Some teens think people look smart when they have a condom. We ran some polls about this question on Sexetc.org. Here are the results:
Over 2,200 readers took our poll on guys who carry condoms.

• 38 percent think he looks “smart and prepared.”
• 30 percent think he looks like he was “expecting to have sex.”
• 25 percent think he looks like a player.
• 7 percent think he looks like he was trying to look cool.

The next week, over 2,600 readers took our poll on girls who carry condoms.

• 54 percent think she looks “prepared for anything, and smart, too!”
• 31 percent think she looks “definitely willing to have sex.”
• 10 percent think she looks like a slut.
• 5 percent think she looks like she’s trying to be cool.

As you can see, while some teens who answered the survey think that someone who carries a condom is expecting sex, most think that someone who carries a condom looks prepared and smart. In the end, though, staying safe and protected is more important than someone judging you for carrying a condom.

You can also encourage others to carry condoms—you might inspire a condom revolution! Just remember the following:
Store condoms in a cool, dry place. Storing them in a wallet or back pocket for long periods of time will make them more likely to break.
Avoid throwing them somewhere where they could get punctured by a pin or anything else, so backpacks and purses aren’t good ideas either.

What’s the bottom line? While letting sex “just happen” may feel romantic, it doesn’t protect your health. You need to talk about using a condom before you even start getting sexual. When you talk openly about your expectations, both you and your partner understand that if you do have sex, protection is a must. You could ask your partner, “Hey, what’s your favorite condom brand?” or, “Is there a drugstore near your place to buy condoms…you know, just in case we decide we want to do that?”

When you talk about using condoms, it doesn’t necessarily mean that you are saying you want to have sex at that particular time. It just means that you place a strong value on avoiding pregnancy or STDs or both!

Here are a few tips from other teens on talking about condoms and safer sex with a partner:

“I’d simply ask, ‘You have protection right?’ If he said no, then I’d say, ‘No deal. No condom, no sex. But most importantly, no STDs.’”
—Kristen, 17

“When we’re kissing, I ask my boyfriend, ‘Hey, you have a condom right? Just in case?’ If he says no, then I let him know I’m going home early, so that we aren’t even tempted to go without!”
—Malik, 18

“My girlfriend buys condoms in bulk from a Web site, and I pay her back for half. That way we both know we have plenty of condoms, and we both pay for them. It works for us!”
—Drew, 19