Did you know that some of the world's most famous lovers regularly used condoms? Jacques Casanova'who may be history's greatest lover'performed his trysts wearing protection made of sheepskin and neatly tied with a ribbon, probably around his testicles, to keep from losing it. Another famous cocksman'and bisexual'was Lord Byron, the English Romantic poet. Historians currently estimate that in his lifetime Byron may have had sex with from 200 to 500 men and women and yet recorded no instances of sexually transmitted disease nor left a string of unplanned pregnancies. How did he do this? Like the proverbial Boy Scout, Byron was always prepared and apparently bought the condoms available in his time by the box load. Silent screen star Rudolf Valentino was so renowned in his career that when Sheik brand condoms started marketing in the 1930s, they put his profile on every package of condoms they sold.

During World War II, American G.I.s was issued millions of condoms along with their food rations and uniforms. This may partly explain the notorious British comment on the troops as "overpaid, oversexed, and over here!" So just when did this notion of you can't have good sex wearing condoms originate? Is it really like "taking a shower with a raincoat on" or is that just something someone made up out of ignorance?
Well, it turns out the author of that dubious comment is unknown, so it may just be as "truthful" as that story about young George Washington chopping down a cherry tree. In other words, it's a myth.

Unfortunately a lot of both men and women still carry around a psychological myth about condom use, believing unfairly that condoms put up a barrier between them and full-on intimate contact. But do you really believe that a microns-thin bit of latex is going to make a difference between intimate and non-intimate sexual activity?

There is still a lot of misinformation and outright lying going on about sex. We all know this. We all also know by now that there is no respect, no love, no intimacy being shown by callous temporary lovers who don't show concern over preventing STDs and unplanned pregnancies simply because they pretend a condom isn't cool. What's so cool about giving someone genital herpes? What's cool about an unplanned pregnancy with a one-night stand or even an unmarried SO? The "coolness" factor isn't a reality. It's another myth.

Face it, in our lifetime, in our reality, condom use is just playing smart and smart'at least according to most people'is sexy. And sexy can be fun. The new brands of condoms seem as much about fun as about protection. Some glow in the dark, some are done in brilliant colors and patterns; some have nifty bumps and ridges that stimulate in ways a plain penis never could. Trojan brand condoms, in fact, recently started a new condom combo set which includes a disposable vibrating cockring. And the materials some of the new condoms are made of are so sheer there's really none of that "intimacy" lost. Condom manufacturers are listening to users, too, and making versions out of non-latex materials for those who have allergic reactions to latex.

Okay, I also promised to tell you about the fun part of safe sex, didn't I? Here's one thing: safe sex is fun because you'll find you're not worrying afterward if you've "caught something" or might be pregnant.
Most women already know'and many men are finally catching on'that those moments just after really good sex are some of the most intimate, precious, and memorable they will ever spend. Maybe it's the afterglow, the cuddling, the just being together and knowing what you just shared, the growing thought of "let's do that again!" Fun isn't just the roller-coaster thrill. It's also the grin, the soft smile, the intimately-shared worry-free moments together. So, condom use is smart, sexy . . . and fun. And that's no myth.