A brief course on condoms: from how to pick them out to the tricky way you put one on, becoming proficient at using prophylactics is your ticket to safe and satisfying sex. (Sex Smarts).(Brief Article)

* Diamonds are cool, but c'mon ladies, condoms are a gifts best friend. Who else but that little rubber guy is gonna shield you from pregnancy and most sexually transmitted diseases and let you enter hump heaven without worry? (We'd love to say it's your boyfriend or the hot bartender you took home last week, but sorry, just not true.) Nothing comes close to the protection condoms provide, which is why nearly 8 million American women are taking control and using them regularly, according to The Alan Guttmacher Institute, a sexual and reproductive health research organization in Washington, D.C.

Whether you're already among the legions of love-glove devotees or are more of a condom-come-lately chick, you'll benefit from our, um, hands-on guide to the popular prophylactic. It covers everything you need to know from the right way to select and store them to avoiding snafus when using one.

picking a prophylactic

Not all condoms are created equal. So how do you know which one meets your needs? We sussed out the different types to help you pick your best bet:

Latex. If used correctly, these are proven to provide protection against pregnancy and STDs and are the most effective, durable condoms you can buy. However, about 5 to 7 percent of people are allergic to latex, which can cause itching and burning sensations.

Polyurethane. This plastic sheath, which also blocks sperm and most viruses, is a good option if you or your partner has a latex allergy. They're also thinner, so they transmit heat a little better than latex, making sex feel more natural.

Animal membrane. This type of condom does not protect against most sexually transmitted diseases, but it does prevent pregnancy, says Robert Hatcher, M.D., professor of OB-GYN at Emory University School of Medicine in Atlanta and coauthor of Contraceptive Technology. (The microscopic openings in the membrane allow some viruses such as HIV to pass through but not sperm, which are bigger.) So animal membrane is only an option for monogamous couples who were both tested around the same time and found to be STD-free.