We’re all for rape prevention, but when you can’t stop the crime, why not score immediate payback with the help of a little latex and some barbed plastic? That’s the idea behind rape-prevention condoms by RapeX. Basically, if you feel like you may be in danger one evening — exploring a foreign city alone, getting walked home by a cute stranger you just met—you put the device into your nether regions with an applicator, and anything that gets all up in your space will be gnarled by the barbs. They’re made of plastic, but those suckers have a nasty bite and will need to be surgically removed.

We hope you’ll never have to test out the RapeX, but we can pretty much guarantee the jerk on the receiving end won’t get very far once his man bits are being ripped open by your hidden defenses. [RapeX]

Hi, I’m Dr. V.  I’m not a real doctor, I just play one on the Internet. What I am is a lady, a lady who is a fool for love! And I love nothing more than sex. My deepest desires have happily led me on many adventures in the sack, but they have also, sadly, made me one of my gyno’s most valuable players. But I’ve lived to tell the tale(s)! So, from time to time, I will dish the dirt on everything from getting freaky to getting freaked out. Now, let’s get this party started…

Last week, I got down on my knees and begged!  And not for the usual reason—I was just pleading with you, in honor of STD Awareness Month, to always use a condom.  It’s saved my ass in more ways than one, that’s for sure! Now, a lot of people think condoms aren’t sexy because it makes the passion take a time out. Well, that is just not true, girl!  Putting on a prophylactic can be a smooth move that your man will ask you to do over and over again.  That is, if you stick it to him using nothing but your mouth! Here’s how you can slide a condom on him with nothing but a smile.

Hansaplast’s ads for their new long pleasure condoms crack me up and definitely get the message across—don’t screw outdoors with your dude strapped into one of these babies, because it will make for some very hard to explain tan lines. One more, after the jump…

Earlier this week we told you how the federally funded United States Agency of International Development (USAID), stopped distributing American-made condoms overseas in favor of less expensive Chinese-made condoms. USAID’s switch caused a bit of stir, not only because it means 300 jobs at an American condom factory will be lost, but also because several other Chinese imports have been recalled for being harmful or deadly (i.e., cat food and kids’ toys). Some think using a condom that was made in China is too risky, as a result of these manufacturing problems. Most of us at The Frisky will quickly glance at the expiration date on our condoms, but we had no clue where these condoms were actually produced—are we even using condoms that were made in the U.S.A.? Keep reading to find out where seven popular condom brands are manufactured.

Fashion designers and houses love to have their labels plastered on billboards, T-shirts, and handbags. But who knew something as simple as a wrapper could get the fashion world’s attention. United Colors of Benetton joins Alexander Wang, Yigal Azrouël, and Marc Jacobs in the lengthening line of fashion brands that have released condoms. The Benetton condoms are made in Japan by Okamoto Industries, which also manufactures Beyond Seven condoms and automotive interior material. The condoms, which sell for $15.50 for 12, only come in pink and green—not quite all of the united colors, but the wrappers are kind of cute and not sexually explicit. I’m still not sure what batteries have to do with condoms, but maybe the message is that sex with a condom is everlasting and energizing. This designer condom trend may create a niche group of collectors ...

Would you use a foreign-made condom because it was cheaper than an American-made condom? I know, you’re probably thinking, “Wait, does it matter where my condoms are made?” Perhaps. There was a time when the “Made in America” stamp on a condom box meant its contents were high quality and would perform their function. But the federally-funded United States Agency of International Development, which has distributed an estimated 10 billion condoms overseas, recently chose to replace its contract with Alatech, a condom manufacturer in Alabama, with manufacturers in China and Korea. The overseas condom makers can sell their product to USAID for 2 cents, whereas Alatech sells its condoms for 5 cents. The change came after Congress omitted “buy American” language from a recent appropriations bill. This switch threatens 300 jobs in Eufala, Alabama where Alatech is located, but could it also give the people USAID is trying to help a false sense of security?

“[The AIDS epidemic in Africa] is a tragedy that cannot be overcome by money alone, that cannot be overcome through the distribution of condoms, which even aggravates the problems…. It is of great concern that the fabric of African life, its very source of hope and stability, is threatened by divorce, abortion, prostitution, human trafficking and a contraception mentality…. The traditional teaching of the church has proven to be the only failsafe way to prevent the spread of HIV/Aids.”—Pope Benedict XVI

While it’s to be expected that the Catholic Church continues to have a conservative outlook on abortion and premarital sex, the fact the Pope is still unwilling to get behind the use of contraception to stop the spread of AIDS surprises (and appalls) many—especially as he embarks on a tour of Sub-Saharan Africa, where 22 million (that’s 67%) of the global total of 32.9 million people with HIV live. Nearly three quarters of AIDS deaths in 2007 were in the region. I wasn’t raised Catholic, so this doesn’t have any impact on my faith in God or whatever, but I do wonder how Catholics feel when Church leaders still take such a conservative position on this vital issue. Readers please share in the comments! [Guardian U.K.]

Giving whole new meaning to the term “whiskey dick,” these “McCondoms” supposedly taste like Scotch Whiskey. Hey, nothing turns on a lady faster than the faint taste of cheap booze on a guy’s genitalia, right? But on St. Patrick’s Day, I can’t help wondering: is it sacrilegious to use Scotch Whiskey-flavored condoms on an Irish holiday? [via DearSugar]

On the newest episode of “The Real World: Brooklyn” (the show started last week and has been relatively boring), one of the male housemates made a big show of having to use Magnum condoms. Oh really dude? Seriously, there is no bigger marketing scam than Magnums, except maybe New Coke, only New Coke failed, and Magnums, for whatever reason, are still on shelves.

Hi, I’m Dr. V.  I’m not a real doctor, I just play one on the Internet. What I am is a lady, a lady who is a fool for love! And I love nothing more than sex. My deepest desires have happily led me on many adventures in the sack, but they have also, sadly, made me one of my gyno’s most valuable players. But I’ve lived to tell the tale(s)! So, from time to time, I will dish the dirt on everything from getting freaky to getting freaked out. Now, let’s get this party started…

This week, I got an alarming phone call.  My most recent ex-boyfriend went to get tested like a sensible young man and I’m so proud of him—but I’m sorry he had to call me with his results.  While it wasn’t good news, I’m truly grateful he talked to me about it openly. Sex is dirty, and sometimes you can’t totally clean up the mess, but you can always take measures to stop it from spreading! I know my ex was not so thrilled to have to call me to tell me to get tested too, however, it made me realize why I was with him in the first place. He’s respectable and responsible for divulging what he knows with me, for better or for worse.  Although it can be a tearful inspiration, I’d like to dedicate this installment of Dr. V to all the men and women, like my ex-boyfriend out there, who are brave enough to pick up the phone and show someone they still care by telling them the truth about their health and the risks they shared.  According to the CDC, who just this week reported 19 million cases of STDs in 2007, there are a lot of people who need to make a similar confession.  So, here’s how you do it, as pain-free as possible.

Durex’s new ad, featuring condom balloon animals doing it in various positions, is so amazing and funny, it could do a lot for the rubbers’ public image. After all, more than one guy (and girl) has complained to us about hating them, despite knowing they’re necessary in order to prevent pregnancy and the spread of STDs. After the jump, we tracked down even more hilarious outtakes from the condom balloon animal video shoot—those horny humpers sure get outta hand.

As sexting gets more popular, safe sexting gets a grant! A series of modern sex ed soap operas have been filmed and distributed via cell phones thanks to an endowment and the commitment of a New Jersey nurse and professor. Rachel Jones, the RN behind the video productions, has spent her career committed to preventing the spread of HIV and AIDS in young women. Sadly, her home state of New Jersey has the highest number of women living with AIDS in the entire U.S. Shockingly, 82% of infections in the 18-to-29-year-old group nationwide are heterosexual African-American ladies and Latinas. Nurse Jones is perplexed by the figures, saying, “It is astounding, it is a completely preventable infection.” So, she has labored for grants to normalize condom use by sending girls text messages. More, after the jump…

Men premature ejaculate because you are just too damn fine! Girl, you know it’s true! Well, that’s the concept behind Durex’s new limited edition Stamina Pillows. Originally given away with their Performa condoms that have a mild anesthetic to prevent dudes from beating you to the finish line, the cases feature some not-so-sexy pictorials—like an old bag lady with pigtails, a pearl necklace, and armpit hair licking her lips.  It’s pretty creepy.  But there’s also a redheaded guy with cabbage patch bangs sucking on a lollipop and we think he could be Michael K from Dlisted’s soul mate. Hey, beauty is in the eye of the beholder, so, it might not work for everyone! However, we’re willing to try anything if it means we’ll get to party with our pants off for even just a few more minutes. Check out a few more stamina pillows, after the jump! [Popgive]

A German entrepreneur is applying for a federal trademark to use the Freedom Tower to market a line of condoms. His proposed slogan is “Freedom Tower: Make Love Not War.” Clearly this guy lacks originality; he stole his product name from the main building in the new World Center Complex that has yet to be completed, and he borrowed the tagline from the ‘60s anti-war movement. Relatives of Sept. 11 victims are understandably upset, and the Port Authority, who owns the Freedom Tower, is scrambling to block his use of the name. If he needs to find an alternate name for his line of condoms, he should check our list of phallic-shaped buildings—doesn’t “Big Ben Condoms” have a nice ring to it? [NY Post]

The Jonas Brothers may lose their virginity sooner than they had planned—and maybe they’ll make some Jonas Bastard Babies while they’re at it. A recent federal study has discovered that teens who pledge virginity until marriage are just as likely to have premarital sex as those who don’t promise to wait until they’ve got a ring on it. They’re also much more likely to screw without condoms and other forms of birth control. “Taking a pledge doesn’t seem to make any difference at all in any sexual behavior,” said study author Janet E. Rosenbaum of the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health. “But it does seem to make a difference in condom use and other forms of birth control that is quite striking.” In fact, the number of students who reported condom use during sex was about 10 percent lower for those who had taken the pledge.

A Note On Playing It Safe: The Frisky thinks safe sex is smart sex - so please practice it in the way that’s right for your relationship.

So, NPR posted a story saying that condom-less sex is the new engagement ring, because going bareback shows the same or similar kind of intimacy and trust and commitment that traditional marriage does. I see their point, though the man-friend and I dropped the connies well before we got engaged—but only when we’d agreed to be monogamous and had done the all important STD-tests etc. Over at fellow lady blog Jezebel, outgoing Features Editor Moe says about sex without a condom:

“...here is the irrefutable: it feels awesome. Maybe that is because I have only really engaged in bareback sex with the types of dudes who don’t fear HPV and whose diseases I don’t particularly fear, because the worst thing I can think of about most of them is the ensuing lifetime of awkward conversations…”

In other words, sex with condoms sucks, the worst that could happen to me if I go without condoms with a dude is maybe I could get pregnant or get HPV or “diseases I don’t particularly fear” and of having those diseases, the worst part is having awkward conversations with future sex partners. There is so much that is ridiculous about that statement, but I’m not in the business of ripping people apart for their personal sexual choices.

People are strange when it comes to condoms. Most people don’t like them much, but they continue to use them because they do their job. But if you’re a woman and you want to enjoy sex, you might want to use condoms and take birth control. According to data from The Kinsey Institute, women who use both hormonal contraception and condoms report higher overall sexual satisfaction. Now, “sexual satisfaction” doesn’t been “sexual enjoyment.” Satisfaction goes beyond the immediate act and includes things like sexual self-esteem and relationship satisfaction. So, while this study seems earth-shattering—Use condoms and hormonal contraceptives and enjoy sex more!—it’s probably not.

We don’t know anyone who uses female condoms, and unlike the ones made for men, you don’t often see commercials advertising their benefits. However, this may soon change. A new, potentially less-expensive version of the female condom will be considered by a Food and Drug Administration advisory panel this week. The panel of health experts will weigh in on whether the FC2 Female Condom adequately prevents pregnancy, HIV, and other STDs. While the new condom is similar to the one on the market right now, it’s made from a new synthetic rubber material called nitrile, as opposed to polyurethane.

Male condoms generally cost consumers between 50 cents and $2 a piece, while female condoms cost between $2.80 and $4 each. If the cheaper female version is approved, will you use it? Tell us in the comments… [Reuters]