When I came to Ohio State, I knew right off the bat that safe sex was super important to me. After all, STIs have become an epidemic on college campuses, and most college students aren’t ready for kids just yet. I knew that I needed to take control of my own sexual safety, as I couldn’t always rely on my partner to have condoms ready to go. That’s when I found out about the Condom Club at Ohio State.
What is the Condom Club?
The Condom Club is a service through the Student Wellness Center that allows students to save money on condoms and other barrier methods. Students can purchase up to 25 condoms a day for $5 BuckID Cash.
The Condom Club carries high-quality condoms from brands such as Trojan and LifeStyles. These include ribbed, lubricated, extra sensitive, snug, latex-free and flavored condoms. It also has other barrier methods such as oral dams and female condoms.
Check out the club’s condom and barrier menu to see the complete list of products.
How does one join?
To join the Condom Club, head on down to the Student Wellness Center inside the RPAC. The front desk staff will sit you down to watch a 10-minute video about the correct way to use condoms. After that, you’ll take an easy 10-question multiple-choice test about the video. If you get an 80 percent or higher, you’re officially in the club until you graduate! The whole process takes less than 20 minutes.
Check out this instructional video for an in-depth guide on how to join!
Why are condoms important?
Let’s wrap up this article by discussing why condoms are so important. Condoms are about 85 percent effective at protecting against pregnancy. While they’re not the most effective form of birth control, condoms are the cheapest and most accessible option. Condoms are also the only method of protection against sexually transmitted infections. Sperm can also upset vaginal pH balance, so condoms can help maintain a healthy balance of bacteria and prevent abnormal scents.
Some people don’t like to use condoms, but it’s time to end the social stigma around safe sex. Condoms can be sexy! They can deter ejaculation in men and help male partners last longer in bed. They also bring peace of mind when it comes to preventing STIs and pregnancy.
The Condom Club has made safe sex so accessible at OSU. I highly encourage becoming a member (and yes, ladies, you can be responsible for buying condoms too). The club can prevent so much anxiety and save so much money, allowing anyone to take control of their own sexual health.
For information about discussing condoms with your partner, click here. Check out the Wellness Center website for more information on its other services such as STI testing and relationship education.