Whether alcohol affects your birth control really depends on what method you’re using. If you rely on birth control that requires you to use it before you have sex, like condoms or a diaphragm, then alcohol may make it harder for you to use your method correctly or to remember or to use it at all. Here’s more detail about how alcohol can affect sex and birth control.

BTW, if you’re interested a party-ready method, we’ve got you covered.

Not all condoms are created equal, so try a few different brands or types to see if that helps. You might want to check out the condoms marketed as “ultra-thin” or “ultra-sensitive.”

You should also make sure to check the expiration date before using a condom and check the package to make sure it hasn’t been damaged. It’s also possible that you’re not putting it on properly. Check out our section on how to put on a condom.

It may be that you’re talking about the condom slipping as your partner is pulling out, after he’s ejaculated. You should be able to avoid that by having him pull out while he’s still hard. Give it a shot.

When it comes to condoms, two is definitely not better than one. Two condoms can create more friction, which increases the chances the condom(s) will break. If you want to be super safe, double up with a condom and an effective method of birth control. (Now that’s what we call dual action…)

1 in 2 people will contract a sexually transmitted infection (STI) by the time they reach the age of 25—some curable, some not. An astounding 20 million people in the U.S. contract an STI every year, and those are only the STIs which get reported. That number is likely much higher due to under-reporting and many STIs not getting reported at all—some are diagnosed visually, and others are not documented by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Of the 30-plus STIs out there, the CDC only reports on about 8 of them. Things like pubic lice, scabies, and HPV infections among guys are not part of those numbers.

In so far as HPV is concerned, outside of the visual symptoms of genital warts caused by low-risk HPV strains, there’s no way to know if a man has it since he can’t be tested for it. This is one of the reasons why by the age of 50, at least 80% of women will have acquired the infection.

To protect yourself from STIs, use condoms or internal condoms, get tested regularly, and talk openly about sexual health with your partner(s).

Latex allergies are rare, but they happen. If you or your partner are allergic to latex, there are non-latex polyurethane condoms you can use to protect against pregnancy and STIs. Lambskin condoms are another option for preventing pregnancy, but they don’t protect against STIs.

Let’s face it, we aren’t always as nice to our condoms as we should be; we stuff them in pockets, and leave them in hot cars or the bottom of our purse. That’s why before using a condom you should always check the expiration date, and then give the wrapper a thorough inspection.

To make sure your condom is still intact, first press on the wrapper—you should feel a little cushion of air. If you can feel the air cushion it means that the outside of the wrapper has not been damaged or punctured. Next, while still pressing on the wrapper, feel for the slip-slide feeling of the lube. (Unfortunately this won’t work with unlubricated condoms.) When condoms are left in the heat or punctured, the lube can dry or leak out which in turn dries out the condom, weakening it and making it more likely to break in action.

The good news: flavored condoms are amazing for oral sex and can help prevent STIs from making camp in your throat. The not-so-good news: some flavored condoms contain sugars that can create chaos down below in the form of yeast infections. So, before jumping in for some fun down south pause and read the packaging to check for added sugars.

Just like milk, condoms can go bad… And when they do, they can break more easily. That’s why you should always check the condom’s expiration date and give the wrapper a thorough inspection before opening it.

Heat, sun, moisture, and fluorescent light can also make condoms more likely to break. To reduce the risk of breakage, store your condoms in a cool, dry place.

If a condom is too tight or uncomfortable, he can lose his erection. It’s not you, it’s the condom, so don’t feel embarrassed.

A good way to avoid this problem is to try out different kinds of condoms. Lucky Bloke has a “Not Sure What Size to Buy” condom sampler if you think size could be the issue. They also offer lots of other samplers if you just want to explore your options. You can also get variety packs through a bunch of other online retailers like Amazon, Condom Jungle, Sustain, and Condomania.

Using lube with condoms can increase pleasure while reducing discomfort and the chance of condom failure. Many condoms come with lubricant on them, but it never hurts to add extra. Just make sure if you do that your lube is condom-compatible—oil-based lubricants (including massage oil, hand lotion, and Vaseline) can cause condoms to break.