Condoms taste great for oral sex, but are they safe for vaginal sex?

Condoms can be a powerful solution to prevent pregnancy and transmission of venereal diseases. However, do flavored condoms offer the same benefits? What about the risks? Although it can increase pleasure during oral sex, is it really safe?

What are flavored condoms made of?

Condoms are contraceptives made of a very thin layer of material to prevent male semen from entering the vagina. If used properly and carefully, the efficacy of condoms to prevent pregnancy and disease transmission reaches 98 percent.

There are many types of condoms that are sold in the market. Starting from condoms made from latex (rubber latex), sheepskin (lambskin), polyurethane (a mixture of rubber and plastic), and polyisoprene (synthetic rubber). This standard condom variant does not taste and smell like rubber or plastic in general.

To increase the sensation and pleasure when having oral sex, many manufacturers have released flavored condom variants by coating the outer side of the condom with lubricants containing various artificial flavors, which are certainly safe for consumption. This flavored lubricant can also be added to other types of condoms, such as condoms that are textured or that have an added sensation (such as cold or tickling).

Compiled from various sources, the most popular flavors are strawberry, chocolate, banana and orange. Some flavored condom manufacturers have even issued condoms with flavors of kola, marijuana, durian, eggplant, and bacon.

Is it okay to use flavored condoms for sex?

Although they are safe to use for oral sex, not all condoms feel safe for use in other sexual activities.

There are several flavored condom products that can be used for vaginal penetrative sex, but some are not. We recommend that you first read the instructions for use listed on the condom package.

The various flavors of these condoms come from the artificial sugar glycerin contained in the lubricant. Glycerin in the vagina can upset the pH balance of the vagina, thereby increasing a woman's risk of developing vaginal yeast infections and urinary tract infections when using flavored condoms for vaginal penetration.

How do you choose a safe condom?

Choosing the best condom actually depends on what your needs are.

Non-flavored latex condoms are the most effective type of preventing pregnancy and venereal disease from any type of sexual activity. However, these condoms can only be used with water-based lubricants. Lubricants based on oil or petroleum jelly can cause the rubber material to thin, wear, and tear. In people who are allergic to latex, using this type of condom can cause itching, a burning sensation, or a red rash on the skin around the genitals.

For those who have a latex allergy, it is recommended to use polyurethane condoms; made of synthetic plastic, colorless and odorless, thinner and stronger, but less elastic than latex. Polyurethane condoms can be used with both water and oil-based lubricant products.

Polyurethane ingredients also generate heat which can increase sensitivity during sex. Polyurethanes are non-porous, thus providing better protection for the prevention of pregnancy and sexually transmitted diseases.