The Nigerian condom market is filled with several brands, for both males and females. Popular brands are Gold Circle, Durex, Fiesta, Rough-Rider, Flex, Trojan, and Kiss just to mention few. According to a recent report from the Society for Family Health (SFH), Nigerians use an estimated number of 400 million condoms annually.
If not properly disposed these condoms could pose a potential hazard to others and the environment because most latex condoms are made with additives to prevent breakage, which also makes them harder to break down. Polyurethane condoms are also non-biodegradable. The only truly biodegradable condom option is natural lambskin, which will not protect you from all STIs, according to data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
Everyone has seen one at one time or another, a used condom. It’s not the prettiest site that’s for sure. And why is it that used condoms always seem to show up at the worst time or in the worst possible places? Seeing a child blowing air from his mouth into a used condom mistaking it for a balloon can be a horrific sight especially when the origin of the used condom is unknown.
There is no reason anyone should be subjected to used condoms, it’s just wrong! With millions being sold each year in the Nigeria alone, there has to be better condom etiquette among you condom users out there
What NOT to do with a used condom
Don’t throw used condoms in the toilet, really. It says it on all the condom boxes and instructions if you take the time to read. Condoms can get snagged on debris in plumbing pipes and actually back up your plumbing. Then the plumbers have to come out and roto-root your pipes with a plumbing snake and it will be pretty embarrassing when they pull out all of your condoms from the last three years!!
- Don’t throw used condoms on the ground! If you had kids would you want them picking them up? Would you want your grandmother to have to see a used condom laying next to her car?
- Don’t throw used condoms down the garbage sink disposal. Even if you’re using the kitchen table for your own kinky fun, it’s still a bad idea to plug up the plumbing.
- Don’t throw used condoms in the water at the beach or in the lake at the park. Used condoms float and they always wash up on shore, usually when someone is getting married on the beach!
- Don’t throw used condoms in the recycling bins.
The correct way to dispose a condom
You don’t need more than five seconds to do this. Take out the used condom carefully (to avoid the risk of pregnancy and infections) and wrap it in a tissue paper/paper bag/newspaper and finally throw it in the trash.
Wrapping the condom is the important part as used condom looks gross and no one wants to touch that dirty thing even after thrown in the thrash. If you are in a car or at some place where you cannot dispose it the right way, keep it wrapped in a paper and then in a polybag until you see a trash box to throw it away. See: Can I Take Postinor 2 Twice In A Week
Tip
Tie the used condom the same way you tie a balloon to avoid spilling the semen and the odour.
Myths and Facts About Condoms
MYTH: Condoms are only for heterosexual sex.
FACT: Condoms can be used by anyone. While it’s true that condoms can be used for heterosexual vaginal sex, they can also be used for other types of sex. External, or male, condoms go on a penis and can be used for oral, vaginal, or anal sex with a penis. There is another type of condom called internal condoms, or female condoms, that go inside the body. The internal condom, sometimes called the female condom, goes inside the body to protect against pregnancy and STDs. It can go inside the vagina for vaginal sex or inside the anus. Internal condoms can be harder to find than external or male condoms, but you can find a clinic near you to get internal condoms! Condoms work by creating a barrier between bodily fluids of two people. There is also a dental dam that can be used for oral sex on a vagina or anus. Barrier methods are important to protect yourself from STDs during any type of sex!
MYTH: Someone who has condoms is having sex.
FACT: Just because someone has condoms, it doesn’t mean they are having sex. It means they are taking control of their health. Condoms often do not expire for years, so it’s smart to keep them on hand just in case you decide to have sex in the future or if a friend needs them! If someone has condoms, they may have received them as a gift from a parent, sibling, family member, or friend who wanted to be sure they were safe if they choose to have sex. So, if someone has condoms on hand, it just means they know that sometimes people have sex! READ: Blue Wafflé Disease: WebMD Separates Facts From Fiction
MYTH: Condoms are uncomfortable.
FACT: Condoms come in a wide variety of shapes, sizes, and materials. What works for one person may not work for another person. People should be sure to use the correct size and just like fashions, not every style works on every body! You can try different condoms until you find your favorite! And don’t forget, if someone does not want to put a condom on their penis, they can use an internal condom for vaginal or anal sex!
MYTH: Condoms don’t work that well anyway so what is the point?
FACT: Besides abstinence or not having sex, condoms are the best method to protect against STDs. Some people have had an experience of condoms breaking or slipping off. Others may tell you condoms are not effective. BUT, the internal condom is over 79% effective at preventing pregnancy and the male condom is over 85% effective at preventing pregnancy. Practicing and using a condom correctly every time you have sex can make them more effective.
MYTH: The first step in putting on a condom is to check the expiration date.
FACT: The first step in putting on a condom is to get consent! Someone has to have permission, or consent, to have sex with someone else. Make sure you are talking to your partner before you have sex. (After you have consent, it’s a good idea to check the expiration date – condoms DO expire. And they should be stored in a room temperature place like a drawer or bedside table and not in a wallet or glove compartment.)
MYTH: If I am on birth control, I don’t need to use a condom.
FACT: Other methods of birth control – like pills, rings, IUDs, and the implant – do not protect against STDs, they only protect against pregnancy. So it is safe & smart to use condoms every time you have sex! Condoms and birth control work GREAT together! If you are interested in another method of birth control, you can find a clinic near you!
The bottom line is that condoms are important to use EVERY TIME you have sex to prevent against pregnancy AND STDs! It is also smart to have them on hand even if you’re not having sex. This National Condom Week, find free condoms near you!
