to know what you think of these fancy new condoms. Can you really benefit more from a custom fit condom?
Womyns'Ware: Just like any other product in any other market, condom manufacturers are trying to develop the most innovative design (and condom marketers are trying to sell the same old stuff in the most innovative way :)
We think that some of the new condom designs are gimmicky, and some are exciting, but the bottom line is: Provided the condoms are federally approved to prevent pregnancy and STI's, whatever manufacturers OR marketers can do to entice people to wear the darned things is an excellent development!
Josey: Have you seen or tried the Pullit condoms? What do you think?
Womyns'Ware: So much depends on the consumer: For example, the Pullitt condoms may be just another gimmick for the latex-savvy user, but for the less-experienced or the physically restricted they may be just the thing. The pull-tab condom is kind of like a large print book, or an easy-open jar: most people won't need it, but for those who do, it may be the development that they have been waiting for.
Josey: Can you really increase sensitivity with ribbed or studded condoms?
Womyns'Ware: On the subject of ribbed and studded condoms: Wrapping something tightly in latex makes it smooth, so there are a ton of condoms on the market that attempt to simulate the natural friction of skin-on-skin. Some people like the added "drag" provided by the textured condom, and some can't feel it all, and the especially sensitive can actually find it irritating. Hey, some people like wooden beads on their car seats too... to each their own.
Josey: Are these new fangled condoms just gimmicks or can condoms be improved upon? If so, how? does size matter in condoms?
Womyns'Ware: Similarly, the custom-fit condom is a product that may appeal to many men (if only for the novelty of having to measure their favorite body part with a special paper thingie), but it will most benefit the wearer who has a hard time fitting into the standard one-size-fits-all model. After all, just because the standard condom stretches, doesn't mean it fits. Take ill-fitting spandex pants, for example... too big or too small, the effect is the same: blecch!
Josey: Are there any new trends or technology in condoms that you are excited about?
Womyns'Ware: There is a fairly new trend in condom making that seems both sensible and appealing: The Pleasure Plus condom, and others like it, have an extra ribbed pouch on the very end of the condom, near the reservoir. As the head of the penis is the part with the most nerve endings, it seems sensible to us to wrap the shaft tightly and leave a little wiggle room at the end.
Josey: what is your most popular seller? do you have a favourite condom brand?
Womyns'Ware: We'd have a hard time telling you what our most popular condom is, as you may recall, we actually have a mix n' match station where folks buy 10 condoms for $10, so the numbers are always changing. People try things out and then they tend to stick with their brand, like Contempo, Kimono, or Pleasure plus.
Whew! Hope our long-winded answer suits your purposes.
All the best from sunny Vancouver!
And just for fun...
What will we think of next? Glad you asked! We were asked to help with a student project: 10 things to do with a condom when not having sex. Our combined brains came up with 39 uses! Don't worry, we still sell our condoms for sexual purposes. What you choose to do with them is your business..... and here's a handy list to get you started!
1. Blow them up and decorate with them at your next birthday party!
2. Put them on the end of the muffler on your parent's car
3. Have a water balloon fight
4. Save your pennies in them
5. Play "socks" with them (this is a schoolyard game from the 70's)
6. Bunny ear rain hats
7. Water holder end cap for long stemmed roses
8. Airtight container for lunch leftovers (when running low on ziplocks)
9. Scratch protectors for the legs of furniture on refinished wood floors
10. A portable hot (warm) water bottle or ice pack!
11. A hat
12. Replacement sling shot elastic
13. A sling: put a soft Nerf-type ball in the end, tie it up and use it like a shot-put!
14. Keep the condoms in their wrappers and use them to make jewelry: earrings, pendants, etc.
15. Fill them with paint, tie it off and clip a tiny hole at the tip. Make art with your unique paint brush!
16. Wash the condom, fill it with water, freeze it and make lovely ice logs!
17. Use the ice logs (#16) to build your own ice cabin! Try adding food colouring to the water!
18. Insert confetti into the condom then blow it up and tie the end. Makes a nice sound when popped and looks pretty!
19. Put lubricated condoms on your feet and "ice skate" on those "water slide" runs that people use on their lawns
20. Fill them with sand and make sand dolls by using the tied ends as connectors and elastics as joints
21. Fill them with dried lentils or peas and use them as bean bags
22. Wash them and fill them with Jello mix and let the Jello set-- giant jello worms!
23. Barbie rain hat
24. Lubricated marble bag
25. Banana holder
26. Emergency hair elastic
27. Knee sock holder-uppers (i.e. like suspenders)
28. Engagement ring
29. Eye patch (Arrrr! I'm a contraceptive pirate!)
30. Tourniquet
31. Ear covers
32. Watchband
33. Paperclip caddy
34. Change purse
35. Cake decorator
36. Ketchup dispenser
37. Pasties!!
38. Cheerleader pom poms
39. Kitten rubber boots