NYC Condom : New York, We've Got You Covered : Health Bulletin #47 : NYC DOHMH

The New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene


	Health Bulletin New York, we’ve got you covered. NYC CONDOMS. GET SOME. They’re free. Find out where at 311 or nyccondom.org #47 in a series of Health Bulletins on issues of pressing interest to all New Yorkers. Volume 6, Number 1. Click here to download the PDF version of this Health Bulletin. Condoms Prevent HIV and Other Sexually Transmitted Diseases Use condoms correctly and consistently for vaginal, anal, and oral sex. Forgetting even once increases your risk of HIV and other sexually transmitted diseases (STDs). Condoms are especially important if you have a new partner — or more than one partner. Use only latex or polyurethane condoms. Other types prevent pregnancy, but don’t protect against HIV and other STDs. Use water-based lubricants with latex condoms. Oil-based lubricants (such as petroleum jelly, massage oils, and body lotions) can cause latex condoms to break. Both water- and oil-based lubricants can be used with polyurethane condoms. Condoms Prevent Pregnancy Even if you use another birth control method, use latex or polyurethane condoms to protect against HIV and other STDs. If you are pregnant, you can still use condoms to protect yourself and your baby against HIV and other STDs. How to Use Male Condoms Use a new condom every time. Store condoms in a cool, dry place. Don’t leave them in your wallet or in your car too long — this can make them break easily. Be careful not to damage the condom when taking it out of the wrapper. If it is torn, brittle, or sticky, throw it away and use a new one. Put the condom on when the penis is erect, before sexual contact occurs. Unroll it all the way down. Leave a half-inch or so at the tip to collect semen. Squeeze out any extra air. If you put on a condom the wrong way by mistake, just throw it away and use a new one. After sex, pull out before the penis softens. Hold the base of the condom to make sure it doesn't spill. Throw the condom away. Female Condoms Work Just as Well The female condom is a soft, loose-fitting, polyurethane pouch that is placed in the vagina. Some women feel it gives them more control than a male condom. Female condoms work just as well as male condoms to protect against HIV and other STDs, and to prevent pregnancy. Because female condoms are made of polyurethane, not latex, you can use either water- or oil-based lubricants. Like male condoms, female condoms should be used only once, then thrown away. Talk About Condoms Talking about condoms can help you and your partner feel close. You can enjoy sex more when you don't have to worry about STDs or unplanned pregnancy. B.Y.O.C. (Bring Your Own Condom) Be prepared. Make sure you always have condoms available. Don't be embarrassed. More and more men and women are choosing to carry and use condoms. You Have the Right! No one — not even a spouse or intimate partner — can take away your right to use condoms, or your right to refuse sex. Forcing sex is sexual assault, and sexual assault is a crime. For help, call the New York City Domestic Violence Hotline at (212) 621-HOPE (4673), or call 311. For copies of any Health Bulletin All Health Bulletins are also available at nyc.gov/health. Visit nyc.gov/health/e-mail for a free e-mail subscription. For a postal subscription, e-mail your name and address. to healthcml@health.nyc.gov Contributions New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene 125 Worth Street, Room 342, CN 33 New York, N.Y. 10013 Michael R. Bloomberg, Mayor Thomas R. Frieden, M.D., M.P.H., Commissioner Bureau of Communications Geoffrey Cowley, Associate Commissioner Cortnie Lowe, M.F.A., Executive Editor Drew Blakeman, Senior Writer Caroline Carney, Managing Editor Kenneth Lo Sara Schanzer Keiko Sakagami, Ed.D., C.H.E.S. Prepared in cooperation with: Division of Disease Control Bureau of Sexually Transmitted Disease Control Bureau of HIV/AIDS Prevention and Control