Condom Comebacks
Adapted from the Head and Hands Sense Project Peer Education Training Manual, with input from TeenTalk MB.
Q — Don’t you trust me?
A — Yep, I trust you not to put us at risk for infection.
A — I do trust you, but either of us could be infected and not know about it. It would be much easier for me to relax and enjoy myself if I didn’t have to think about HIV or other STIs.
Q — You were carrying a condom with you? You were planning to seduce me!
A — You’re right! Just call me safety boy /safety girl … always ready for action.
A — I always carry one with me, just in case, because you never know what could happen.
Q — I can’t feel a thing when I wear a condom.
A — Well you won’t be feeling MY thing without a condom!
A — Move over here, sexy, and I’ll make sure you feel something.
Q — C’mon, I know I’m clean. I haven’t had sex with anyone for months.
A — Without a condom I won’t be helping you change that.
A — You can’t know that you’re STI free unless you’ve been tested at a clinic.
Q — Condoms are uncomfortable and tight.
A — They blow up to the size of my head. You’re not that big.
A — So is delivering a baby.
Q — That’s insulting! Do you think I’m a diseased dirtbag?
A — Nope, that’s not what I meant. But do you know how common STIs are? I just don’t want to take any chances.
A — That’s not what I said or implied. These viruses don’t care how many lovers you’ve had. They just want a way inside your body. I don’t have sex without condoms so I won’t have to deal with them.
Q — Condoms kill the spontaneity.
A — So does this argument. I don’t do penetration without a condom and lube, end of discussion.
A — It doesn’t have to be that way. I’ve got a condom right here in my pocket (nightstand drawer, fishbowl on the shelf, bin by the bar) and the lube comes in these handy individual use packages. We’re ready to go!
Q — Just this once!
A — Once is all it takes.
A — The risk just isn’t worth it to me.
Q — I’m a virgin.
A — I’m not. This way we’ll both be protected.
Q — I don’t have a condom with me.
A — I do.
A — I guess we’ll have to postpone until we get some!
Q — I won’t have sex with you if you’re going to use a condom.
A — Fine, there are plenty of people who will.
A — Well, why don’t we have sex some way that’s safe without it — get your hands involved, use your imagination!