Non-Latex Condom FAQ

This FAQ is written by our owner Bob Ramstad who started working in this industry full time in 1998. The opinions shared here are his. We believe the information is accurate, however, as with any information on the Internet, we recommend folks verify it for themselves. Feel free to quote from this FAQ elsewhere, but please include a link to the complete FAQ so that folks can read the entire FAQ for themselves. Thanks!

Why should I consider a non-latex condom?

Most people who use non-latex condoms have allergies to latex. There are also folks who simply prefer non-latex condoms because of how they perform.

Are they as safe as regular latex condoms?

In the United States, the federal Food and Drug Administration is responsible for setting the specifications and documentation required for the manufacture or importation of condoms. Non-latex condoms are made of different materials than latex condoms, but they meet the same requirements set by the FDA for breakage, certification and testing.

I've never heard of non-latex condoms before. Are they new?

In fact, the earliest condoms were not made of latex. They were made from lamb or sheep intestines, and weren't all that different from lambskin condoms available for purchase today.

What different non-latex condom materials are available?

In the United States, non-latex condoms may be made of lambskin, polyurethane, polyisoprene, or nitrile.

What are the advantages and disadvantages of lambskin condoms?

Lambskin condoms have a unique natural feel to them because they are made of flesh. Unfortunately, this also means that they do not protect against STDs, as the pores in the material allow for HIV and other small particles to pass. Lambskin condoms are a great choice if the only concern is pregnancy. Another drawback is cost, as lambskin condoms are the most expensive option.

How about advantages and disadvantages for polyurethane condoms?

Polyurethane is extremely strong, and so as a result, polyurethane condoms can be made extremely thin, much thinner than any latex condom. Many of the ultra thin condoms we carry are made of polyurethane. The material also transmits body heat well, better than latex does. The combination of these two factors results in greater sensitivity. On the downside, polyurethane is somewhat brittle, and if it fails, the break is usually significant, with the polyurethane condom tearing. Polyurethane is also expensive to produce, and as a result, polyurethane condoms are expensive.

I've never heard of polyisoprene condoms. What are they like?

Polyisoprene condoms are quite new, with only three styles available in the United States, Lifestyles SKYN Condoms, Lifestyles SKYN Large Condoms and Durex Avanti Bare Condoms. Polyisoprene is made by taking natural latex rubber and sending it through a process which removes the latex allergens. The result is a material that is very similar to latex but with greater tolerance by a wider range of people. The material is also inexpensive to produce. The major drawback for polyisoprene is that it is possible to be allergic to it, this is somewhat rare, but not unheard of.

Which condoms are made from nitrile?

Nitrile has been used for making non-latex gloves for years, and is commonly found in any doctor or dentist office. Nitrile is relatively inexpensive to produce and feels quite a bit like latex. Recently we introduced the FC2 Female Condom which is made of nitrile. Nitrile has some advantages over other materials and works very well for a female condom. In particular, the original FC Female Condom was made of polyurethane and as a result was very expensive.

Are there any non-latex non-lubricated condoms?

Unfortunately, we're not aware of any non-latex non-lubricated condom available anywhere, and certainly not in the United States. The FDA is always concerned about reliability and breakage, and lack of proper lubrication is one of the main reasons condoms break. Given these concerns, I suspect it will be a long time before we see a non-latex non-lubricated condom. I might add that condom manufacturers are very careful to select lubricants for non-latex condoms that are well tolerated by most people, so if the issue is allergies to lubricants, most people will find lubricated non-latex condoms work well.

Are there any large non-latex condoms?

Currently, the only large non-latex condoms are the Lifestyles Skyn Large Non-Latex Condoms which are a good choice for someone who needs a truly large condom. Actually, most non-latex condoms, while not advertised as such, are a bit larger than average. Kling-Tite Naturalamb Condoms are somewhat longer and somewhat wider than traditional condoms and are made of lambskin. Trojan Supra Condoms are made of polyurethane and are substantially wider than any latex condom. Folks who need something even bigger should try the FC2 Female Condom which is a loose pouch, made of nitrile, which is inserted. This is obviously a very different approach from a traditional male condom, but it's well worth trying.

Someone told me that non-latex condoms won't protect against HIV. Is that true?

No, that's not true, with one important exception, and I think that's why people get confused. Lambskin condoms, because of the properties of the natural materials used in them, will protect against pregnancy but not STDs such as HIV. The lambskin has fairly large pores which allow viruses and other materials to pass. The pores are much smaller than sperm, so they do reliably protect against pregnancy. Now, that said, every other non-latex condom material has very small pores, and effectively keep viruses and other materials from passing. In summary, folks who are concerned about transmission of HIV or other STDs and who need or prefer a non-latex condom should choose a condom made of polyurethane, polyisoprene, or nitrile.

Links

Non-Latex Condom FAQ (this page)
http://www.condom.com/faq-non-latex-condoms.html

Non-Latex Condoms
http://www.condom.com/nonlatex.html

Polyurethane Condoms
http://www.condom.com/polyurethane-condoms.html

Lambskin Condoms
http://www.condom.com/lambskin-condoms.html

Lifestyles SKYN Condoms (Polyisoprene)
http://www.condom.com/lifestyles-skyn-non-latex-condoms.html

Lifestyles SKYN Large Condoms (Polyisoprene)
http://www.condom.com/lifestyles-skyn-large-non-latex-condoms.html

Durex Avanti Bare Condoms (Polyisoprene)
http://www.condom.com/durex-avanti-bare-polyisoprene-condoms.html

FC2 Female Condoms (Nitrile)
http://www.condom.com/fc2-female-condoms.html