'Free Condoms' is the new scheme in Glasgow to make sure that anyone who wants free condoms gets them.  It is designed to replace and improve the old C-card scheme but this means that a few things are changing.

No more registration or cards:

The biggest change in the Free Condoms system is that unlike C-card you no longer have to sign up for a card.  All you have to do now to go to a Free Condom distributor ask for some condoms and off you go!  If you don't want to have to say each time which type you want you can get a selection card which you can tick and handover so the distributor knows what you're after.

Types of condoms available:

When it comes to condoms size is everything.  Wearing the correct size condom means less chance of slips, splits or tearing.  In the old C-card scheme there are 3 sizes of condom, under Free Condoms there are 6 this give you even more choice to find the one that fits best.  You can now choose from:

Naturelle & Halo (in 2 designs) - standard fit

Trim - narrow fit

King Size - larger fit

Black Velvet - longer and wider fit

Female condoms will also still be available along with a new latex and allergy free condom.

However...

Two types of condom from the C-card range have been dropped, we still have stocks of these at the moment but once they're gone they're gone.

The Free Condom scheme will no longer be providing Extra Strong/Safe condoms or Flavoured condoms and here why...

Extra Strong/Safe: 

NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde have looked carefully at research from the USA and Australia which has found that using an extra strong condom did not report any greater level of condom failure than those using 'normal' condoms, for either anal or vaginal sex.  Extra Strong have traditionally been regarded as being for anal sex, something that is now being viewed as a throw back to the 80s and not based on any scientifiic evidence.  The advice now is that you should use the right size condom (see above) and enough lubricant to make anal or vagina sex safe, comfortable and most importantly enjoyable.  The exception to this will be Gay Men's Health and the Brownlee Centre who provide specialist treatment, care and support for people living with HIV, they will still be distributing Extra Safe condoms.

Flavoured Condoms & Dams: 

A decision has been made to drop the flavoured condom and dams from the Free Condom selection because it doesn't fit with the 3 key aims of the Free Condom scheme.  Flavoured condoms were always designed to be used for oral sex but research found that there was a low number of people using them for this purpose.  In addition in is uncommon for the most frequently transmitted STIs like chlamydia and gonorrhoea to be passed on through oral sex.  The exception to this will be Gay Men's Health and the Brownlee Centre who provide specialist treatment, care and support for people living with HIV, they will still be distributing flavoured condoms.

Behind the scenes:

Changes have also been made to how Free Condoms works to make it simplier for the organisations and staff who run it.  This should mean more places want to come on board and you'll have even more choice of where you can get your condoms.