# Condoms and Water **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [June 28, 2004, 3:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/condoms-and-water/252495 "2004-06-28T03:58:27Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 11\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![teemingONE](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/b4bc9f/32.png) [@teemingONE](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/teemingONE)\ **Post date:** [June 28, 2004, 3:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/condoms-and-water/252495/1 "2004-06-28T03:58:27Z")
Just wondering how effective are condoms if you have sex in, lets say, a jacuzzi? Or in a pool, or tub, or whatever? ---
**Author:** ![Otto](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/bbe5ce/32.png) [@Otto](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Otto)\ **Post date:** [June 28, 2004, 4:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/condoms-and-water/252495/2 "2004-06-28T04:12:12Z")
I don’t know what the chemical effects of chlorine are on latex (Googling seems to indicate chlorine breaks latex down but I don’t know if the concentrations generally found in hot tubs or household baths would have that effect or how quickly) but from a comfort standpoint being in water would cause the water-based lubricant you should use with latex condoms to wash away fairly immediately. I don’t know how quickly vaginal lubrication would be replenished but for anal sex with little or no natural lubrication it would get uncomfortable if not downright painful. ---
**Author:** ![teemingONE](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/b4bc9f/32.png) [@teemingONE](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/teemingONE)\ **Post date:** [June 28, 2004, 3:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/condoms-and-water/252495/3 "2004-06-28T15:13:45Z")
Alright, thanks for that. ---
**Author:** ![Tim\_T-Bonham.net](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/46a35a/32.png) [@Tim\_T-Bonham.net](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tim_T-Bonham.net)\ **Post date:** [June 29, 2004, 1:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/condoms-and-water/252495/4 "2004-06-29T01:53:11Z")
Also, condoms used underwater have a much greater tendency to come off, thus exposing the users to possible pregnancy, STD’s, etc. ---
**Author:** ![Reeder](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/c6cbf5/32.png) [@Reeder](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Reeder)\ **Post date:** [June 29, 2004, 1:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/condoms-and-water/252495/5 "2004-06-29T01:57:15Z")
Chemicals in water might affect latex but I hardly think it would happen in the time it takes for a bout of sex. As for the water and coming off. Dunno about you…but mine fits a bit tight for water to get in to make it come off. If it didn’t fit tight wouldn’t that defeat it’s purpose? ---
**Author:** ![jayjay](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jayjay/32/6765_2.png) [@jayjay](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jayjay)\ **Post date:** [June 29, 2004, 2:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/condoms-and-water/252495/6 "2004-06-29T02:38:00Z")
Water-based lubricants (which I sincerely hope y’all are using with those latex condoms) will wash away in water. Not only does this make certain sex acts painful, it increases the chances of the condom breaking as friction increases with the diminution of the lubricant. ---
**Author:** ![Ms2001](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ms2001/32/18463_2.png) [@Ms2001](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ms2001)\ **Post date:** [June 29, 2004, 2:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/condoms-and-water/252495/7 "2004-06-29T02:45:28Z")
In my experience, natural lubrication doesn’t last very long in a pool or hot tub. ---
**Author:** ![Cartooniverse](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cartooniverse/32/3084_2.png) [@Cartooniverse](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cartooniverse)\ **Post date:** [June 29, 2004, 12:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/condoms-and-water/252495/8 "2004-06-29T12:30:45Z")
There is an upside to wanting to use a condom in a hot tub or jacuzzi ( opposed to a normal swimming pool ). Sperm die fast when heated. That is why a post-pubescent male has the testes hanging beneath the abdominal wall ( which is mighty darned warm, due to not only normal blood flow but proximity to the femoral artery ). You are not sterile but are seriously [url=" [Reducing Sperm Production Using Hot Baths](http://www.puzzlepiece.org/bcontrol/kiser1962.html)"]Hedging your bet\*\* against pregnancy by using a condom AND being immersed in hot water. OTOH, you cannot use a petrolium-based lube to keep thing squishy and delightful- it will rot the condom. And you cannot use a water based lube because you’re in the water. I’m thinking Crisco, myself. 😃 :eek: Cartooniverse ---
**Author:** ![Cartooniverse](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cartooniverse/32/3084_2.png) [@Cartooniverse](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cartooniverse)\ **Post date:** [June 29, 2004, 12:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/condoms-and-water/252495/9 "2004-06-29T12:32:29Z")
Oops. [Hedging your bet](http://www.puzzlepiece.org/bcontrol/kiser1962.html) ---
**Author:** ![HeyHomie](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/heyhomie/32/207_2.png) [@HeyHomie](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/HeyHomie)\ **Post date:** [June 29, 2004, 12:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/condoms-and-water/252495/10 "2004-06-29T12:32:53Z")
I read a book recently in which a couple of skinny-dippers decided to go for it… in the lake! The book didn’t mention a condom. Anyhoo, how bad is this, from a health standpoint? I’ve heard that doing it in the water is hard on ( 😃 ) the vagina, particularly if the water is cold. And, by doing it in the lake, wouldn’t the guy’s penis be introducing all of the pathogenic microbes in the water into the woman’s cervix? Please help. Mrs. HeyHomie are having a “picnic” at Lake Springfield later this week… ---
**Author:** ![Kama45](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/7bcc69/32.png) [@Kama45](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kama45)\ **Post date:** [June 29, 2004, 12:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/condoms-and-water/252495/11 "2004-06-29T12:33:32Z")
What about chlorine’s effect on sperm and other STD agents?