Safer Sex Supplies and Materials

Safer Sex Products

Item	How used for safer sex	Advantages	Disadvantages
Latex Condom	Barrier method on penis or sex toy	InexpensiveAccessible Effective Natural	Can cause irritationin people who are latex-sensitiveOnly effective on covered areas (contagious scrotal sac can transmit infection) Decreased sensitivity without addition of lubricant or ribs
N-9 lubed Condom	Not. Effective as birth control only	InexpensiveAccessible	Can cause irritation, therefore susceptibility to infections.Can keep HIV alive longer than its natural lifespan n  Only effective on covered areas (contagious scrotal sac can transmit infection) Decreased sensitivity without addition of lubricant or ribs
Lambskin Condom	Not. Effective as birth control only	Natural  birth control alternative formonogamous couples latex sensitive persons	allows HIV and small-sized infections to pass through its barrierOnly effective on covered areas (contagious scrotal sac can transmit infection) Non stretchy, easy to rip
Polyurethane Condom	Barrier method on penis or sex toy	Accessible, affordable, effective against most STIs	n  Non-stretchy,n  more expensive than latex n  not as much style/size selection n  Only effective on covered areas (contagious scrotal sac can transmit infection) n  Decreased sensitivity without addition of lubricant
Female “Reality” Condom	Barrier method inside vagina or anus, or over penis/ larger sex toys	Simple protection for women without relying on partner to agree withrelatively accessible relatively affordable prelubricated for sensitivity/ease of use	n  Less commonly found than condomsn  more expensive n  Only effective on covered areas (contagious scrotal sac can transmit infection)
Latex exam glove- powdered	Barrier method used over hands to prevent cuts, protect from fluids	affordableeasy to put on effective	likely to cause sensitivity/ irritation to wearercan irritate partners with sensitivity
Latex exam glove- powder free	Barrier method used over hands to prevent cuts, protect from fluids	affordableeasy to put on effective less likely to irritate wearer	can irritate partners with sensitivitycan be more difficult to put on/ rip when wearing
Nitrile exam glove	Barrier method used over hands to prevent cuts, protect from fluids	affordableeasy to put on effective non-irritating to wearer or partner	not as stretchy as rubbermore expensive than latex
Vinyl exam glove	Not. Can provide limited protection from sharp nails, etc but can allow small viruses and germs to pass thru.	affordableeasily accessible non-irritating to wearer or partner	ineffective as full barrier for disease prevention
Latex Dental/Dam	Barrier method used over genitals/ anus to prevent fluids exchange during oral se	affordablesomewhat accessible flavors available	dental size is small/ thickcan irritate those w/ sensitivity Easy to drop/ confuse sides
Latex Sex Dam	Barrier method used over genitals/ anus to prevent fluids exchange during oral sex	affordablesomewhat accessible thinner, larger size flavors available	can irritate those w/ sensitivityEasy to drop/ confuse sides
Poly Sex Dam	Barrier method used over genitals/ anus to prevent fluids exchange during oral sex	affordablesomewhat accessible larger size than “dental” (Hot) tasteless non-irritating	Easy to drop/ confuse sidesThicker than some latex
Latex Finger Cot	Barrier method used over finger to prevent fingernail cuts/ fluid exchanges during digital stimulation	affordablesomewhat effective	can irritate those w/ sensitivityonly covers a small area
Saran Wrap	Barrier method used over genitals/ anus to prevent fluids exchange during oral sex	affordableeasily accessible non-microwavalbe provides some protection- better than nothing clear	microwave versions are perforated and therefore uselessbox can cause cuts not as effective as latex or thicker poly easy to drop/ confuse sides
Latex Shorts/ briefs	Barrier method used over genitals/ anus to prevent fluids exchange during oral sex	Easy to keep track of barrier sideReusable Effective Stimulating when combined with lotsa lube	Initially expensivehard to find very fitted- sizing required n  sometimes hard/impossible to see through