Our country is at an all-time low as sexually transmitted infections are at an all-time high, according to The Center for Disease Control and Prevention’s 2014 National Data for Chlamydia, Gonorrhea, and Syphilis Fact Sheet.
The report reveals cases of chlamydia, gonorrhea, and syphilis have gone up for the first time since 2006. An estimated 1.4 million cases of chlamydia were reported in 2014, a nearly 3 percent rise from 2013, which is the highest figure of any STI the CDC has ever seen. Gonorrhea and syphilis also increased for the first time since 2006, with just under 20,000 cases of syphilis and more than 350,000 cases of gonorrhea.
What’s worse: Within one month of a new relationship, 50 percent of people stop using condoms, and 62 percent stop using them by month two, according to a survey conducted by Trojan that included men and women between the ages of 18 and 34 who were single or in a new relationship.
We get it, you’ve been with her for a bit, she’s using another form of birth control, and you trust that she’s clean, so why not maximize the sex for both parties? They crazy thing is, you aren’t necessarily maximizing pleasure by ditching the rubbers. We bet you’ve never heard this before, but by not using a condom, you’re missing out on some amazing sex—and Trojan suggests a lot of you are missing out.
1. They’ll help you (and her) relax
We all know that stress can ruin sex, but did you know that having sex without a condom creates stress? “Concern about pregnancy and contracting an STD play a role in the ability to enjoy sex, with nearly 50 percent of women surveyed reporting they cannot fully enjoy themselves during sex without a condom due to anxieties about these issues,” says the study. “You might not realize that these feelings are weighing on you when you’re having sex, but this piece of rubber will allow you to be in the moment and focus on the activity at hand,” adds Emily Morse, Ph.D, host of the Sex With Emily podcast and cofounder of Emily & Tony.
Morse suggests having the woman slide the condom on with her mouth, making it part of the foreplay rather than an annoying distraction.
3. They can help you last longer
That lack of direct contact can be good for you. Men who experience premature ejaculation, or just want to last a little longer, can wear a condom to increase their staying power, says Morse.
“Adding a very small drop of water-based lubricant to the inside tip of the condom will make it feel much better,” says Morse.
Using Trojan’s new Double Ecstasy Condom, with lubrication inside and out, will create the same sensation, says relationship expert and Trojan spokesperson Matthew Hussey.
5. Using a condom is a compliment
Trojan’s study found that the man is held largely responsible for purchasing and providing condoms, and she will like you more for it. But no matter who provides it, “a condom is an indicator of standards,” says Hussey. “When someone decides they are important enough to protect themselves, regardless of the love they have for their partner, it shows a level of self-worth that is incredibly compelling.” And we all know women love compliments.
