By Girls, For Girls - A Project by and for Teen Girls

Condom ("rubber")

Description: Condoms are sheaths that fit over a man's penis. They are made out of either latex, plastic of natural membrane (animal tissue). Moreover, they are an effective form of contraception, because they prevent the mixing of body fluids when two people are having vaginal, anal or oral sex, which in turn greatly reduces one's risk of becoming pregnant or contracting a sexually transmitted infection.

Advantages:: Using condoms is the best way to prevent getting an STI
besides practicing abstinence.; Condoms can help men "last longer".;   They come in a variety of styles, which can spice things
      up; variations include the color, flavoring, shape and
      lubrication (some condoms come with out any
      kind of lubrication).; Sex is less messy when using a condom.; Putting on a condom or helping your partner do so can be
fun and part of foreplay.
Disadvantages:: Unless putting on the condom is included as part of
foreplay, it can interrupt sex.;   No oil-based lubricants (Vaseline, suntan oil, whipped
      cream or Crisco) can be used with a latex condom
      because they will dissolve it in a few seconds.; Some men, although not most, complain that they can't
maintain an erection when using a condom.;   Some people are sensitive or allergic to latex. However,
      more often than not one is allergic to the spermicide on
      the condom rather than to the condom itself.
Effectiveness::   Among heterosexual couples using condoms as their form
      of contraception, fourteen percent of them experienced
      an unplanned pregnancy during the first year. Yet only
      three percent experienced an accidental pregnancy during
      the first year if the condoms were used consistently
      and correctly.
Time Constraints::   When using a condom, the man must make sure to
      remove his penis from his partner's mouth, vagina or
      anus immediately after ejaculation (a man's penis should
      be removed from his partner's body before it becomes
      soft), because otherwise sperm can leak out
      of the condom.
Location::   Condoms can be found in drugstores, supermarkets, gas
      stations, family planning clinics and some health
      departments.
Cost:: About a dollar