How to Buy Condoms
Pick up your wallet, take out the cash, hand it to the cashier…ah, if only buying condoms were that easy! But as you may imagine, this purchase can come along with healthy dose of both confusion and embarrassment. To help with that, here’s your play by play:
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Buy the right size. Condoms stretch a lot. Literally, I’ve seen a dude stretch one over his head before. This is to say that very few guys NEED magnum-sized condoms. Though the men who need them find them more comfortable, it’s a bad idea for regular sized guys to buy them because any condom that is too big can more easily slip off. - Don’t get Serengeti fever/distracted by all the options. There must be 7,453 types of condoms on the market right now (and about a thousand on the shelves if you go to a big drug store). There are flavored ones, colored ones textured ones…seriously it can be like shopping for balloon animals. The truth: they aren’t really that all that different. Different people might grow to prefer different brands over time, but you can never go wrong with a plain lubricated condom. (Think bottled water here…there are a zillion brands at the end of the day they taste pretty similar and all quench your thirst).
- To spermicide or not to spermicide. Here is another choice to make. Although spermicide adds an extra layer of pregnancy protection, it can also be irrigating to the vagina. If you want to use two forms of birth control—which is always a good choice!—a condom and a hormonal method (pills, ring, patch) may be your best bet.
- To lube or not to lube. Many condoms these days come lubricated with substances that claim to “make you last longer,” “turn up the heat,” or make sex “explosive.” Again, these are mostly marketing ploys, and some of these tingling lubricants may be distracting or even uncomfortable. Perhaps something you want to try at some point, but to play it safe, steer away from these. If you do want to use a lubricant, you can always stick with any simple water-based lubricant on the isle (i.e. no oils, body lotions, etc. since oil-based lubricants make condoms more likely to break).
- Keep your cool. So you have the condoms in hand, you’re walking up to the register, and you’re starting to get nervous. What is the cashier thinking? Are they judging me? Are they going to announce to people what I’m buying? The answer to all of these worries is very likely NO. Assuming you don’t know the cashier, they likely couldn’t care less what you’re buying. Maybe the first few times someone bought condoms they found it awkward or funny, but at this point, they’re probably immune to it and are just thinking about getting off work. And seriously—they’ve seen enough people’s shopping that your condom purchase is likely not that big of a deal to them, so don’t sweat it.
After all that, it’s important to remember what buying condoms means. Worst case scenario, let’s say the cashier does judge you—or has a judgy face. Remember what it means about you that you’re buying condoms: it means that you’re being safe and that you’re being prepared. It doesn’t even necessarily mean that you’re having sex! (Or that you have to have sex.) But whether you need to use that condom tomorrow or two years from tomorrow, it’s always a smart thing to have around.
* image credit: saysthesinglegirl.com
Amber Madison has been writing about sex, love, and relationships since college (she went to Tufts University) when she wrote for her school newspaper's sex ed column. Since graduating, she's published two books: Hooking Up: A Girl's All-Out Guide to Sex and Sexuality and Talking Sex With Your Kids and has been quoted in a ton of different media outlets from Seventeen magazine to MTV to NPR. Have a question for Amber? Send us an email!
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WHAT OTHER TEENS ARE SAYING:
When I first bought some I was super nervous and right before I got in line at the register I realized something, there’s a self check out Lane I Used that no one saw me, now I’m pretty confident about that kind of stuff
If you need comdoms wear sunglasses ad then buy em
My girlfriend wants to have sex already but I’m nervous about buying a condom
Im 13 and really need condoms! i live in california and my town isnt that big. What stores can i try to buy them. P.s I look like im 15, or 16.
how many of you guys that are having sex, thought of caring for a baby. has it cross your mind at all. I’m 18 and i’m waiting to get married before anything and that the smart chose. don’t be scared that you partner will leave because your bad after marge, if he truly love you. he will stay. and i am pretty sure your fine
I’m 14 now and am confused on how old I have to be to buy condoms. And where to buy them at? Like the best place because I live in a small town where everyone one knows each other and I don’t want someone telling my parents about this. So how can I buy these and where’s the best place to keep them?
no condom no sex simple as that
if you are seriously asking “what if my boyfriend wants to have sex without a condom what should I do” you are stupid DONT HAVE SEX WITHOUT A CONDOM! tell him the deal is no condom no sex, don’t be stupid about sex people teen pregnancy is a serious issue. be smart about sex or don’t have sex at all, simple as that
I am 16 i have been dating my boyfriend for three years we love each other omce me and him went to nuy condoms because we thought it was a good tim for us to have sex so the casher did not judge us all he said was “Have a nice night” LOL i laughed
Im 16 and i use comdoms sometimes. its scary when you dont so you should just to protect yourself they are not expensive and if you feel awkward buying them you shouldnt be having sex its a very big and mature decision. ive never worried about size its not that hard you just grab a box and if it doesnt fit they stretch or just get a bigger size. if you do feel nervous or awkward just think 5 bucks for condoms or 15 for diapers.
Thanks that really helped alot
I’m 15 and my boyfriend is 16 and we’ve been together for 2 years now and we’ve also been having sex… without a condom. So, I found out about three weeks ago I was pregnant…and that my boyfriend cheated on me I couldn’t take it anymore so without telling anyone I terminated the pregnancy..I felt so horrible I couldn’t even go to the same school as him so I moved 9 hours away…by myself (yea I ran away) but im with family and I’ll do better here… best wishes to all the teens out there.. its not easy so good luck
that helped
And dont go to a huge open pharmacy where people can just judge you more stay on the low side like a corner store they somtimes have condoms and there arent alot of people there
Or Next to the feminine hygiene; at least that’s where they are at Target.
To the 14 year old, You don’t need to now; and probably shouldn’t. I’m 18 and I haven’t had sex (granted I also haven’t dated anyone either, but even if I had I wouldn’t have.) In all likelihood having sex at your age is illegal, and in a messy breakup that could be really bad. Especially if your partner is older or younger than you.
Obviously, beyond issues of legality and consent, the right time is when you feel ready, and not because of outside influences like that. (or possibly when you feel just about ready and so does your partner- like in anything a little nervous is OK, it means you care about the results and the action.)
Sex is Not a physical decision, it is a mental decision.
Sex is a really emotional thing- that is why there is so much about it in literature and visual art and pop culture.[how many songs, how many stories] (And even more worked into the interpretations.)
I doubt at eighteen I am ready for that. At fourteen I surely wasn’t. I was and still am rather stunted on the romantic side of things. You should be ready physically, but also mentally, and emotionally, and trust the person enough for that level of intimacy.
While I cannot tell you “you’ll just know”; there might be some truth in that. There was for my college decision. And in some ways this is just as big a decision, it will change your life- possibly not as profoundly as you had thought- possibly irrevocably.
To the 15 year olds. I personally still think you are too young, but it is not my decision what you do. However, I will emphatically say that 15 is too young to have a kid. You have so much life left before you are even legally an adult.
You have two to three years of high school left. And, while anecdotally there are plenty of girls who completed high school despite becoming moms, there are lots who don’t.
We live in a world where it is hard to support yourself and a family well without at least a high school education. Important concepts being “well” and “difficult”.
Babies are cute they become toddlers then children then teenagers, less and less cute, and not less exhausting. If you are physically young the baby is more likely to have a low birth weight or be a preemie. Both of which can be bad for the child’s health.
Children of teen mother’s have a big struggle ahead of them, as do the mothers.
I imagine at 15 it is hard to get hormonal birth control, because, again legality.
Insist on a condom; unless you are perfectly alright with having a kid as an option.
Explain why you want either him to wear one- or you yourself wear a female condom or some other method (I’m sketchy on the other methods and their accessibility.)
If his reply is “If you love me you’ll do it.” The correct response is “If You live Me, you’ll respect my wishes for my future and my health.” (or some variant there of.)
To the young: Tell him. Hopefully you are close. Soften the blow with something like, “it was very nice, but I’ve realized I wasn’t really ready.” Or I would like to go back to cuddling like before. Something to convey that, it isn’t because he is bad at sex or it was awful and you hate him. But rather that you aren’t comfortable with it being a regular thing. Or something. I think there needs to be a soothing element, the can we not anymore- at least for now, and have some ideas of other things you can do together,and possibly delve deeper into why you don’t want to, so you can give something better than “i just don’t” if he asks why don’t you want to have sex anymore? And, Hey, if you’re lucky he’s actually on the same page and was just to shy to tell you.
What size is a guy? My guess is it depends on how well endowed he is and how developed. From what I know 1) the penis is not necessarily proportional to the guy. 2)The average is what 4 or 5 inches or something- not actually that big. 3) The average size is labeled as large. Basically the sizes are skewed to be flattering.
Granted- I cannot vouch for any of this from personal experience. And I don’t remember the actual numbers- though there is surprisingly good documentation about male genitalia out there.
to all of you who said boyfriend goes unprotected he is selfish, not thinking about you getting preggers…. yes they are uncomfortable to wear, usually pretty dang tight, but its smart and i would wear one.
Tell him that you don’t want to risk becoming a teen mother or him a teen father, so you would prefer him to use a condom especially if you are not on birth control, trust me honey I have to toddlers its not fun your teen years will be long gone if you become pregnant
So im 15 and my boyfriend wants to have oral sex but go in to vaginal intercourse like last time. And he dont wear a condom or let me wear one. What do i do?
Ps:i want to have sex because it makes me feel good.
My boyfriend want to have sex without using a condom wat should I do
i’m young. and recently i’ve been having sex with my boyfriend. but after thinking about it more i don’t think i want to again for a while… how do i tell him?
What size condom would a guy need if he’s 15?
You will know when the right time is.
This isnt a comment it is a question
Im 14 and all my friends are having sex and that makes me feel like I need to.
When is it the right time to have sex?
oh and about how much money are condoms?
where would you buy them? im not planning on having sex but i was just wondering. because if i were to have sex i want it to be protected. i have no idea where to buy them. i have looked in rite aid and walgreens but i cant find any. also is there an age limit for condoms.
ANONYMOUS:
You can find condoms in any pharmacy like CVS, Rite Aid or Walgreens in the family planning section. You can always ask for help if you still can't find them. There isn't any age limit to purchase condoms. Condoms are usually under $5.00 for a box of three.
Thanks for your question!
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