The time to talk about condoms is before sex! A partner might have specific reasons for not wanting to use condoms. Look over this list to get ideas about how to respond if you ever feel pressured to have sex without a condom:
“I don’t have any kind of disease! Don’t you trust me?”
“Of course I trust you, but anyone can have an STI and not even know it. This is just a way to take care of both of us.”
“I don’t like sex as much with a rubber. It doesn’t feel the same.”
“This is the only way I feel comfortable having sex but believe me, it’ll still be good even with protection! And it lets us both just focus on each other instead of worrying about all that other stuff…”
“Sorry, but I won’t do it without a condom.”
“I Love You”
“I love you too! That’s why I want to protect you.”
“It’s embarrassing to buy and carry condoms”
“It is a lot more embarrassing to get or pass on an STD or STI.”
“If we’re too embarassed to deal with comdoms, then we’re probably not ready to deal with sex.”
“I’m [or you’re] on the pill.”
“But that doesn’t protect us from STDs, so I still want to be safe, for both of us.”
“I’m sure it’s safe this time of the month.”
“There’s no safe time when it comes to STD.”
“That’s what my sister thought and now I’m an uncle.”
“Let’s be safe instead of sorry.”
“I didn’t bring any condoms.”
“I have some, right here.”
“The drugstore up the street is open. Let’s go buy some.”
“I don’t know how to use them.”
“I can show you – want me to put it on for you?”
“Let’s just do it without a condom this time.”
“It only takes one time to get pregnant or to get an STI. I just can’t have sex unless I know I’m as safe as I can be.”
“No one else makes me use a condom!”
“This is for both of us…and I won’t have sex without protection. Let me show you how good it can be – even with a condom.”