It feels like the joke of our generation has become, “Condoms? Who uses those anymore?” Yes, that may actually sound funny, but the fact that the sentence is more of a true statement than an actual joke is kind of sad. For example, on twenty-first birthday checklists, one of the popular to-do items is “get a condom.” That may sound simple enough. In actuality every person I’ve known who has tried to check this off their list has actually failed, myself included. Mind you, it wasn’t like my friends and I had only asked one or two people. Some of us literally searched the entire bar and were still S.O.L. Whether or not we were planning on having sex isn’t the point. The point is nobody had one on them. I highly doubt that nobody there had hopes of getting lucky that night or even plans to get some. We’re all in college, let’s be serious.
Nowadays, most guys resort to the pull-out method, or assume all girls are on some sort of birth control. Even if that’s true for the girl, that doesn’t mean you’re safe from STDs. I’m trying to say this without completely sounding like that awkward “talk” you had with your mom, aunt, grandma, older sister, creepy health teacher or whoever. Think about it, you walk into a convenience store and you’re standing in the aisle that holds condoms or pregnancy tests. Which one would you rather have people see you buy? I’m going to take a wild guess and say condoms. Sorry to offend the boys (not really), but most of them can be pretty stupid and could care less, especially after a few drinks. Owning condoms may not be their top priority, even if they are sexually active.
However, girls can be guilty of that, too. Sit your intoxicated self down for a second and think about how well you know this guy. If it’s just a random, one-time thing, then you clearly don’t know him well. You don’t want this dude to become your baby daddy, and you also don’t know if you’re just another tally mark on his list. There may have been another girl like you the night before. One who he may not have used protection with either. Gross. The point is, never assume that the guy you’re thinking of going home with has a condom on him, or at least at his place. I swear, if guys could get pregnant, there would be a bunch of them walking around campus, trying to hide their baby bellies.
Take the initiative to carry one in your wristlet or wallet when you go out. It’s not going to make you look too promiscuous. Nobody says you’re going to use it just because you have one. It’s just better to be safe than sorry. Then, if you do end up finding a suitable boy-toy for the night, you will have nothing to worry about. We’re young, but we’re also legal adults now, too. It’s time to practice how to act like a responsible one. This doesn’t mean you can’t have fun anymore. There’s no shame in your game, girlfriend.