Most<unk> s have a reservoir tip or teat end, making it easier to accommodate the man's ejaculate.<unk> s come in different sizes and shapes. They also come in a variety of surfaces intended to stimulate the user's partner.<unk> s are usually supplied with a lubricant coating to facilitate penetration, while flavored<unk> s are principally used for oral sex. As mentioned above, most<unk> s are made of latex, but polyurethane and lambskin<unk> s also exist. Female<unk>  A female<unk>  Male<unk> s have a tight ring to form a seal around the penis while female<unk> s usually have a large stiff ring to prevent them from slipping into the body orifice. The Female Health Company produced a female<unk>  that was initially made of polyurethane, but newer versions are made of nitrile. Medtech Products produces a female<unk>  made of latex. Materials Natural latex An unrolled latex<unk>  Latex has outstanding elastic properties: Its tensile strength exceeds 30 MPa, and latex<unk> s may be stretched in excess of 800% before breaking. In 1990 the ISO set standards for<unk>  production (ISO 4074, Natural latex rubber<unk> s), and the EU followed suit with its CEN standard (Directive 93/42/EEC concerning medical devices). Every latex<unk>  is tested for holes with an electric current. If the<unk>  passes, it is rolled and packaged. In addition, a portion of each batch of<unk> s is subject to water leak and air burst testing. While the advantages of latex have made it the most popular<unk>  material, it does have some drawbacks. Latex<unk> s are damaged when used with oil-based substances as lubricants, such as petroleum jelly, cooking oil, baby oil, mineral oil, skin lotions, suntan lotions, cold creams, butter or margarine. Contact with oil makes latex<unk> s more likely to break or slip off due to loss of elasticity caused by the oils. Additionally, latex allergy precludes use of latex<unk> s and is one of the principal reasons for the use of other materials. In May 2009, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) granted approval for the production of<unk> s composed of Vytex, latex that has been treated to remove 90% of the proteins responsible for allergic reactions. An allergen-free<unk>  made of synthetic latex (polyisoprene) is also available. Synthetic The most common non-latex<unk> s are made from polyurethane.<unk> s may also be made from other synthetic materials, such as AT-10 resin, and most polyisoprene. Polyurethane<unk> s tend to be the same width and thickness as latex<unk> s, with most polyurethane<unk> s between 0.04 mm and 0.07 mm thick. Polyurethane can be considered better than latex in several ways: it conducts heat better than latex, is not as sensitive to temperature and ultraviolet light (and so has less rigid storage requirements and a longer shelf life), can be used with oil-based lubricants, is less allergenic than latex, and does not have an odor. Polyurethane<unk> s have gained FDA approval for sale in the United States as an effective method of contraception and HIV prevention, and under laboratory conditions have been shown to be just as effective as latex for these purposes. However, polyurethane<unk> s are less elastic than latex ones, and may be more likely to slip or break than latex, lose their shape or bunch up more than latex, and are more expensive. Polyisoprene is a synthetic version of natural rubber latex. While significantly more expensive, it has the advantages of latex (such as being softer and more elastic than polyurethane<unk> s) without the protein which is responsible for latex allergies. Unlike polyurethane<unk> s, they cannot be used with an oil-based lubricant. Lambskin<unk> s made from sheep intestines, labeled "lambskin", are also available. Although they are generally effective as a contraceptive by blocking sperm, it is presumed that they are likely less effective than latex in preventing the transmission of sexually transmitted infections, because of pores in the material. This is based on the idea that intestines, by their nature, are porous, permeable membranes, and while sperm are too large to pass through the pores, viruses — such as HIV, herpes, and genital warts — are small enough to pass. However, there are to date no clinical data confirming or denying this theory. As a result of laboratory data on<unk>  porosity, in 1989 the FDA began requiring lambskin<unk>  manufacturers to indicate that the products were not to be used for the prevention of sexually transmitted infections. This was based on the presumption that lambskin<unk> s would be less effective than latex in preventing HIV transmission, rather than a conclusion that lambskin<unk> s lack efficacy in STI prevention altogether. An FDA publication in 1992 states that lambskin<unk> s "provide good birth control and a varying degree of protection against some, but not all, sexually transmitted diseases", and that the labelling requirement was decided upon because the FDA "cannot expect people to know which STDs they need to be protected against", and since "the reality is that you don't know what your partner has, we wanted natural-membrane<unk> s to have labels that don't allow the user to assume they're effective against the small viral STDs." Some believe that lambskin<unk> s provide a more "natural" sensation, and they lack the allergens that are inherent to latex, but because of their lesser protection against infection, other hypoallergenic materials such as polyurethane are recommended for latex-allergic users and/or partners. Lambskin<unk> s are also significantly more expensive than other types and as slaughter by-products they are also not vegetarian. Spermicide Some latex<unk> s are lubricated at the manufacturer with a small amount of a nonoxynol-9, a spermicidal chemical. According to Consumer Reports,<unk> s lubricated with spermicide have no additional benefit in preventing pregnancy, have a shorter shelf life, and may cause urinary tract infections in women. In contrast, application of separately packaged spermicide is believed to increase the contraceptive efficacy of<unk> s. Nonoxynol-9 was once believed to offer additional protection against STDs (including HIV) but recent studies have shown that, with frequent use, nonoxynol-9 may increase the risk of HIV transmission. The World Health Organization says that spermicidally lubricated<unk> s should no longer be promoted. However, it recommends using a nonoxynol-9 lubricated<unk>  over no<unk>  at all. , nine<unk>  manufacturers have stopped manufacturing<unk> s with nonoxynol-9 and Planned Parenthood has discontinued the distribution of<unk> s so lubricated. Ribbed and studded A ribbed<unk>  Textured<unk> s include studded and ribbed<unk> s which can provide extra sensations to both partners. The studs or ribs can be located on the inside, outside, or both; alternatively, they are located in specific sections to provide directed stimulation to either the G-spot or frenulum. Many textured<unk> s which advertise "mutual pleasure" also are bulb-shaped at the top, to provide extra stimulation to the penis. Some women experience irritation during vaginal intercourse with studded<unk> s. Other The anti-rape<unk>  is another variation designed to be worn by women. It is designed to cause pain to the attacker, hopefully allowing the victim a chance to escape. A collection<unk>  is used to collect semen for fertility treatments or sperm analysis. These<unk> s are designed to maximize sperm life. Some<unk> -like devices are intended for entertainment only, such as glow-in-the dark<unk> s. These novelty<unk> s may not provide protection against pregnancy and STDs. In February 2022, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved the first<unk> s specifically indicated to help reduce transmission of sexually transmitted infections (STIs) during anal intercourse.
Condom
Vaginal syringe
Vaginal ring
Macy catheter
Dental dam
Word catheter
Hot water bottle
Antimonial cup