You can get male condoms free from a family planning clinic, many sexual health clinics and some GPs. Female condoms are free from some family planning clinics. You can buy male and female condoms from a pharmacy or through mail order as well as from vending machines, supermarkets, garages and other shops. You only need to use them when you have sex. There are no side-effects from using condoms.
Male condoms come in different shapes, types and sizes to suit everybody.
Male condoms are easily available. A female condom can be put in any time before sex. Putting them on can interrupt sex. A male condom can sometimes slip off or split. Some people are allergic to latex, though this is rare.