Delay condoms
Delay condoms hold a mild anaesthetic, usually benzocaine at around 4 to 5%, in the lubricant inside the tip. It dulls sensation slightly so sex lasts longer.
If you have landed here wondering whether something is wrong with you, it is worth putting that to bed first. In Australia's biggest sexual health survey, about 1 in 4 men said they reach orgasm sooner than they would like. It is one of the most common experiences there is, it says nothing about you as a partner, and it is why every major brand sells a delay option.
The way they work is straightforward. Benzocaine is a topical anaesthetic, the same family as the gel a dentist rubs on your gum, and inside the condom tip it slightly blunts the nerve signals where you are most sensitive. It acts locally, it washes off, and the effect fades over the session. Put it on so the lubricant faces inward and very little of it reaches your partner, which is the main thing people get wrong.
Two honest caveats. Give one a solo test run before it matters, because too numb is a real outcome and it defeats the point. And if this is weighing on you rather than being a mild annoyance, a GP has better tools than a condom does, and that conversation is far more routine than you would imagine. Our delay condoms guide goes through the evidence, the alternatives and the GP conversation properly.
Any feature works better once the fit is sorted, so if you're not sure of your size, that's the place to start.
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Frequently asked
Does the numbing affect my partner?
It can if you handle it carelessly, since the anaesthetic sits inside the condom. Rolled on properly with the lubricant facing inward, very little reaches anyone else.
How much longer do they actually make you last?
The evidence for benzocaine condoms specifically is thin. The best studied topical option is a lidocaine and prilocaine spray, where a proper trial took men from a 0.6 minute average to 3.8 minutes.
Can I use one every time?
Yes, there is nothing to build up. Just be aware that delay condoms cluster around 53 to 56mm, so if you sit outside that band you are choosing between the delay effect and the right fit.