Condoms and pregnancy tests make any safe sex toolkit complete by giving you the extra protection you need with the peace of mind you want.
Being on Birth Control is an amazing feeling. You get to have the fun you want without the worry. But what happens when you forget a pill? Two? The efficacy goes down and the worry goes up.
It’s okay, we’re all humans and it’s impossible to be perfect. That’s why (drumroll please) condoms and pregnancy tests are so crucial to making your sex life even safer.
Condoms
Despite common misconceptions that condoms feel terrible or are slimy, sticky messes that are impossible to put on, they’re actually incredibly effective, totally easy to use (if you know how), and come pre-lubed so you’re good to go in a snap. Not sure how to properly pull on a condom? Here’s how:
Take the tip of the condom in one hand and gently pull down to remove excess air
While holding the tip, carefully slide the shaft of the condom down over your favorite penis
Be sure not to catch the material on long nails or jewelry—tiny tears are your worst nightmare
Check that the condom is in place and completely rolled down and do your thing
Not only are condoms easy, they work. When used correctly, male condoms (aka external condoms) are 98% effective. Score! Not into external condoms? No problem. Female condoms (aka internal condoms), worn inside the vagina, are 95% effective if used properly. Not sure how to insert an internal condom? Here’s how:
Be careful when opening the condom as to not rip it
Find a comfy position for insertion. Most women prefer squatting, laying down, or standing with one leg up
Take the condom with two fingers on the open ring side and squeeze it so you can insert into your vagina as far as it will go (think of how you insert a tampon)
Once firmly inside (do a little wiggle test to be sure it’s in) you’re good to go
You may be thinking: I’m on Birth Control and I’m great at taking it at the same time daily—why do I need to wear a condom? While Birth Control is fantastic for pregnancy prevention, it does not protect you from STIs. Condoms add an extra layer of protection so you can have safer sex.
Pregnancy Tests
Whether you’re hoping for a positive or crossing your fingers for a negative, having pregnancy tests on hand will keep you grounded and take the guesswork out of the age-old question: Am I pregnant? BTW, if you are pregnant and want to understand your options, we've created this toolkit just for you.
While most Birth Control methods are highly effective, there is always room for a smidge of error. When those unsure moments come up, you’ll be able to rid the wonder within a few minutes. That beats a panicked drive to the drugstore.
Have the sex life you want by adding condoms and pregnancy tests to your safe sex toolkit. We offer both! You can add them to your cart via your The Pill Club dashboard. Not a Pill Club patient? Sign up today to add these sex essentials to your nightstand and medicine cabinet.
Bonus
Do you want to be extra, exxxxtra safe? Add Emergency Contraception (EC)—aka the morning-after pill—to the mix. This safe, easy to take pill delays ovulation, giving more time for the sperm to die before it reaches the egg, which prevents pregnancy altogether. It is not the abortion pill and it won’t interfere with existing pregnancies. Its purpose is to stop pregnancy before it starts.
Additionally, EC doesn’t impact future pregnancies, so there’s no worries there. If you’re not ready to have a baby now, EC won’t stop you when you are.
When you take EC, you might notice a temporary change in your menstrual cycle. It might come later or earlier than normal, and you might have some spotting. This will even out as you resume taking your birth control regularly.
The important thing to remember about EC is the sooner you take it, the better it works. Most brands should be taken within 72 hours of unprotected sex, while one can be taken up to five days later.
Wanna know something awesome? We also offer EC! It’s super easy to add to your subscription, too. If you have insurance, getting emergency contraception online is as low as $0 with most plans. If you don’t, it’s only $18.99. All you have to do is go to your Pill Club dashboard, add it, and checkout. Boom. Now you can have EC on hand for those OOPS! moments.
At The Pill Club, our goal is to provide the most up-to-date, objective, and research-based information to help readers make informed decisions. Articles are written by experienced contributors; they are grounded in research and evidence-based practices. All information has been fact-checked and extensively reviewed by our team of experts to ensure content is accurate and on par with current industry standards. Articles contain trusted third-party sources that are either directly linked to in the text or listed at the bottom to take readers directly to the source.