Condom Information

As you can easily tell by visiting online condom retailers like CondomDepot.com or BuyCondom.com, the range of available condoms extends far beyond mainstream brands like Durex or Trojan, and even these major manufacturers offer a seemingly endless array of choices. These condoms usually sport various gimmicks -- ribs, twists, flavorings -- designed to set them apart from the plain kind. The trouble is, beyond the gimmick, it can be hard to determine how likely these condoms are to do the job they were intended to do -- that is, prevent pregnancy and the transmission of STDs.

One condom that's received a lot of attention from reviewers is Inspiral (*est. $13 for box of 12). As its name hints, this condom has a prominent, twisted, seashell-shaped spiral on its end, which is designed to turn the male appendage into a kind of low-tech sex toy. A tester for Men's Fitness says this condom "felt good, but made my penis look deformed," but Men's Health likes its "pleasing friction" and it's a big hit with testers at Cosmopolitan. Unfortunately, Inspiral doesn't rate well for strength in one recent, scientific review, which is why we haven't included it in ConsumerSearch Fast Answers.

Another well-known brand that's favored by some reviewers is Naturalamb (*est. $30 for box of 12), which is manufactured by Trojan. Naturalamb's trick is that it's made out of natural membranes, rather than the latex of mainstream condoms. For people who are sensitive or allergic to latex, Naturalamb condoms may be an option. In a recent review, Women's Health magazine chooses Naturalamb as its top pick, saying "it's so thin and flexible, it feels like a second skin," and this condom also has its diehard fans on Amazon.com. Unfortunately, though, Naturalamb condoms are much more expensive than regular condoms, and they aren't included in Consumer Reports' strength testing. The Trojan website also cautions that Naturalamb "does not prevent the transmission of sexually transmitted diseases (STDs)."

The female condom is a thin sheath worn by a woman during sex. The FC female condom was approved in the U.S. by the FDA in 1993, although it is not always easy to find. One brand, formerly called the Reality, is made by Mayer Labs (*est. $10 for 3). Another type called the VA is still waiting FDA approval. A good introductory article on "The Female Condom" can be found at the website of AVERT, an international HIV and AIDS charity based in England. So far, female condoms haven't really caught on in the United States.

An article on Slate.com called "The Other Trojan War" by Brendan I. Koerner gives a brief history of the selling of condoms in the U.S., especially the Trojan brand.

CondomDepot.com is a retail website that sells condoms and also has useful condom reviews.

BuyCondom.com is another website that sells condoms and has helpful condom information.

Condom Manufacturers

Durex

Kimono (also FC Female Condoms):

Lifestyles

Trojan