If you’re engaging in casual sex, condoms really are a necessity. Yeah, there’s a lot of reasons why you or your partner might not want to use a condom, but in a time when the consequence of unprotected sex can be DEATH, you really owe it to yourself and your partners to use condoms EVERY time you have sex outside of a long-term monogamous relationship.

This brings me to a relatively common problem. Some people are allergic to latex - which is what the vast majority of condoms are made out of. Latex allergies can be severe and are sometimes the reason why people skip the condom when they have sex.

Fortunately, you don’t have to trade potentially catching an STD for having a severe allergic reaction. The vast majority of people can use polyurethane condoms without any allergic reactions. There are also a few condoms made from lambskin and other natural materials, but "natural" condoms may be somewhat porous, which means they are not as effective at blocking the transmission of viruses like HIV. Because of this, if you or your partner can’t use latex, I recommend polyurethane condoms.

Even beyond the allergy issue, polyurethane condoms have some other advantages over latex. Polyurethane condoms are thinner and transfer heat better than even the thinnest latex condoms, which results in a much more "natural" feel to sex.

The primary downsides to polyurethane condoms are that they are significantly more expensive than latex, they’re a bit more difficult to find (not as many stores carry them), and they aren’t as elastic as latex.

This last issue of elasticity is an issue primarily because polyurethane condoms have a much greater tendency to slide off than latex condoms, particularly if they are lubricated. Because the polyurethane condoms are also less noticeable to the wearer, it is quite possible for them to slide off without the wearer knowing it. For this reason, it is a good idea to check the status of polyurethane condoms periodically during intercourse to be sure the condom is where it should be. You might also want to consider using an additional elastic band or cock ring to help hold the condom in place. Even a plain rubber band will work - just fold the rim of the condom around and under it to keep it away from the skin if latex allergy is a problem).

With a little extra care, polyurethane condoms provide sexual protection that is more pleasurable and less prone to causing allergic reactions than the more common latex condoms.