Buy Condoms Discreetly

Buying condoms can be nerve racking and uncomfortable. It is completely normal to feel nervous about your purchase. Luckily, there are many options for purchasing condoms. You can find a method that is comfortable for you. Take pride in yourself for being sexually responsible and practicing safer sex.

Steps

Preparing to Buy Condoms

  1. Relax and keep your cool. Take a deep breath and remember that buying condoms is responsible and normal. You will probably feel like everyone is staring at you and the cashier is judging you. In reality, people are not paying that much attention to you. You are not the first person who has ever come to the store to buy condoms.
  2. Do your research. Figure out what type of condom you are going to purchase before beginning your mission. Determine the brand, condom size, and material (e.g. latex, polyurethane, lambskin) you prefer.[1] Going into the store with a specific condom to buy will keep you from spending extra time in the store. Pick out a few options in case the store does not carry one of the brands you are interested in buying.
    • Also, find out how much the condoms will cost. You want to be prepared when you go to the store.
    • Only consider brands that are FDA approved.
    • If you are a guy, measure your erect penis to help you choose the right size condom. You can also use an online condom calculator[2] to help you make a decision.
    • Search online for condoms, and read reviews
  3. Choose a store that is not close to where you live. Purchasing from a store that is 20 or 30 minutes away can keep you from running into people that you know. You may also feel calmer knowing that you probably will not see your family, friends, or classmates.
    • Visit the store before you buy your condoms. Take a few minutes to see what section (e.g. family planning aisle, pharmacy, etc.) the condoms are located. If the condoms are kept behind a counter, you may want to purchase your condoms from a different store.
  4. Plan to shop during off peak hours. Visit the store when it's relatively quiet and there are only a few other shoppers. Stores are less busy in the early morning hours and very late at night. You will not have to worry about running into other people in the aisles or other people noticing that you are buying condoms.
  5. Think of the condoms as just another item. Think of your condoms as just another personal care item that you are buying like toothpaste, shampoo, or deodorant. Changing your mentality can help you be less nervous. Simply include that aisle during your shopping trip, pick out what you are looking for and continue shopping.
    • Appear calm and confident when you purchase the condoms. You do not want to draw extra attention to yourself because you are acting nervously.

Making your Purchase

  1. Buy a few other items. While not necessary, you might feel more comfortable if you buy a few things and put them in your cart before buying condoms. This way, you are not standing at the counter with nothing but a box of condoms. You can also use the other items in your cart to cover up the condoms. This way other people will not be able to look in your basket and automatically see the condoms.
  2. Go to a convenience store. Convenience stores and gas stations sell condoms as well. These stores are smaller and have less people. If you purchase from a convenience store, you may have to talk to the cashier and let him or her know that you need to buy condoms. If you do not mind interacting with the cashier, but want to avoid large crowds, this may be an option for you.[3]
  3. Use cash and throw away the receipt. Throw away your receipt at the store. You do not want to walk around with a condom receipt in your pocket, wallet, or jacket. If you throw away the receipt as soon as you walk out of the store, you do not have to worry about a parent or friend finding out about your purchase. If your parents monitor your credit card/debit card spending you may want to buy the condoms with cash. You will not have to answer any questions about a charge in your card.
  4. Try self-checkout. Instead of using the checkout line, buy your condoms from a store that has an automated checkout, where you scan your purchases and bag them yourself. This will allow you to avoid talking to a cashier. Most grocery stores and large retailers have self- checkout stations.
    • If self-checkout is not an option, paying for the condoms at a more secluded register in the back (e.g. the hunting section or automobile section) is a good way to avoid crowds of people and you can sometimes also avoid long lines.
  5. Buy in bulk. Buying condoms in bulk will keep you from having to go to the store so much. Keep your extra condoms in a cool, dry place. Check the expiration date before you use the condom. If a condom is expired or damaged, it will not be effective.
  6. Buy them in an adult store. If you're over 18, you can visit an adult store to purchase condoms. You will not feel out of place at an adult store because everyone there is buying sex-related items. The people who work at an adult store are usually very knowledgeable about the merchandise and can answer any questions you may have about the different condom options.
  7. Buy condoms online. There are plenty of websites that will let you order condoms and have them delivered to your home. The condoms are usually delivered in plain, discreet packaging as well. They typically require payment for debit or credit card but will use a much more discreet name on the bill. You won't have "Jack's Sex Shop and Condom Store" on any of your card bills.[4]
    • Simply search, "buy condoms online," to find a site where you can purchase condoms.
  8. Go to a clinic. Teen clinics and HIV/STD prevention centers, Planned Parenthood[5], and some local health departments offer condoms free of charge with no questions asked. If you have questions, there will be people there who will be genuinely happy to answer them.
    • You can call the clinic or visit the website to make sure that they provide free condoms.

Tips

  • Remember that you are doing something responsible, both for your safety and your partner's.Unprotected sex can lead to pregnancy and HIV and other sexual transmitted disease ,so use protection if you're not planning on getting pregnant.
  • You may be able to get condoms from your school nurse. The availability varies from school to school.
  • Make sure not to buy flavored condoms for vaginal or anal sex. They can cause irritation and the powder tends to spread. They can also cause infections for your partner.
  • Make sure to learn how to properly use a condom.
  • Condoms don't prevent HPV (genital warts)if they are on the pubic area a condom won't stop that area from touching.
  • If you experience itching, rashes, bumps, blisters or other irritations after using a condom, either on the area itself or on the rest of your body, stop use immediately and check with your doctor. You may have a latex allergy, in which case you should turn to alternatives, such as female condoms or polyurethane.

Related Articles

Sources and Citations

  1. ↑ http://contraception.about.com/od/malecondom/f/condom_types.htm
  2. ↑ http://www.condom-sizes.org/condom-sizes/condom-sizes
  3. ↑ http://stayteen.org/sex-ed/article/how-buy-condoms-part-1
  4. ↑ http://goaskalice.columbia.edu/answered-questions/embarrassed-about-buying-condoms
  5. ↑ https://www.plannedparenthood.org/planned-parenthood-southwestern-oregon/oregon-teens/confidential-teen-services
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