When you think of a latex allergy, you’re probably thinking of something that involves an EpiPen and maybe a trip to the hospital… but there are actually different kinds of allergic reactions that latex can cause, which range from skin irritation to full-blown anaphylaxis. You also can develop an allergy or a sensitivity to latex at any time and the more you come in contact with latex the more likely you are to develop a sensitivity to it.

I was able to use latex condoms for a few years, but I eventually became sensitized to them, even though other latex products don’t generally bother me (mucous membranes like vulvas can be more sensitive than other skin on the body). It took me a while to realize that I was becoming sensitive to latex condoms because it was a gradual discomfort that kind of mimicked the soreness you get from having enthusiastic penetrative sex. The discomfort continued to get worse until it became a burning sensation, and it became clear the condoms were the culprit.

When I tried using a non-latex condom I couldn’t believe how much better things felt. I’d gotten so used to there being a bit of discomfort—often so minor that being caught up in the act was enough to ignore it—that I forgot how good it felt when there was no discomfort all.


Latex-Free or Does Not Contain Latex vs. Not Made with Natural Rubber Latex

I’ve always found the wording used on labels to be a bit confusing for latex-free products, and it turns out there’s a very good reason. As of December 2014, the FDA revised their guidelines for how products can be labeled:

To avoid false assurances about this hazard to your health, FDA is recommending to manufacturers to stop using the labels “latex-free” or “does not contain latex.” The reason for this recommendation is that the agency is not aware of any tests that can show a product contains no natural rubber latex proteins that can cause allergic reactions. Without a way to verify that a product is completely free of these proteins, a claim that it is “latex free” is scientifically inaccurate and may be misleading. The FDA […] advises firms who want to indicate that natural rubber latex was not used in the manufacturing of their product, to state on the label that it was “not made with natural rubber latex.”

Personally, I find this wording more confusing and I will be using the term “non-latex” throughout this article, but really it all means the same thing.


Quick Links:

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Lifestyles SKYN Condoms (NOT RECOMMENDED)

Durex Avanti Bare RealFeel Condoms

Trojan Supra Bareskin Condoms

FC2 Condom (Internal Condom)

Trojan Naturalamb Luxury Condoms

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Synthetic Polyethylene Resin AT-10 Condoms

TL;DR — Pros & Cons of Non-Latex Condoms

Gloves

Dental Dams

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NON-LATEX CONDOMS

Lifestyles SKYN Condoms:

UPDATE: 2/2020
I DO NOT RECOMMEND THESE CONDOMS. LIFESTYLES HAS ADDED FRAGRANCES TO SKYN CONDOMS—WITHOUT INFORMING CONSUMERS, LISTING INGREDIENTS, OR UPDATING THEIR PACKAGING. SUBSEQUENTLY, MANY PEOPLE HAVE HAD BAD REACTIONS TO THE SCENT/FRAGRANCE CHEMICALS (I’LL WRITE A LONGER POST ABOUT THIS SOON)! I RECOMMEND USING DUREX AVANTI CONDOMS INSTEAD.

Lifestyles SKYN condoms are made from a material called polyisoprene, which is synthetic and contains absolutely no latex proteins. According to the American Latex Allergy Association (ALAA) “The polyisoprene is immunologically inert and is not known to cause allergic reactions.” Like latex, polyisoprene condoms are NOT compatible with any oil-based lubes or coconut oil, so stick to water-based, hybrid, or silicone lubes—just don’t use silicone lube with silicone toys.

Skyn condoms are the only non-latex penis condoms that come in Large, and they’re also the only brand available in multiple styles: Elite (20% thinner), Extra Studded, and Skyn Selection, which is a mix of Original, Extra Studded, and Extra Lube condoms.

Pros:

• The easiest of all non-latex condoms to find (sold in most grocery/drug stores)
• Comes in Large, as well as other styles (Elite, Extra Studded, and Extra Lube)
• Polyisoprene is a synthetic material and is not known to cause allergic reactions

Cons:

• DO NOT USE THESE CONDOMS—as of March 2017, Skyn Condoms began adding a fragrance to some or all of their condoms. They call it a “sensual masking agent,” but it’s just a fancy term for “fragrance” 
• Not compatible with oil-based lubes or oil products
• They added fragrance without updating packaging or disclosing it to consumers
• They refuse to release any safety testing they claimed was done to test whether their “sensual masking agent” was safe for oral, anal, or vaginal use


Durex Avanti Bare RealFeel Condoms:

UPDATE: April 2021:
These were discontinued in 2018, and brought back to the market sometime in 2019-2020. You can purchase them here: Amazon

Durex Avanti Bare RealFeel Condoms, like Skyn, are also made from polyisoprene—however, I ALWAYS RECOMMEND THESE OVER SKYN, since Skyn started added fragrance to their condoms.

Pros:

• Polyisoprene is a synthetic material and is not known to cause allergic reactions
• Do not contain fragrances like Lifestyle’s Skyn Condoms

Cons:

• Difficult to find in stores
• More expensive than other polyisoprene condoms
• Not compatible with oil-based lubes or oil products


Trojan Supra Bareskin Condoms

Unlike Skyn and Avanti condoms, Trojan Supra Bareskin Condoms are made from polyurethane and contain absolutely NO LATEX RUBBER. If you’re extremely sensitive or allergic to latex, I recommend using Trojan Supra or the synthetic polyethylene resin condoms I’ll talk about more below. I’ve found conflicting data, but it looks like unlike most condoms, Trojan Supra is coated in a water-based lubricant rather than silicone (I’ve reached out to the company to get an ingredients list for this).

Pros

• Contains absolutely no natural rubber latex, making it a good option for those who are extremely sensitive or allergic to latex
• Material transmits body heat particularly well

Cons

• Difficult to find in stores, but available online
• Slightly more expensive than Lifestyles Skyn condoms (at time of writing)
• Many reviews for this condom point out that it does not stretch much and will not work for larger dicks


FC2—the Internal Condom:

Often referred to as the “female condom,” but despite the badly gendered name of this condom, it can be a great option. The condom itself is quite large and easily accommodates (almost) all penis sizes (I’m sure there are exceptions to this, but I’ve heard positive feedback from people who often find Large/XL condoms too tight). Since the outer ring remains external, it also offers more coverage externally, which potentially could help to further protect from STIs that are transmitted via skin-to-skin contact. Since the FC2 condom is made of Nitrile (sheath/outer ring) and polyurethane (inner ring), it’s safe to use with all lubes, including oil-based lubes and coconut oil.

Side note though for all you over-achievers out there: just like you should never use 2 penis condoms at the same time, you should never use a penis and internal condom at the same time, as the friction will likely cause them to break.

The internal condom can look a bit intimidating if you’ve never used it before, but the CDC has a helpful illustration of how the female condom should be inserted:

Female Condom How-to Illustration - Hedonish.com

To see if FC2 is available in your country, see the FC2 distributor map or email: info@fc2femalecondom.com.

Pros:

• Safe to use with all lubes, including oil-based lubes and coconut oil
• Covers more external skin, which may help protect from STIs that are transmitted via skin-to-skin contact
• Works for a very wide range of penis sizes
• Does not require an erect penis
• Can be used vaginally or anally
• Can be inserted up to 4 hours before use

Cons:

• As of June 2017, in the US FC2 will be going to a prescription-only model (however you can buy them for $20/12-pack for those uninsured or underinsured)
• Much more expensive than external condoms
• Difficult to find and not generally available in drug or grocery stores
• Higher rates of user error during use, leading to lower efficacy rates in preventing pregnancy and STIs


Trojan Naturalamb Luxury Condoms

Naturalamb condoms are made from sheep or lamb intestines. They’re more expensive than the other penis condoms on this list, and while they protect against pregnancy, they offer no protection from STI transmission because there are tiny pores in the lambskin that viruses can pass through.

While I’ve never used these because I’m a bit squicked out about it being an animal product, Naturalamb condom users report that it’s the most natural feel of any condom, which isn’t surprising since the material is thinner than other condoms and allows for more heat transfer. It’s also biodegradable and is safe to use with all lubes, including oil-based ones.

Lambskin condoms are also the largest condoms on the market at 2.7″ wide X 7.9″ long, and are held on by Trojan’s “Exclusive Kling-Tite Band.”

Pros:

• Are reported to have a more natural feel than other condoms, and allow for more heat transfer
• Trojan Naturalamb Condoms are the largest condoms on the market and use Trojan’s “Kling-Tite” draw string at the base to hold the condom in place
• Safe to use with all lubes, including oil-based lubes and coconut oil
• Biodegradable

Cons:

• DOES NOT OFFER STI PROTECTION
• More expensive than the other non-latex penis condoms
• Made from animal products
• The large condom size may be overly large for some users
• Some users dislike the smell
• Condoms expire more quickly than other materials


Synthetic Polyethylene Resin AT-10 Condoms

Another non-latex alternative is made from a synthetic polyethylene resin called AT-10, which is said to be “approximately three times stronger than latex yet one-third the thickness of standard latex condoms.” They are 15 microns thick, which is 35 microns thinner than the thinnest latex condom. Sold primarily by the brand Unique Condoms, they have received health certification approval in Canada, the European Union, Colombia, and Australia. In the UK, Passante Unique Condoms are made from the same AT-10 material.

They are available for purchase on Amazon in the US, and on the Unique Condoms website, but note that I’m unsure if these have received FDA approval (not that this means their unsafe, especially given their approval in other countries).


Outside the US

If there are other non-latex options available outside the US, I wasn’t able to find any additional information. Please feel free to reach out with information if there are other options where you live that aren’t included here and I’ll update this list.

Overall Pros & Cons:

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Pros:

Great for latex allergies or sensitivities
Feel better during use than latex condoms
(they allow more heat transfer)
Non-latex external (penis) condoms are as effective when used correctly as latex condoms at preventing STIs and pregnancy (except Naturalamb)
Don’t have a bad taste or smell like latex
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Cons:

More expensive than latex condoms
Certain brands can be difficult to find or less accessible

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OTHER NON-LATEX BARRIERS

Gloves

I’m personally a big fan of gloves for a whole lot of reasons—here’s just a few of them:

• They help protect you from STIs, especially for anyone with a vulva who’s prone to micro-fissures or those who often have small cuts on their hands
• Gloves reduce friction (just be sure to use lube),
• They make clean up super easy
• Great for people with long nails or if you’ll be penetrating someone and your nail polish tends to chip off
• TIP: if you’ve got really long nails put a piece of a cotton ball in the end before putting them on

Nitrile gloves are a good alternative to latex, are generally pretty affordable, and are easy to find on Amazon. Stick to powder-free gloves and aim for ones with no texture. All the ones I liked had slightly textured fingertips so I turned them inside out before use.

They also come in lots of sizes–I even managed to find some small enough to fit my child-sized hands–and various colors as well. I prefer black gloves; I think they look a bit sexier and less clinical and bodily fluids don’t really show. Since I find well-fitted gloves more comfortable than ones with a bunch of extra room at the fingertips, we bought a small size for my hands and large size for my partner’s much bigger hands.

Dental Dams:

While you can purchase latex dental dams, non-latex ones seem to be out of stock everywhere. Don’t worry though because there’s plenty of creative solutions to this problem.

A) Cut Up a Non-Latex Condom:

This is a pretty easy solution because there’s a good chance you’ll have these already lying around. Cut off the tip and the end of the condom and then cut down one side. Voila! Dental dam made.

How to Make a Dental Dam from a Condom

B) Cut Up a Nitrile Glove

Use the larger gloves for this so there’s more to work with, then cut off the three middle finger and cut it open along the palm on one side. Use the two remaining fingers as grips and enjoy!

C) Non-Microwavable Plastic Wrap

I hesitate to put this on here because there’s a lot of mixed information I hear about this one. The information I hear most often is that yes, can use plastic wrap, but only if it’s NOT MICROWAVE SAFE— but after scouring stores and the internet, I’ve failed to come across any brand that isn’t microwave-safe these days. The thought is that the microwave-safe kind won’t work as a barrier because it has very tiny pores in it to allow steam to escape, and in this case, would also allow viruses in.

As I haven’t been able to locate conclusive evidence about what will and will not safely work, I’ll leave it to you all to use your best judgment. 

If you’re interested in the science behind why the non-microwavable plastic wrap is safe, check out the video below.

3 Comments

  1. I am from Canada. I have used Skyn and Durex for polyisoprene, and prefer the Skyn (particularly Elite). Every single time I have used the Durex, they have broken, on penises of various sizes. For this reason, I do not recommend them to anyone. I have also used Trojan polyurethane but do not personally like them as much as polyisoprene.

  2. Will Harrington Reply

    The video concludes that even microwavable plastic wrap is safe. The manufacturer of one brand said what makes plastic wrap microwavable is its resistance to melting at boiling temperatures, not micropores. And the impermiability test performed in the video could be done by anyone at home on any brand of wrap. This is awesome news!

  3. Thanks for this! I had a really similar experience to yours– I got increasingly sensitive to latex over time. Sadly, I’m also sensitive to nitrile (once my labia swelled up like a balloon while my girlfriend was fingering me with a nitrile glove on. It actually was kind of fascinating in a really freaky, uncomfortable way).

    I tend to use Skyns the most, and I feel like the Elite are slightly thinner and better-feeling than the original/large varieties. I really like the feeling of the Unique condoms too, but there are some cons you didn’t mention:

    1. They must be applied to a completely dry penis. They stick to it almost like tight saran wrap, which is part of why they transfer sensation nicely. This means you can’t have spit or lube on someone’s dick before putting the condom on; it can be pretty inconvenient, and difficult/not super sexy to dry off someone’s penis between, say, oral and PIV sex.

    2. They tear easily during rough sex. I can’t use them with one of my partners because he breaks them *every* time.

    3. They can be too tight for people with larger penises. I think they make a larger size now, but I’m not sure how widely available it is, and I haven’t tested it yet.

    Anyway, this is a useful guide! Is it ok if I link to it in the resources page on my blog?

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