Joined: 13 Aug 2007 Posts: 225 Location: , Australia
Posted: 08-14-07 05:39am
condoms are horrible, but I can't not use
them now, too worried XD
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jane9000
New User, Becoming EHEALTHy
Joined: 15 Aug 2007 Posts: 7 Location: New York
Free Vcf! Does It Work Though? Posted: 08-16-07 10:31am
Speaking of condoms... im looking into a
non-hormonal product called VCF. Its a
female condom, and the company that makes
it is giving out free samples on the
website, if you want to try it. I wouldnt
even try hormonal products, mainly because
of the possible risks you take when using
them. I think im going to give it a try- i
have only read good things about it. I was
just wondering if any one else has tried
it. Thanks for any response.
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Georgia59
Supporter
Joined: 11 Apr 2007 Posts: 5546 Location: Along the Mississippi, USA
Thanks: 89
Thanked:31
Posted: 08-16-07 10:56am
There are risks to spermicide as well.
There are risks whenever you put something
in your body.
Spermicide makes me really irritated and
sore after sex, and I get bladder
infections when I use it.
I hate the stuff!!
The pill is best for me.
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Llewellyn
Extremely EHEALTHy
Joined: 21 Jan 2007 Posts: 1743 Location: NY
Re: Free Vcf! Does It Work Though? Posted: 08-16-07 11:05am
jane9000
wrote:
Speaking of condoms... im
looking into a non-hormonal product called
VCF. Its a female condom, and the company
that makes it is giving out free samples
on the website, if you want to try it. I
wouldnt even try hormonal products, mainly
because of the possible risks you take
when using them. I think im going to give
it a try- i have only read good things
about it. I was just wondering if any one
else has tried it. Thanks for any
response.
You're talking about Vaginal Contraceptive
Film (VCF), right? If so, that is a
spermicide, not a female condom.
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Tylanas
Especially EHEALTHy
Joined: 13 Jul 2005 Posts: 12985
Thanks: 3
Thanked:0
Posted: 08-16-07 12:57pm
Good point.
The female condom has a ring at the top of
it to hold it in place and is removed
after sex. VCF dissolves.
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jane9000
New User, Becoming EHEALTHy
Joined: 15 Aug 2007 Posts: 7 Location: New York
Yes, Thanks For the Info Posted: 08-16-07 13:41pm
Yes, im sorry, i mis-spoke. I know there
are risks involved in using spermicides,
but i think i would rather use that than a
hormonal product- which i think has much
more serious side effects to the use of
it- thats at least what i have read, and
what a friend of mine has expirienced. I
think that i might try the sample of VCF
from the website (with a barrier product
as well), considering that its free and it
is nonhormonal, which is what im looking
for. I really appriciate your opinions
though.
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Tylanas
Especially EHEALTHy
Joined: 13 Jul 2005 Posts: 12985
Thanks: 3
Thanked:0
Posted: 08-16-07 13:55pm
Your friend had a bad experience... and I
have had nothing but good experiences.
Hormonal birth control was nearly a
god-send for me. Off birth control, I have
very painful periods, sometimes so bad I
vomit. On birth control, I don't even need
painkillers at ALL.
I had bad acne off birth control... on it,
my face is almost totally clear.
Off birth control, my periods are nearly
35-40 days apart and there's no way to
predict the day they'll start; on birth
control, they are easy to predict and
always regular.
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jane9000
New User, Becoming EHEALTHy
Joined: 15 Aug 2007 Posts: 7 Location: New York
Posted: 08-16-07 14:04pm
Ok, well thank you very much for your
imput. I will definitely take that into
consideration- i mean im not arguing with
you at all. I just find that there are
many things that could go wrong with
hormonal products- everyones different,
but i guess all my friends just have plain
bad luck then.......all 4 of them wont go
on birth control again. One of my friends
had problems for weeks. I just cant take
the risk, but i appreciate your
information, and thank you again.
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Llewellyn
Extremely EHEALTHy
Joined: 21 Jan 2007 Posts: 1743 Location: NY
Posted: 08-16-07 14:49pm
Some people have had bad experiences with
hormonal birth control, others haven't.
Some people have have bad experiences with
non-hormonal, others haven't. Both
hormonal and non-hormonal birth control
methods have side effects, and people
respond to them differently.
I have used hormonal and non-hormonal
methods. I have been using non-hormonal
only for roughly the past two years or so.
The only time I had a bad reaction was
when I used VCF. I ended up having some
burning, irritation, and an infection.
Those side effects are not too uncommon
with spermicides, but that certainly does
not mean everyone is going to have them
either.
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postfetalphase
Experienced User , Rather EHEALTHy
Joined: 17 Nov 2006 Posts: 58
Posted: 08-25-07 13:12pm
Durex Ultra Thin (or Extra Sensitive or
something like that... the thin ones)
tested as most durable and reliable of the
20 or so various condoms/brands tested in
a study done a few years ago. Durex
condoms are also shaped a bit like a penis
(you cant see it visually, but the
measurements change through the length of
the condom to make it more comfortable),
including being wider at the base. The
polyurethane condoms are less flexible,
and although they are wider at the base,
they might not be as comfortable.
As far as I know, trojans are a uniform
width along the length of the condom, and,
in my experiences, are a little tighter
than durex.
We have only tried durex and trojan
though, but Durex are my brand of choice.
As for the Magnum and XXL condoms, you
should try different brands before
assuming you need an XXL etc. In trojan,
Magnum condoms are 1/4" longer and 1/8"
wider than standard trojans. And the
Magnum XL are also 1/4" longer, but 1/2"
wider.
Standard trojans are 7 3/4" long by 1 3/8"
wide, while standard Durex are a little
over 8" long and a little under 2 1/2"
wide at the widest point.
Last edited by postfetalphase on 08-25-07 13:20pm; edited 1 time in total
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Tylanas
Especially EHEALTHy
Joined: 13 Jul 2005 Posts: 12985
Thanks: 3
Thanked:0
Posted: 08-25-07 13:19pm
From what I've learned in studies, Trojans
actually break most often, and LifeStyles
condoms broke the least... I always use
LifeStyles...
I tried one with "warming lube" once but
didn't really notice much of a difference,
if any.
Ribbed or studded had a slight difference
but nothing that shot my female pleasure
through the roof as advertized lol.
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postfetalphase
Experienced User , Rather EHEALTHy
Joined: 17 Nov 2006 Posts: 58
Posted: 08-25-07 13:21pm
I have a blog that is very informative
about condoms. I'll post it here.
Condoms: assumably the most frequently
used form of birth control and STD
protection. Couples who use no form of
birth control have an 85% chance of
becoming pregnant within a year, meanwhile
with condoms the chance is lowered to 14%.
Latex and polyurethane condoms are the
only birth control methods that also
protect against HIV. Like everything else,
condoms are all of different quality and
durability. I will go over some types of
condom (novelty-styles and materials), as
well as the varying quality of some
popular condoms.
"Styles" of Condoms
You see all kinds of condoms for sale,
this section will give you the low-down on
different types of condoms. Mere marketing
bullcrap or an actual enjoyable addition?
Spermicidal Condoms
The spermicide on condoms, Nonoxyl-9, is
supposed to aid in birth control by
killing off sperm. It is effective in
foams and such- with 82% effectiveness
annually (18% of the people using it
perfectly will become pregnant within the
first year). But is it effective on
condoms? The answer is no, at least not
significantly. Spermicide is much more
effective when purchased separately and
applied as directed, allowing a period of
time for it to begin action before
engaging in intercourse, and it is
ineffective on condoms. Spermicide also
increases the risk of contracting HIV, and
causes allergies and reactions in many
people, especially women. Spermicidal
condoms have a shorter shelf-life than
regular condoms, and may increase the risk
of urinary tract infections in women.
Spermicidal condoms are mere marketing
bullcrap (and dangerous, too).
Ribbed Condoms
Some people like them. Some people don't.
The ribbed condom is a condom designed for
a woman's pleasure, but a lot of women
report no extra pleasure in these condoms.
Reputedly the ribs eventually flatten out
with use, so for the women who do enjoy
them, the pleasure isn't long-lasting.
Also, some men report that the thickness
of the condom at the ribs takes away from
the sensitivity in that area. Ribbed
condoms may be enjoyable for some women,
but I think they're mainly marketing
bullcrap.
Thin Condoms
When you think of a thin condom, you
probably think of a less-durable,
less-reliable condom. However, according
to durability tests done by Consumer
Reports in 2005, the most reliable and
most durable condom was a thin condom, the
Durex Extra sensitive lubricated latex
condom. Thin condoms reportedly feel more
natural to men than those of regular
thickness. It is possible to get a thin
condom that will enhance sex without
compromising reliability.
"XXL" Etc. Condoms
"Large"condoms vary from brand to brand,
but most of them don't differ very
significantly in size than average
condoms. Examples: standard Trojan condom
measurements are 7 ¾" length and 1 3/8"
width, while their "Magnum" condoms
measure 8" long by 1 ½" wide. Magnum XL
are also 8", but 1 7/8", ½" wider than
standard condoms. The longest condom is
the Durex XXL measuring up at 9 ½" long
and 1 5/8" wide. However, there is more to
a condom than its length at width, condom
shape varies from brand to brand. This
should be taken into consideration if you
want to find a more comfortable condom,
rather than immediately jumping to a
condom that is marketed as larger.
Lubricated or non-lubricated?
Most condoms you find are lubricated for
convenience. They don't usually have an
ingredients list, but most lubricants by
condom brands (actually, most cheaper
water-based lubricants in general) contain
glycerin or glycol, which increase a
woman's risk of developing urinary tract
infections because they sponsor the growth
of microorganisms. I would assume that the
lubricant found on condoms contains
glycerin or glycol, which may pose a
problem. If this is a problem for you, or
if you would prefer to customize your
experience a little more, you can always
purchase your own lubricant to use with a
non-lubricated condom. Silicone-based
lubricants are condom-safe and do not
contain glycerin or glycol.
Condom Materials
Latex
The most common material for condoms:
synthetic latex. Some people are allergic
to latex, so not everybody can use latex
condoms. Latex condoms are effective
against many STD's, although their
effectiveness at preventing transmission
of HPV (Human Pappiloma Virus, a cause of
cervical cancer in women as well as
genital warts) is debatable. There is no
evidence that latex condoms protect
against HPV. Those who have allergies to
latex typically pursue condoms made of
other materials. Latex condoms are only
compatable with water-based lubricants.
Lambskin
Lamb"skin" condoms are made of lamb
intestine, and reputedly bear a
distinctive odor. They are effective
against pregnancy but not against STDs.
Polyurethane
Nearly as effective as latex condoms for
birth control and STD protection,
polyurethane condoms are the 1 alternative
to latex. Slightly less elastic and looser
fitting than latex condoms, polyurethane
condoms are more likely to break and slip
off. Other than that, they are quite
effective. Polyurethane condoms are
thinner and stronger than latex condoms,
and are also more resistant to
deterioration. Polyurethane condoms can be
used with both water and oil based
lubricants.
Quality of Condoms
Not all condoms are created equal. In 2005
Consumer Reports tested 23 different
condoms by filling them with air. They
found that Planned Parenthood condoms were
the least durable brand (and example of
you get what you pay for – free condoms
aren't the best). Durex brand condoms
generally tested the best, with Trojan and
Lifestyles scattered behind it, and
Planned Parenthood coming in last.
