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Chlamydia is a common sexually transmitted infection that is caused by a bacteria called "Chlamydia Trachomatis".

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Some symptoms in men include:

pain when urinating.

white, cloudy or watery discharge from the tip of the penis.

burning or itching in the urethra

pain in the testicles.

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What are common chlamydia symptoms in men?

It is estimated that around half of all men who get chlamydia don't notice any symptoms. If there are symptoms, the following are most common:

White, cloudy or watery discharge from the penis;

Noticeable discomfort or pain during urination;

Pain in the testicles;

The symptoms listed above occur only if chlamydia has been caught through unprotected vaginal or anal sex.
Chlamydia can also infect the throat and rectum. These are acquired through sexual activities like oral or anal sex with an infected person.

Chlamydia symptoms usually appear between one and three weeks after catching it. Some men experience symptoms much later than the common time period, and again, around half of men who have caught chlamydia don't experience any symptoms.

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Symptoms Of Chlamydia In Men - Superdrug™ Online Doctor

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It is estimated that around half of all men who get chlamydia don't notice any symptoms. If there are symptoms, the following are most common: White, cloudy or watery discharge from the penis; Noticeable discomfort or pain during urination; Pain in the testicles; The symptoms listed above occur only if chlamydia has been caught through unprotected vaginal or anal sex.

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Some symptoms in women include:

pain when urinating.

unusual vaginal discharge.

pain in the tummy or pelvis.

pain during sex.

bleeding after sex.

bleeding between periods.

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Chlamydia can infect the eye and cause chlamydia conjunctivitis.

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Chlamydia could also infect the throat and cause white spots to form.

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Effects of Chlamydia in newborns includes:
- Conjunctivitis
- Pneumonia
- Low birth weight

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Long term effect:
Men with Chlamydia rarely have health problems, but in some cases it can lead to infertility.

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If left untreated, chlamydia can have negative long term effects in men. Read on to learn about the long term effects of chlamydia in men.

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Long term effects:
Women who have chlamydia often develop Pelvic Inflammatory Disease or (PID).
Symptoms include:
- Infertility
-Chronic pelvic pain

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Specialists to make an appointment with:
-OBGYN
-Infectious disease doctor
-Primary Care Provider (PCP)
-Urologist

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Compliment From Gynecologist More Psychologically Scarring Than Flattering

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SMTD junior Kayla Rhinehart is in a state of shock following a gynecology appointment during which her doctor gave her a compliment "more psychologically scarring than flattering." According to Rhinehart, the Music Theory student scheduled an annual exam with the University Health Service Gyneco

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To treat Chlamydia the infected person would be put on antibiotics. If taken correctly, about 95% of infected people are cured.

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One of the most common sexually transmitted infections (STIs) in the UK, chlamydia can affect anyone who's sexually active.

According to Patient the most current figures suggest more than 200,000 new cases of chlamydia are diagnosed each year in England (i). Younger people are most commonly affected - the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) claims around seven in every 10 people diagnosed with chlamydia are aged 25 or younger (ii). Indeed if you live in England and are under 25 and sexually active, health experts recommend that you get tested for chlamydia every year or whenever you have a new sexual partner (iii).

You're also at risk of getting chlamydia if you don't use condoms or if you've had more than one sexual partner in the last year.

Bacterial infection

Chlamydia is caused by bacteria called Chlamydia trachomatis. These can live in the uterus (womb), vagina, cervix (womb entrance), urethra (the tube that carries urine out of the body from the bladder), rectum (back passage) and even sometimes the throat and eyes. They are passed from one person to another through unprotected sex (vaginal, anal or oral).

It's also thought that the bacteria may be spread through contact with infected semen or vaginal fluid. This means you may not have to have penetrative intercourse to get chlamydia, as the infection may be spread through touching another person's genitals. The infection may also be spread if infected semen or vaginal fluid gets in your eye. Alongside chlamydia, genital herpes is another sexually transmitted infection, although it is contracted virally.

Another way to get chlamydia is to share sex toys that aren't washed or covered with a new condom with each use.

You can't, however, get chlamydia simply by kissing or hugging someone or from sharing a towel with an infected person. Chlamydia also can't be passed on through swimming pools or by sitting on toilet seats.

If you think you may have chlamydia, it's important to get tested and treated as soon as possible, as the infection can cause serious complications if it isn't treated early on. If you're pregnant and suspect you have chlamydia, it's vital that you get medical advice and treatment, as the infection can be passed to your baby.

What are the symptoms?

One of the major problems with chlamydia is that many people affected by it may not realise they have the infection. Experts believe seven out of 10 infected women and five out of 10 infected men don't have any symptoms (i), so unless they get tested they don't know they have the infection. Indeed you could have chlamydia for months or even years without realising it, during which time you could be passing it to others.

Some people, however, do experience symptoms. These usually start between one and three weeks after being initially infected - though some people don't develop symptoms until months later. Occasionally the symptoms can start, then disappear a few days later. But it doesn't mean the infection has disappeared too.

If you're a woman with chlamydia you have just a 30 per cent chance of experiencing symptoms (i). The following are among the most common:

Pain when urinating

An unusual vaginal discharge

Pelvic or abdominal pain

Pain or bleeding during or after sex

Heavier-than-normal periods

Bleeding between periods

Meanwhile around half of all men with chlamydia will have some symptoms, the most common of which include:

Pain when urinating

An unusual discharge from the penis

Testicular pain and swelling

A burning sensation or itching in the urethra

If you have chlamydia in the rectum, it can cause discomfort and an unusual discharge. If the infection affects your eyes, it can cause redness, pain and a discharge. Chlamydia in the throat, on the other hand, isn't common, and if you're affected you won't usually have any symptoms. If these symptoms don't sound like yours, you might be experiencing gonorrhoea.

Getting tested

If you have any of the symptoms of chlamydia it's important to get tested, as this is the only way you can be certain you have the infection.

If you're at risk of having chlamydia but you don't have any symptoms, it's still important to get yourself checked out. You may, for instance, be at risk if you or a partner has recently had unprotected sex, if a sexual partner tells you they have a STI, or if you've been diagnosed with another type of STI. Even if your partner has tested negative for chlamydia, it's important to have a test yourself too, as you may still have it.

Start by speaking to your GP about it. You can also get advice and tests from your local sexual health clinic (these are also often called genitourinary medicine, or GUM, clinics) and from some local contraceptive clinic. Find sexual health services near where you live.

The test itself is very simple. If you're a man you'll be asked to provide a urine sample. If you're a woman you may be asked to wipe a small cotton bud called a swab inside your vagina, or you may have to provide a urine sample. The swab or sample is sent off to the lab, and your results should be ready in a week to 10 days.

Testing kits that you use yourself at home are also available. If you decide to use a home test kit, speak to your GP or pharmacist first, as some of them aren't always very accurate.

If it turns out that you do have chlamydia, it's important to tell any recent sexual partners that they need to get tested too. But if you prefer not to contact them yourself, the clinic can get in touch with them instead without giving out your name or any other details.

How is chlamydia treated?

Chlamydia is commonly treated with antibiotics, and according to the NHS more than 95 per cent of people with the infection will be cured if they take their antibiotics as prescribed (iv).

You may be given antibiotics before your test results are ready if there's a very good chance you have the infection. Otherwise you'll only get a prescription if your test results confirm you have chlamydia.

Several different types of antibiotics are prescribed for chlamydia, but the two most commonly used are azithromycin - which is given as two or four tablets that you take all at once - and doxycycline, which you take for a week in two capsules a day. Other types of antibiotics may be prescribed to women who are pregnant or breastfeeding, or to people who have allergies.

If you've been having any of the symptoms you should notice an improvement fairly quickly after being treatment, with symptoms usually disappearing within a week or two (if your symptoms persist, see your doctor or visit your local clinic again).

However it's also important not to have sex until you and your partner or partners have completed your treatment. If you've been treated with azithromycin, it's recommended that you avoid having sex for a full week, just to make sure you don't catch the infection straight away again or pass it on to someone else.

Are there any complications?

If you don't take antibiotics to treat a chlamydia infection, there's a risk the infection could spread and cause potentially serious complications months or even years after you became infected.

In women the complications can include the following:

Pelvic inflammatory disease (PID)

PID can develop if the chlamydia infection spreads to other parts of the reproductive system such as the ovaries, uterus or fallopian tubes. This can cause a number of problems including an increased risk of ectopic pregnancy, infertility and long-term pelvic pain.

You may have PID if you have symptoms similar to those caused by chlamydia, such as pain during urination, bleeding after sex or between periods and discomfort or pain during sex. If you think you may be affected, speak to your GP or get medical advice as soon as you can, as PID can usually be treated easily if you catch it early on. You're also less likely to experience problems such as infertility if you treat PID quickly.

Pregnancy complications

If you have chlamydia during pregnancy and aren't treated for it, your risk of having a premature birth becomes higher than normal. You may also be more likely to have a baby with a low birth weight, and you may have a higher risk of having a miscarriage or stillbirth. You can pass the infection to your baby, which means they may be affected by complications such as eye and lung infections.

Chlamydia in women does not, however, cause cervical cancer.

Men with untreated chlamydia may also experience complications, including...

Epididymo-orchitis

This is an infection of the testicles and the tubes that carry sperm from the testicles, called the epididymis (another word for epididymo-orchitis is epididymitis). The symptoms include sudden or gradual pain in one or both testicles, a swollen scrotum (the bag of skin that contains the testicles) and a lump or swelling around a testicle caused by a build-up of fluid.

Again, a course of antibiotics is the usual treatment. Not treating epididymo-orchitis effectively, however, may cause fertility problems.

Sexually acquired reactive arthritis (SARA)

Chlamydia is the most common cause of SARA, a condition that causes inflammation in the joints, eyes or urethra. Symptoms usually flare up within a few weeks of being infected with chlamydia, and while SARA is more common in men, it can affect some women with chlamydia too. There is no cure, but the symptoms can be treated and usually subside within a few months.

How to prevent chlamydia

There is only one foolproof way of preventing chlamydia, and that is to abstain from vaginal, anal and oral sex. You can, however, reduce your risk of catching or spreading chlamydia to a large extent by doing the following:

Always use a condom when having vaginal, anal or oral sex.

Never share sex toys, or wash them or cover them with a new condom each time they're used by a different person.

Always cover female genitals during oral sex with a piece of soft plastic or latex, called a dam.

Natural support for chlamydia

If you're being treated with antibiotics for a chlamydia infection there are a few natural supplements that could give your immune system a boost, helping your body to recover effectively:

Live bacteria

Experts believe live bacteria - also called 'friendly' bacteria or probiotics - may help regulate and support the immune system (v). These live bacteria are thought to help restore the natural balance of bacteria in your gut.

Many natural health practitioners recommend taking probiotics if you're being treated for an infection with antibiotics. That's because antibiotics can often wipe out the protective gut bacteria as well as the bacteria that's causing the infection you're being treated for. Depending on the live bacteria supplement you use, you may usually be able to take it at the same time as your antibiotics or an hour or two later.

High-strength multivitamin and mineral

As well as having a healthy diet, taking a high-strength multivitamin and mineral supplement may help make sure your immune system is getting all the nutrients it needs to stay as strong and effective as possible, especially when dealing with infections. Make sure any supplement you take includes good levels of zinc, which is thought to be important for immune function (vi) as well as vitamin D (vii).

Elderberry juice

Another supplement that may be useful for immune health is elderberry extract as it contains powerful antioxidants called anthocyanins. There is also evidence to suggest that black elderberry extract may increase the body's production of chemical messengers within the immune system called cytokines, suggesting it has an immune-enhancing function (viii).

Vitamins B and C

Both of these vitamins support the normal functioning of the immune systems. But despite the fact that they're found in a wide range of everyday foods, many of us may be running short. To make sure you're getting the level of the B and C vitamins your immune system needs, you may want to consider taking a high-quality B complex supplement as well as a high-quality vitamin C supplement. You can also get both nutrients in good levels in a quality multivitamin and mineral formulation.

Managing an STI can be difficult, but with this guide, we hope to make it a little easier. To discover more information on a number of other common health conditions, visit our health library for some helpful advice.

1. Available online: https://patient.info/sexual-health/sexually-transmitted-infections-leaflet/chlamydia

2. Available online: https://cks.nice.org.uk/topics/chlamydia-uncomplicated-genital/background-information/prevalence/

3. Available online: https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/chlamydia/

4. Available online: https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/chlamydia/treatment/

5. , (2011 Oct). Probiotics and immune health. Curr Opin Gastroenterol. 27(6): 496-501. Available online: , , Activation of Natural Killer Cells by Probiotics. For Immunopathol Dis Therap. 2016;7(102):41-55. Available online: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4006993/
http://www.dl.begellhouse.com/journals/1a654bf03faf67ac,2451af3842dace87,4072614f2000aab7.html
, , , et al. (2000). Enhancing immunity by dietary consumption of a probiotic lactic acid bacterium (Bifidobacterium lactis HN019): optimization and definition of cellular immune responses. Eur J Clin Nutr. 54:849-855.. Available online: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/11114680

6. (1985). Trace element regulation of immunity and infection. J Am Coll Nutr. 4:5-16. Available online: https://link.springer.com/chapter/10.1007/978-4-431-68120-5_23

, ,, et al. (1986). Interrelationships between zinc and immune function. ;45:1474-1479. Available online: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/3485544/

7. (2011 Aug). Vitamin D and the Immune System. J Investig Med. ;59(6):881-886. Available online: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3166406/

8. , , (2001 Apr-Jun). The effect of Sambucol, a black elderberry-based, natural product, on the production of human cytokines: I. Inflammatory cytokines. Eur Cytokine Netw. ;12(2):290-6. Available online: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/11399518

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Disclaimer: The information presented by Nature's Best is for informational purposes only. It is based on scientific studies (human, animal, or in vitro), clinical experience, or traditional usage as cited in each article. The results reported may not necessarily occur in all individuals. Self-treatment is not recommended for life-threatening conditions that require medical treatment under a doctor's care. For many of the conditions discussed, treatment with prescription or over the counter medication is also available. Consult your doctor, practitioner, and/or pharmacist for any health problem and before using any supplements or before making any changes in prescribed medications.

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One of the most common sexually transmitted infections (STIs) in the UK, chlamydia can affect anyone who's sexually active. According to Patient the most current figures suggest more than 200,000 new cases of chlamydia are diagnosed each year in England (i).

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Preventing Chlamydia
Anyone who is sexually active can catch chlamydia. To lower your risk barrier methods such as condoms should be used every time you are sexually active.

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Related Condition Centers

Plus other condom questions, answered.

If you use condoms, you probably have questions. Lots of questions, like: Can you get pregnant with a condom even if it doesn't break? And: Should you use a condom during oral sex? Yep, pretty sexy stuff. It's important to have those questions answered because the more you know about how to use condoms, the more likely you are to use them correctly.

You might think condoms are the ultimate defender against every sexually transmitted infection, the trusty goalkeeper blocking each sperm trying to get you pregnant-and while they're pretty much the best barrier protection out there, the truth is they're not 100 percent effective. Condoms can play a key role in protecting you-when they're used correctly. And now is a good time to mention that nothing can safeguard you against STIs and pregnancy with 100 percent certainty if you have a vagina and are having sex with a person who has a penis. (Except, of course, not having sex. Which isn't useful if you definitely want to have sex, so! Moving on.)

"Condoms are the number one reason I get phone calls from friends in the middle of the night," fertility expert and reproductive endocrinologist Brian A. Levine, M.D., and New York practice director for the Colorado Center for Reproductive Medicine, tells SELF. Chalk it up to the operational hazards of being a board-certified ob-gyn. Here, he and other docs help us rectify the most common mistakes people make when using condoms-so hopefully you'll never make them again.

1. Mistake: You assume that using condoms is the best way to avoid getting pregnant.

"Condoms are a great form of birth control, but they're not perfect," says Dr. Levine. Previous contraception research indicates that external condoms (which go over a penis) are 98 percent effective at preventing pregnancies when they're used perfectly. By the way, "perfect use" in this case means using condoms consistently and correctly (which we'll talk about more in a bit). With typical use (like when you put it on incorrectly, don't use it the whole time, or don't use it every time), the failure rate of external condoms goes up to around 18 percent, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. That means that in a given year, 18 out of 100 people will get pregnant while using these condoms with typical use, versus just 2 out of 100 who use these condoms with perfect use. The failure rate of internal condoms, which go inside the vagina, is 21 percent with typical use and 5 percent with perfect use, according to prior contraception research.

If you don't want a baby right now, Dr. Levine recommends using condoms in tandem with another form of birth control, like the pill or an IUD for more thorough coverage. Because yes, you can get pregnant using a condom even if it doesn't break.

2. Mistake: You don't get tested for STIs because you've been using condoms.

Condoms can be effective at preventing STIs, but they're not perfect. They offer the most protection against infections like gonorrhea, chlamydia, hepatitis A and B, and HIV, but they're not always successful barriers against other STIs. The reason: Not all STIs spread through fluids (like semen or vaginal secretions), which means you could still contract an STI via skin-to-skin contact since condoms don't cover the entire pubic region. Here are the STIs that can spread even with perfect condom use:

1. Herpes: Herpes lesions can show on areas of skin that a condom can't cover. If you come in contact with that area, transmission could occur. The virus can also shed from the skin when there aren't any sores.

2. Human papillomavirus (HPV): This is the most common STI, and it can pass through skin-to-skin contact (even if you don't have symptoms like genital warts).

3. Molluscum: This little-known infection causes tiny bumps on the skin that may itch or feel tender. These bumps can appear anywhere on the body, including the genitals, and is generally-but not always-transmitted through sex.

4. Pubic lice (crabs): These are very small insects that live and lay eggs in public hair.

5. Syphilis: If your partner has chancres (firm, round sores) that a condom doesn't cover, the infection can spread to you. These sores can be inside the mouth too, meaning you can get syphilis through oral sex.

This does not mean that you should just say "screw it" and forget the condom altogether. Condoms are still our best defense against STIs when having sex with someone who has a penis. Just keep in mind that it's also important to keep an eye out for any new symptoms and to stay on top of regular STI testing (since many infections can be totally symptomless).

3. Mistake: You reuse a condom.

You may think this is a given, but the CDC once tweeted a warning to people: Don't wash or reuse condoms! It happens, and it is not a good idea, Alyssa Dweck, M.D., a gynecologist in Westchester, New York, tells SELF. "This is not a good habit to get into," she says.

"A used condom cannot be considered reliable when it comes to pregnancy and STD prevention," Dr. Dweck explains. You should only use condoms once, for each sex act (that means if you switch from vaginal sex to anal, you need a fresh condom). If cost or access is an issue, go to CondomFinder.org to learn where you can get free condoms in your area.

4. Mistake: You use a condom that doesn't fit well.

Penises come in all shapes and sizes, and so do condoms. "If you don't have a properly fitting condom, you don't have the contraceptive benefit of using it," says Dr. Levine. Here's why this matters: A too-tight condom might break more easily, and a too-big condom might come off too easily. When the whole point is to create a barrier strong enough to withstand ejaculate, fit is kind of an issue. So if you and your partner are about to use a condom that is clearly not the right size, say something. Yes, it can be an awkward conversation to have, but your safety matters more. Hopefully, you feel comfortable communicating with anyone who gets access to your body. And if not, check out these tips on how to talk with a partner about getting tested-a lot of them can apply to this situation, too.

5. Mistake: You use a condom that's been stored in a wallet.

Throw it out and grab a new one. It might seem like a convenient move (hey, you want to be prepared, right?) but this isn't really the safest place for something that has this important of a job. "Someone constantly sitting on the condom and heating it up breaks down its protective benefit," says Dr. Levine.

6. Mistake: You don't inspect the condom wrapper and condom itself for tears.

We get that you don't want to kill the mood by looking your condom over with a magnifying glass. And while you definitely don't need to spend 10 minutes checking the package for rips, you do want to look at the wrapper and actual condom to make sure it's intact.

7. Mistake: You use an expired condom.

And while you're already looking at the package, you might as well check the condom's expiration date, too. "The expiration date is there for a reason," says Dr. Dweck. "Some condoms have spermicide or other ingredients that break down over time and don't work as well. If a condom has expired, you can assume it won't be as safe or effective as one that hasn't."

8. Mistake: You don't apply the condom correctly.

The rolled edge of an external condom should be on the outside facing away from the penis. You'll know if you're not putting it on correctly because the condom will resist unrolling down the penis as opposed to flawlessly unfurling itself. Don't feel bad if you make this mistake! Even though it was easy to put a condom on a banana in sex-ed (or if you never got to try that brilliant exercise, you've probably seen how simple it looks in movies), that's not necessarily true to life. "I have yet to find anyone who has a penis that looks like a banana," says Dr. Levine.

That's why paying close attention to any signs of struggle is key, whether you're putting the condom on a penis or a sex toy. "People try to force it down when this happens," says Dr. Levine. But a condom resisting is a sign something's wrong, which means you should remove it and get a new one (yes, really, you'll want to toss the one you tried to put on inside out if it touched someone's genitals).

Of course, internal condoms have their own nuances. First, the CDC says to differentiate between the thick, inner ring with a closed end and the thin, outer ring. The thick ring gets placed inside the vagina and holds the condom in place. The thin ring stays outside of the body and surrounds the vaginal opening. During sex, it's best to guide the penis or sex toy inside the condom opening so they don't slip between the condom and vaginal walls.

9. Mistake: You play "just the tip" sans protection.

Ah, just the tip, the riskiest part of foreplay if you're not wearing a condom. Here's why this isn't a great idea. For starters, it's unlikely but theoretically possible to still get pregnant this way. While there may not be sperm in pre-cum, it's technically possible for pre-cum to carry out some live sperm hanging out in the urethra. (You can read more about that here.) So if you're using only condoms to avoid getting pregnant, every penis that enters your vagina should have a rubber on it. Period. And keep in mind that even if you're using another method of contraception, condoms can only protect you from STIs when they're on (this stands for oral sex too!). And yes, even "just the tip" can spread STIs.

10. Mistake: You forget to pinch the tip of the condom.

That little reservoir tip at the top of external condoms serves a purpose: It's there to collect sperm. Skip this step and sperm can actually leak out of the base of the condom. "After [ejaculation], pressure can cause sperm to leak out the sides," says Dr. Levine.

11. Mistake: You use two condoms for "extra" safety.

There is absolutely no reason to double-up on condoms, because one is sufficient enough to help cover your safe-sex bases. The friction of two against each other just makes each one more likely to break, says Dr. Levine.

12. Mistake: You use "natural" condoms instead of latex ones.

Some people are allergic to latex condoms and might try condoms made out of lambskin and various natural ingredients. The CDC says to avoid these "natural" condoms if you can because they are more porous than latex kinds, making them less effective against STIs. "They don't offer the same protection against diseases," says Dr. Levine. There are other options for people with latex allergies, including polyisoprene, polyurethane, and internal condoms, according to the Cleveland Clinic.

13. Mistake: You don't change condoms frequently enough.

If you're switching from anal sex to vaginal, it's time for a condom change. "You don't want to introduce bacteria from the rectum into the vagina," says Dr. Levine. Another crucial time to get a new condom is when your partner has already ejaculated, but you're both down for round two. Even if they don't get fully flaccid, there's a chance any softening of their penis before you start again could leave room for semen to slip out. It's also smart to change one after oral sex, in case your teeth grazed the condom without either of you noticing. And you may not think to do this, but you should use a new condom when using the same sex toy to penetrate yourself and your partner-grab a fresh condom each time you switch off who is receiving penetration or change the area the toy is being used for.

14. Mistake: You snuggle post-orgasm while your partner is still inside you.

As we mentioned, sperm can leak out of the base of a condom-especially if your partner stays inside you too long. "As nice as it would be to have a cuddle session, realize that if you do so without withdrawing first, that condom is going to fall off the penis," says Dr, Levine. If that happens, the sperm can potentially enter your vagina, which sort of defeats the purpose of wearing one.

There's also the issue that if your partner goes flaccid then pulls out later, the condom can stay inside you without either of you noticing. You may be skeptical, like, "Of course I would realize if they didn't have the condom on when they pulled out!" You might, but sometimes the lights are off, you're sleepy, or you're just not really paying attention. The point is, take off the condom, then cuddle.

15. Mistake: You don't use enough lube.

If there's a little too much friction, or if you and your partner are switching positions a lot, there's a possibility that the condom might break. Make sure that you have plenty of lubrication, either your own or from a bottle, so you can potentially avoid this problem.

16. Mistake: You use the wrong kind of lube.

Look for water- or silicone-based lubes instead of oil-based products to use with your latex condoms. You should also avoid using lotions, massage oils, or petroleum jelly as a stand-in for lube. That's because the oil from these products can actually degrade the latex, says Dr. Levine. (Read about how to choose a lube here. One affordable, expert-recommended pick is Good Clean Love Almost Naked Personal Lubricant, $7, Amazon.)

17. Mistake: You don't have your own stash of condoms.

There are benefits to buying your own condoms so you don't have to rely on your partner. For starters, you can make sure you're using a condom that you like and that you know doesn't irritate you. It's also just good to have a backup in case your partner doesn't have one.

18. Mistake: You don't use a condom every single time you should.

It may seem obvious, but in order for condoms to work, you need to use them the entire time you have sex-every single time when it makes sense to do so. Only 59 percent of people who used condoms with another form of birth control kept the rubber on the entire time, according to a 2014 study published in the journal Contraception. Researchers found that 35% of people started intercourse without a condom and that 6% removed the condom at some point during sex. This is not a good idea for all of the reasons we've already mentioned above. So make sure the condom is in place before you start having sex -and that it stays there until you're both finished.

19. Mistake: You don't use a condom for oral sex.

You can transmit or receive STIs during oral sex, so it makes sense that you'd want to wear a condom during the act. "You should use condoms or dental dams depending on who's giving [oral sex] to who," says Dr. Dweck.

20. Mistake: You never considered using an internal condom.

Internal condoms have come a long way and are totally worth trying, says Dr. Dweck. "They're very effective, and the new and improved models aren't as noisy," she explains. "I once had a patient tell me using it sounded like opening a bag of M&M's in a quiet movie theater. The noise used to be a big deterrent for women but the new models are much better." They're especially great for people who want more control over their sexual experience or whose partners don't like using external condoms (perhaps because of erectile dysfunction or another issue). That said, they can be a little cumbersome to use at first but most people get used to insertion with practice, says Dr. Dweck.

21. Mistake: You keep having sex even after the condom breaks.

You should not keep going if you feel the condom break-as tempting as that may be. Instead, the CDC recommends stopping immediately and asking your partner to withdraw or to withdraw yourself. Then, you should carefully remove the broken condom and put on a new one.
Related:

1. Is It Safe to Have Sex With a Yeast Infection?

2. How Do I Lower the Risk of Getting an STI During Oral Sex?

3. Is Peeing After Sex Actually That Important?

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21 Condom Mistakes You Should Avoid Making

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Related Condition Centers Plus other condom questions, answered. If you use condoms, you probably have questions. Lots of questions, like: Can you get pregnant with a condom even if it doesn't break? And: Should you use a condom during oral sex? Yep, pretty sexy stuff.