The use of condoms is strongly recommended especially since the AIDS epidemic. Its use is easy but some precautions deserve to be mentioned to avoid certain failures.

Three French words designate the same object:

• the “hood” or “English frock coat” dates from 1836;
• the “condom” is first of all an English word which comes either from Mr. Condom his “inventor” or from the Latin word “conderer” which means to hide, to protect and it arrives in the French dictionary at the beginning of the XXth century;
• the “condom”, which also dates from the beginning of the XNUMXth century for its use in this precise sense.

This is indeed to protect against pregnancy (which is not a disease) and sexually transmitted diseases or infections (STDs or STIs), such as HIV, syphilis, Herpes, papillomavirus, for the most important. 

It looks like a sheath, a small sheath that slips on like a glove. It is the only male contraceptive that protects against transmission of the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) through vaginal, anal or oral (buccal) penetration.

It is made of latex or polyurethane. The choices of its size, texture, taste (strawberry for example) are very varied, it may or may not contain a tank. Most are lightly lubricated.

Boxes contain 5 to 144 condoms. They are often attached to each other and you have to carefully detach one first, after checking the expiration date and the integrity of the package.  

Then, it must be taken out of its packaging just as delicately: a notch facilitates this operation to avoid a nail, a jewel, a bite or a blade (knife, scissors).

It must be taken in the right direction: the small veil of latex (or polyurethane) must be located below the ring and not above: the lubricated side of the soft top must be on the outside.

To put it on correctly, it is advisable to pinch, between your thumb and forefinger, the small reservoir which will be at the end of the condom, but which is still in the center of the ring. This maneuver allows the air to be expelled from the reservoir (intended to receive the sperm) because the trapped air risks causing the sheath to tear.

While maintaining the reservoir between the thumb and forefinger with one hand, it is unwound with the other to the base of the penis which is thus threaded into the sheath.

It is advisable to lubricate condoms even if they already are. For oral sex, it is possible to lubricate the condom with a flavored lubricant (strawberry, chocolate, mint, vanilla) as soon as it is in place on the penis. But there are also condoms that are already scented. Vaseline, butter or oil will affect both latex and polyurethane and should not be used. 

Lubrication can take place before or during intercourse. Generally, it is water-based or silicone gel that can be bought in pharmacies, which is used.

Here is the checklist before using a condom:

• Ask yourself and your partner about a possible latex allergy and ask for an allergological assessment if necessary. This allergy constitutes the second cause of anaphylactic shock in France;
• Check the expiry date and the integrity of the packaging;
• Keep away from heat and humidity;
• Change condoms each time you have sex;
• Never superimpose two at the same time or use a male condom and a female condom at the same time;
• Make sure that the entire surface of the penis is covered and change the size if it is not;
• Do not hesitate to repeat this little scene as in the theater to test the maneuver before the “premiere”.

It is not the whole to have put it. It must be removed and here too, a certain skill is required.

After ejaculation, but while the penis is still erect, remove the condom with one hand but hold the reservoir with the other hand to prevent semen leakage. The condom must be removed as soon as ejaculation is complete because it may remain in the vagina.

It should be thrown in the trash, not in the toilet bowl.

Finally, let us remember that the colloquial verb “to capoter” (to fail) has nothing to do with the English frock coat and that putting on and taking off the condom is rather doomed to success.