Condoms cover part of the genital area during intercourse, and prevent bodily fluids from touching your partner.  They are usually made of latex. Condoms are always available free at your health centre or public health office. Condoms are the only form of protection that prevents STIs and pregnancy and that can be used to provide protection for oral, anal and vaginal sex.  

Male condoms are worn on the penis and prevent sperm from entering the female’s vagina; they are 86-90% effective in stopping pregnancy.  If you use them correctly every time you have sex, they stop pregnancy 98% of the time.  

Female condoms are worn inside the vagina during sex and stop sperm from going into the cervix and uterus.  They stop pregnancy 79% of the time; if used correctly every time you have sex, they are 95% effective.  

There are a number of things to keep in mind to make sure you are using your condom effectively.  Following these tips will help make sure you don’t get pregnant or get an STI:

• Check the best before date: all condoms have an expiry date.  Past this date, the condom may not protect you or your partner.

• Store condoms properly: male and female condoms should be stored at room temperature in a dry place and away from direct sunlight. 

• Put on the condom before your genitals touch your partner: condoms are only effective in preventing STIs if they are worn every time genitals are touching.

• Use the condom correctly: putting on a condom (whether it is male or female) can be tricky. Its not a bad idea to practice doing it before having sex.  These links provide some useful directions:

• Male Condom 

• Female Condom

• Use lube to help prevent breakage: Water-based lubes such as Astroglide and K-Y help reduce the stress on the condom during sex and helps ensure it doesn’t break.

• Only use a condom once: Condoms can only be used once and must be thrown out after use. Use a new condom for each sexual activity. If you remove a condom (male or female condom), do not try to use it again – instead, use a new one.

• Use a condom every time: Condoms only offer protection when they are being used.  Having unprotected sex even once can put you at risk for STIs and pregnancy.

• Only use one condom at a time: Never use a male and female condom at the same time and never try to layer two male condoms or two female condoms. Using two condoms at the same time will increase the friction between them and may cause both of them to break. 

Some people may be allergic to the latex in condoms, or the spermicide on some condoms. If you or your partner notice any burning, itching or swelling after using a condom, you may be allergic.  You can try polyurethane condoms or condoms without spermicide.  You can ask a nurse or pharmacist for help choosing the right ones.

Protection & Birth Control

It is important to discuss what you and your partner will do to prevent STIs and pregnancy before having sex. If you are going to have sex (oral, vaginal or anal), condoms (male or female) and/ororal dental damns are the best ways to prevent yourself from getting an STI. However, even if you are using these forms of protection, there is still a chance you could catch an STI because some STIs can only be prevented by abstinence and/or masturbation by yourself.
 
There are many different options you can choose to make sure you do not get pregnant before you are ready. Even if you are using protection (condoms) and birth control – every time you have sex there is a chance you may become pregnant. Condoms can fail in preventing an unplanned pregnancy if they tear during intercourse or if they slip off the penis before the penis completely out of contact with the vagina. Birth control pills can also sometimes fail if they are not taken correctly or if the woman is taking certain types of antibiotics.
 
Some of the common choices for birth control include condoms and prescription birth control medication.  Birth control medication does not protect you from STIs, so you should still use a condom if you don’t know your partner’s sexual history or if you don’t know if you might have an STI.
 
In Nunavut, condoms and birth control medication are always available at health centres, most often free of charge.  For other forms of birth control, you might have to wait for a doctor or other health care professional to visit your community.  Most forms of birth control are paid for through health insurance plans for lands claims beneficiaries.