I'm a doctor who's used condoms for 15 years — here are 5 reasons why I absolutely love them

• Nsisong Asanga is a medical doctor who has used condoms with her partner for 15 years.
• She says condoms make sex better, especially when adding lube or trying flavored, scented varieties.

Growing up, I heard all kinds of things about condoms. I heard they could rob you of the pleasures of sex and that you should use them for casual sexual encounters only.

I wasn't sure what to think, so it was a pleasant surprise to find they made sex better, safer — and helped me plan my pregnancies easily, too.

People around the world have used condoms — in one form or another — for centuries.

• In 3000 BC, Pasiphae, wife of King Minos of Crete, used a goat's bladder as an internal condom to protect herself during intercourse.
• In the 15th century, people in Asia used oiled silk paper and animal intestines to prevent pregnancy.
• American inventor Charles Goodyear introduced vulcanization in 1834 — this technique made the rubber used in condoms more durable.
• In the early 20th century, scientists invented latex condoms — which now account for 80% of condom sales.
• Danish inventor Lasse Hessel reimagined and patented internal condoms in the US in the 1980s. You can use these in the vagina or anus, and they pose a lower risk of allergies, compared to latex condoms.

I am a medical doctor, field epidemiologist, writer, wife, and mother who has used condoms during every sexual encounter for 15 years, except when trying to conceive.

My partner and I started using condoms just to space our kids but grew to like them over time. And though I was a bit skeptical about them at first, they turned out to be amazing in several ways. Here are five reasons why I love them.

1. They can make sex better

While my partner usually wore condoms in our case, I can confirm condoms felt very good for both of us. He says they helped him last longer and enjoy sex more, since he didn't need to attempt a last-minute withdrawal or worry about pregnancy.

I found they made sex better for me, too, since they helped me feel confident and safe. I could relax and participate fully when I wasn't worried about getting pregnant or any other unwanted surprises.

I no longer had to be asking myself "Am I safe? Am I unsafe?" as I frantically tried to remember the dates of my menstrual cycle.

It was also a pleasant suprise to find that some condoms have a dotted, ribbed, or lubricated texture that can even help make sex more pleasurable. We regularly use lube liberally on the outside of condoms to reduce friction or dryness — but you can also add a little lube to the inside to increase sensation.

We also found condoms came in lovely flavors and scents like chocolate, strawberry, banana, and vanilla. These are designed to mask the taste of latex during oral sex, though you can use most of them for penetrative sex, too. When in doubt, just check the pack for instructions.

2. They make it easier to clean up

Sex can be quite messy, but condoms make it easier for me to clean up without worrying about semen and other vaginal fluids dripping down my thighs — especially when I don't have time for a quick shower.

Also, I don't need to douche in an effort to wash the semen away, which protects me from conditions linked to douching, like BV and endometriosis.

Important: Douching or washing inside your vagina with anything, including soaps, gels, body wash, or even water, can disrupt your vagina's sensitive pH. Though douching won't directly cause STIs, it may increase your risk of both STIs and PID.

Doctors recommend using hypoallergenic, soap-free, mild cleansers that protect the delicate balance of vaginal microbes.

Just keep in mind you'll only want to use cleansers on your vulva. It's best to avoid using any liquids or soaps in your vagina — your vagina is self-cleaning and has a delicate pH that chemicals can easily disrupt.

3. They help protect you from pregnancy

If used correctly, condoms are among the most effective forms of birth control. They are considered 98% effective, while IUD and implants are considered 99% effective.

But I prefer condoms to the other types of contraception such as implants, pills, and intrauterine devices (IUDs) because they have fewer side effects, and you only need to use them during sex.

For instance, condoms won't cause side effects associated with hormonal contraceptives or IUDs, such as:

• Weight gain
• Irregular or heavy periods or spotting between periods
• Nausea
• Cramps
• A drop in libido, or desire for sex
• Acne
• Mood changes
• Headaches
• Increased risk of pelvic inflammatory disease (PID)

I also recommend condoms to my friends and patients because they're the only kind of contraception that lowers your chances of pregnancy and sexually transmitted infections (STIs) all at once.

Another bonus? You don't need a visit to the doctor or a prescription to get a condom. You can purchase them from most drugstores and pharmacies — or even get them free at some clinics, like those owned by the nonprofit Planned Parenthood.

Important: If you have a latex allergy, then latex condoms are out of the question. But condoms come in other materials, like polyurethane. You may even find polyurethane condoms more comfortable, but since they're more likely to slip and break than latex, you may want to use a backup method too.

4. They protect you from STIs

There are over 30 different STIs, and every day, more than a million people acquire one. With many of these infections, you won't experience symptoms or know you have an STI.

The World Health Organization (WHO) supports the use of condoms during anal or vaginal sex for health reasons, though they have other benefits too.

I haven't worried about contracting an STI in 15 years. I also recommend condoms to my patients and friends because they provide a safe and effective way to reduce your risk of getting many STIs. And for most people, they have very few downsides.

Even when you and your partner get tested regularly, the screening may miss certain hard-to-detect infections, or those still in the incubation period.

But using condoms correctly reduces your risk of contracting or transmitting STIs like gonorrhea, chlamydia, HIV, and hepatitis B and C — even if you don't know your status or your partner's.

Note: Condoms are less effective for STIs that involve sores and can be transmitted by skin-to-skin contact, such as syphilis, human papillomavirus (HPV), and genital herpes — though they still lower your risk.

Using condoms also means you have a lower risk of STI-related complications, like an increased risk of cancer or pelvic inflammatory disease (PID). PID can develop when untreated STIs like chlamydia and gonorrhea spread upwards in your body to affect your uterus, fallopian tubes, and ovaries.

Can condoms help prevent other infections?

Condoms may help prevent the spread of serious infections that can be transmitted during sex.

The testes can hide and house over 30 different viruses for long periods of time, including:

• Monkeypox: Researchers have found this virus in semen, so the WHO advises anyone with monkeypox to use condoms for 12 weeks after they recover.
• Zika: This viral infection is typically spread by mosquitoes. But you can contract Zika from a partner during sex without a condom, even if they don't have symptoms. Condoms can reduce your chances of contracting Zika if your partner has the virus.
• Ebola virus: Male survivors of this rare, often deadly disease can carry the virus in their semen for up to nine months after they recover. The WHO advises survivors to use condoms and wash hands after any contact with semen for at least 12 months after recovery, or until they have two negative semen tests for the virus.

5. They protect your genitals

Besides preventing STIs, condoms can also reduce your risk of conditions like bacterial vaginosis (BV).

Your genitals are pretty sensitive. Because semen comes from an external source, it can disrupt the balance of helpful microbes in a vagina, making it easier for harmful bacteria to multiply — which may contribute to BV.

But since condoms prevent semen from reaching the vagina, they can lower the chances of developing this condition.

In one study of 871 people with vaginas, researchers found those who used condoms in 10 out of 10 sexual encounters had only about half the chance of developing BV, compared to those who used condoms less frequently.

I personally haven't had to deal with BV in the past 15 years, which has been a huge relief.

How to find the right-fitting condom

Condoms that don't fit properly can cause discomfort, according to Zoya Ali, a reproductive health scientist at Hertility Health.

A too-tight condom can break easily, and restrict blood circulation, causing a loss of sensation or your erection. Whereas, a condom that's too big can also reduce sensation — or slip off during sex.

Internal condoms are designed as one-size-fits-all, so you don't have to worry about sizing.

But when trying to choose an external condom that fits properly, these tips can help:

• Focus on the girth of your penis, not the length.
• Take your measurements when your penis is erect.
• Be ready to try a few brands and sizes until you find the right one.

Insider's takeaway

I have found that condoms are a great way to help prevent pregnancy as well as sexually transmitted infections.

My partner and I found they helped us enjoy sex more, since they helped his erections last longer and reduced our worries about pregnancy.

Plus, flavored, textured, and scented condoms added another layer of variety and fun to the bedroom.

In short, condoms gave us less to worry about during sex and more to enjoy. Not only do I use them all the time, but as a physician, I recommend them to others too.