Being on the receiving end of these common excuses (and condom myths) is a universal experience: “It doesn’t feel as good”, “I’m really good at pulling out”, and “I’ll pay for the morning-after pill.” Thanks to some long-standing contraception fodder, it seems we're still skipping the barrier contraceptive. In fact, new research by Here We Flo suggests that just 15% of the nation regularly restock on condoms, despite a third of Gen Z and millennial women stopping birth control in the last year.
More disheartening stats? According to the Family Planning Association (FPA), nearly one in 10 think it’s taboo for a woman to buy and carry condoms. Just one reason why two young Brits, Sarah Welsh, a doctor, and Farah Kabir, a former banker, are tackling the perception head-on. Their new condom brand, HANX, ditches gimmicky flavours and visuals taken from the male gaze for high-end white packaging and 100% vegan latex. “I want women to feel proud to carry protection,” says Sarah.
But with STI rates on the up, and a third of Brits stated they never use any form of contraception (AKA the best condoms), we thought it was high time to debunk some common myths — including queries on size and stretch. Yep, all those excuses to go bareback are not exactly backed by fact.
With the average Brit having 18 different sexual partners in their lifetime, we should be talking openly.
| Natika Halil | CEO of the Family Planning Association (FPA). |
| Mark Lawton | Sexual health consultant and member of the British Association for Sexual Health and HIV (BASHH). |
| Dr Sarah Welsh | HANX co-founder and doctor. |
| Farah Kabir | HANX co-founder. |
Common condom myths, debunked:
Straight up, no — and there's science to back it up. A 2007 study found that the more condom-protected sex someone had, the more likely they were to be sexually satisfied. A year later, the Kinsey Institute discovered that women using hormonal contraception and condoms enjoyed sex more than those who skipped the rubber – a finding mirrored in a 2016 study when condoms were pitted against the withdrawal method. Unsurprisingly, women felt much more sexual pleasure when using protection vs none. AKA, there is no aphrodisiac quite like safety.
I'd argue only if you let them. You might have to pause your foreplay for a second while you slide one on, but anticipation can actually add to the moment. And yes, there is another study that shares my views. A paper published in the Journal of Sexual Medicine reported that 38% of men aren’t affected at all — and of the 32% who did report condoms being a boner killer, most were likely to suffer from erectile issues outside of condom use.
CEO of the FPA, Natika Halil, believes many men who complain about condoms are either fearful of putting them on wrong or are using the wrong size. That's why she suggests trying various shapes and sizes, as well as practising when self-pleasuring solo. In other words, it’s often due to mental anxiety.
Dr Mark Lawton, Sexual health consultant and member of the British Association for Sexual Health and HIV (BASHH), also suggests that once a condom is on, many actually find it “a benefit that allows them to last longer.”
That ‘always’ is more like 2% of the time. And it’s not the condoms themselves that up the odds, but incorrect use. Common fails include:
- Using oil-based lube, baby oil or petroleum jelly with latex or polyisoprene (synthetic rubber) condoms.
- Not using enough of the best lubricants, as friction can lead to breakage.
- Ignoring the expiry date.
“Also, never use two condoms at once,” urges Halil. “It might seem safer, but it’s not, as the condoms rub against each other and are more likely to break.”
Versus the pill – er, really? By the time we’ve made a doctor’s appointment, got repeat prescriptions, remembered to take the pill and dealt with potential hormonal changes (from mood to skin to weight), it’s a wonder how the anti-condom bias ever took off.
“The latest trials on a male contraceptive pill were scrapped after 20% of men felt side effects of mood swings and weight gain," says Welsh. "Something many women have dealt with for 50 years. Condoms are a hormone-free alternative. Women have just as much right to decide which form of protection to use.”
They’re one of very few ways to protect yourself against sexually transmitted infections. “You can’t tell whether someone has an STI just by looking at them," explains Halil. “As there are often no symptoms, people don’t realise they have one.”
Plus, STIs are becoming harder to treat. “We’re finding that common STIs, such as gonorrhoea, are becoming resistant to antibiotic treatment," continues Halil. "It’s always better to protect yourself in the first place.”
