FAQs

The FreeC2U program is available to Erie County residents 13 years of age or older. This is based on the below information regarding sexual violence. Why? Because residents of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania are considered consenting partners based on the details below. Our goal is to make safe sex supplies available to individuals that are having safe, sane, legal sex. Click here to watch a video about how old you need to be to buy condoms for information age restrictions.

The following is sourced to the Pennsylvania Coalition Against Rap. You can visit their website at this URL: Teens | Pennsylvania Coalition Against Rape (PCAR)

Sexual violence can happen to anyone regardless of age, gender, race, ethnicity, religion, geography, ability, appearance, sexual orientation, and gender identity and has a tremendous impact on everyone–the survivor, their families, significant others, and their community.

Statutory sexual assault law in Pennsylvania is defined as sexual intercourse with someone under the age of 16 when the other person is four or more years older. Examples: A 13-year-old has sex with a 17-year-old or a 15-year-old has sex with a 19-year-old.

This law recognizes that teens may be able to consent with peers of the same age, but that an age difference of four or more years creates a power imbalance which essentially makes true consent impossible. A person under the age of 13 cannot give consent to anyone.

Age and experience create a power imbalance that makes it impossible for the younger person to freely give consent.

In Pennsylvania:

• Children less than 13 years old cannot grant consent to sexual activity.
• Teens between the ages of 13 and 15 cannot consent to sexual activity with anyone who is four or more years older than them.
• People ages 16 and older can legally consent to sexual activity with anyone they choose, as long as the other person does not have authority over them as defined in Pennsylvania’s institutional sexual assault statute.

Society sends lots of messages about sex and sexuality. Many of these messages are violent or harmful. Sometimes alcohol is even shown as a way to ease worries around sex. Consent can’t happen when alcohol is involved; using alcohol to make someone have sex with you is sexual assault.

As caring adults in the lives of young people, you can counter these negative messages they receive about sex and sexuality from society. You can promote healthy sexuality by talking to the young people in your life and modeling healthy and respectful relationships. We must all work to create a space where young people feel safe and respected.

For more information on the age of consent, visit: Age of Consent | Pennsylvania Coalition Against Rape (PCAR)

Let’s start with congratulations for your pregnancy! The desire to protect yourself, your partner, and the newest little one on the way is great. While most think of condoms as a way to prevent pregnancy, they actually can assure everyone’s safety as well. The important thing to know is that not all condoms are made the same. For the FreeC2U program in Erie County, our condoms are either made of latex or nitrile. Both of these materials can help with preventing pregnancy complications from sexually transmitted infections (STIs).

During your pregnancy, tests are typically done to detect HIV and a series of STIs. This is to ensure avoiding complications for when the baby is born. Plus we want to reduce the chance of passing on HIV or STIs to your partners.

Also, pregnant individuals can be have yeast infections more than others. Because of this, keep an eye on your lubrication choices with condoms during your pregnancy. Many condoms are coated with water-based lubricant which can contain sugar or sugary substances which can feed the yeast for the infection. So consider using silicone-based lubes to help with sexual activity during the pregnancy.

No. Each person can place one order every 14 days. We always check names and addresses to make sure there are no duplicate orders. If you live with multiple people, please make sure they place their own order under their name, or else the order will be put on hold. Multiple orders, especially for the same item, may be delayed for various reasons.

Absolutely! The Erie County HIV Task Force created a local condom distribution program in 2016 with local community based organizations and partners. In addition to the FreeC2U mailing program, we have locations across Erie County you stop by in-person.

Click here to visit our Google Map for sites that distribute free condoms, providing cost effective HIV & STI testing options, as well as treatment programs for both insured and uninsured. Click on the different symbols to read up on their hours of operation and contact information. Have questions about their location? Give ’em a call before stopping in to pick up some condoms.

Plus you can stop by the Erie County Department of Health at 606 West Second Street, Erie PA 16507 and ask a staff member at the front desk for a bag of free condoms and lube.

Believe it or not, yes you can – but a small amount is all you need. Lots of condom application videos online reference putting a drop of lubricant inside the tip reservoir of an external condom to reduce friction [which could lead to breakage] and increase enjoyment for the wearer. That said, the fit of the condom will be key to not only your satisfaction, but also how well the lubrication inside will work. Too much lube and the condom could slip off. Most likely the condom may be too large for your use if feels like the condom will slip off with the lubricant inside.

One thing you can do is practice before using the condom for sexual activity with a partner. It’s important to know how it feels, what works, and possibly what doesn’t to avoid any issues that could arise with someone else. Just like our tastes in food, condoms and lubricants come in a lot of varieties which may require experiencing first to know what best fits your preference.

Lube is one of the best options when using a condom. But there are some things to know beforehand. During sexual activity, if you are unsure or think the condom may break, immediately stop using that condom by withdrawing, removing the condom and putting one a new one.

Be sure that adequate you have adequate lubrication for vaginal and anal sex, preferably with water-based lubricants. When it comes to breaking a condom, oil-based lubricants [such as body lotions, cooking oil, massage oils, mineral oil, shortening, and Vaseline/petroleum jelly] weaken the latex to cause tearing and breakage.

Silicone lube does not have many down sides when using condoms. Most users find that it last longer and is a better experience. We do want to advise though that silicone lube is not a friend of silicone devices that might be used during sexual activity. Always check labels for instructions and usage when having fun.

Actually, yes they do expire. But the good news is that you can look at each condom we ship and find the expiration date listed on it. Here’s an example of what to look for:

Always check your condom packaging before use to make sure it has not expired. Most last about five years from their manufacture date. The location of the expiration date does change from brand to brand. If you’re concerned that the expiration date is coming up soon, make a new order to get condoms mailed to you that can replace the ones about to expire. And be sure to check for other items as well regarding any noticeable holes/tears, stiffness, dryness or stickiness. Chances are your condom is either expired or simply damaged. Make a smart decision to throw it out and use a different one.

No. This program shopping site has been created with your confidentiality and privacy in mind. We do not require an online account to place an ‘order’ for free condoms. We do need a name, mailing address, and email address to process a request to send supplies to Erie County PA residents.

Yes. This program is offered for free to Erie County PA residents specifically in alignment with the terms of the Federal HIV grant provided to the Erie County Department of Health. Addresses during checkout are limited to zip codes in Erie County PA specifically. If you live outside near Erie County PA and need safe sex supplies, check out our online map for possible sites that may be in a short traveling distance to you. You can also review this STD directory provided by the Pennsylvania Department of Health for your local sites within the Commonwealth.

No. This program is offered for free to Erie County PA residents and does not require any payment. Supplies and shipping costs are covered by a Federal grant focus on HIV prevention.

All packages comes in a discreet mailer. The label does not say Erie County HIV Task Force nor Erie County Department of Health. If you have concerns about confidentially receiving your package, consider having it sent to an address recipient you trust.

First, *confetti* asking this question is awesome! We love that you care about knowing more in how to discuss this important part of your activities.

It makes sense to be nervous about asking your sexual partner(s) to wear a condom if you haven’t discussed this before. Whether or not you have been having sex before with a partner, it’s important to talk about a couple of things before engaging in sexual activity; this includes talking about condoms.

Next, let’s talk about how knowledge is power. Knowing the status of your partner and you when it comes to HIV and STIs is a natural way of showing that your personal health is important. It might seem too personal to ask, but knowledge can help increase satisfaction for both of you. Telling your partner(s) about your most recent HIV & STI test results is normal. Just like getting tested regularly for HIV and STIs helps you and your partner(s) lets everyone enjoy healthy lives.

Keep in mind that using condoms can reduce the risk of a sexual transmitted infections, but also prevent an unintended pregnancy. Condoms can be used in combination with other methods or items to keep yourself healthy.

Now your partner(s) might have some resistance to wearing a condom. Knowing why will help you determine what comes next. Maybe they think you shouldn’t use condoms because you’re decided to be exclusive and only have sex with each other. This makes sense because a committed relationship can provide confidence and satisfaction. Even though you have decided to be sexually exclusive, knowing the test results of your and your partner are key. Why? Because HIV and STIs can be asymptomatic. This means they can not exhibit any symptoms and signs that you are currently infected. And these infectious diseases can be passed on without you or your partner(s) knowing. Talking with a health professional about the window period of being asymptomatic for additional details will help both of you understand more. We suggest calling your health care provider or one of our community based partners with the Erie County HIV Task Force. Visit our online map to find providers in Erie County that can help answer questions.

Let’s say you and your partner are not exclusive but they’re unsure about wearing condoms. Remember that part we just talked about with testing, knowing your results, and the potential of not showing symptoms? This is even more important when it comes to having more than one partner because everyone’s health matters. Being knowledgeable about the importance putting your health first shows that you care for others. And talking about how condoms are important to you lets your partners know they matter to you.

But talking about condoms can be difficult. Like that old saying, practice makes perfect. But who can you practice with? Maybe a close friend or family member. You can also contact any of our community based partners with the Erie County HIV Task Force. Or give us a call at 814-315-3375 to get answers to question and we’d be happy to practice with you!

Condoms enjoy cool and dry places, like medicine cabinets in bathrooms and bedside tables. But what about travel/transporting them? Good question. Despite what entertainment projects like tv shows and movies may have shown, keeping condoms in your wallet, pocket, or vehicle leads to them degrading in quality and overall strength – to the point of breakage. Keep in mind the longer condoms are exposed to extreme temperatures, they become less effective and can break. This is why a storage compartment in a vehicle is truly bad as a holding place for your condoms. The storage box in a vehicle may seem like a great place to stash some condoms. The issue is that most are not weather protective to prevent the outdoor temperatures from affecting what we’re storing inside them. Plus the heat outside can be amplified and much hotter inside the vehicle. Just like you wouldn’t leave your mobile phone stored in your car, condoms should be treated with care too.

First, don’t panic. Carefully remove the condom and throw it away. (read our FAQ on disposing condoms for more info)

Next, let’s go over the possible next steps. Being worried is natural. Taking precautions in practicing safe sex means things are not a disaster. Chances are that you and your partner are going to be okay. But there are some things to consider. Could you or your partner become pregnant? If so, an emergency contraceptive, like Plan B, is an option IF taken within 72 hours after the condom breaking. Contact a local pharmacy or medical provider for assistance in finding and getting an emergency contraceptive.

Most likely the condom broke because of friction – perhaps it was too dry (not enough lube) or it was the wrong size. As we’ve mentioned in other FAQs, using lubricant with condoms not only improves your experience, but it can help prevent the condom breaking. Consider using water or silicon-based lubes BUT NOT oil-based products. (read our ‘what about lube?’ FAQ for more info)

Now if size is the issue, it would be best to determine the best fit. Most of the condoms we provide in the FreeC2U program are considered regular/standard size. But condoms do have the following size categories:

• Small = 1.9 inches / 48 mm wide and 6.3 inches / 160 mm long
• Regular / Standard = 2 inches / 52 mm wide and 7.9 inches / 195 mm long
• Large = 2.1 inches / 54 mm wide and 7.9 inches / 200 mm long
• Extra Large = 2.3 inches / 58 mm wide and 8.1 inches / 205 mm long

The differences may not seem like much in measurements, but these could give both you and your partner the best experience when the right size condom is used.

Remember, a condom breaking isn’t the end of the world. But you will want to talk with your partner about what happened. And if the sexual activity isn’t finished, properly throw out the condom (read our ‘what can I do with this used condom?’ FAQ for more info) and grab a new unexpired condom package to use correctly. Plus, when your sexual activity is done, make plans for either getting tested for HIV and STIs before your next sex partner. Check out the Erie County HIV Task Force’s Online Map for local providers to get testing and treatments for HIV and STIs for more info.

So you order your free condoms thru our FreeC2U program but you’re unsure if the very high or low temps outside might cause problems or maybe break the condoms. It’s important to know that condoms are tested for as part of the approval process by the US Food and Drug Administration. When it comes to what happens in extreme temperatures, like high heat or sever cold, the information isn’t complete.

One key takeaway is that long term exposure is bad for condoms, whether it’s high heat or low cold temps.

Studies have been done to show that condoms exposed to high heat [over 100 degrees Fahrenheit / 37 degrees Celsius] break down quicker and tear easily. They won’t melt necessarily at 100°F, but they become less safe to use – letting HIV and STIs transmission occur as well as potential pregnancy

Now when it comes to condoms exposed to very cold temps [under 33 degrees Fahrenheit / 91 degrees Celsius], the data is much less known. Studies have mostly focused on ‘tropical’ temperature zones due to there being more people in those climates. For us up here in Erie County Pennsylvania, we have winters and snow. Because there is limited information on the safety and usage of condoms under freezing temps, we recommend throwing them away if they’ve been exposed to cold temps where the condom materials can freeze. Latex can become leathery feeling with a cold temperature exposure – length of time varies.

But if you’re not sure if the condom has been exposed to extreme temperatures, you can perform a home test like the following.

1. Do a visual check. Is the lube frozen, slimy [not slippery], grainy? Does the condom and its contents have the same texture and color you usually see when using this type of condom? Is there any visible damage to the packaging? If the answer is yes to any of these questions, throw it away and get new condoms. If there was a group of condoms together that were in an extreme temperature, consider them all the same and place a new order with our FreeC2U program.
2. If the visual check seems okay all around, now let’s try a water holding test. Open a condom that may have been exposed to extreme temps and unroll it. Fill the condom with water in a sink or bathtub to see if any leaks appear. DO NOT use this condom for sex. This is a test to see if there are any indications the exposure has made the condom(s) ineffective. This will help if you have a group of condoms that were exposed together to extreme temperatures. If the water test fails, treat the group of condoms together that were in an extreme temperature as if they are all the same – throw them out and place a new order with our FreeC2U program.

Lastly, the FreeC2U program may suspend order fulfillment during extreme temperature seasons. Because weather can be unpredictable, we may find it necessary to not complete orders during the winter and summer seasons if the local average temperature is around or below freezing. This may also come into play if the summer weather gets around 100°F as well. Keep an eye out for announcements on our website if we think its necessary to suspend or delay shipments due to extreme temps.

You can also call our community based partners with the Erie County HIV Task Force to get free condoms in-person if we are unable to fulfill your shipment order.

Lubricant packets are provided in the mailed packages from the FreeC2U program. The lube [lubricant] supplied is based on the inventory provided to us at the time of your free order fulfillment. We prefer water based lubricants to be shipped with the free condoms and dental dams to avoid the potential for issues with breakage of the materials.

If you want to know more about lube in general, check out this video. Note: the FreeC2U program is not sponsored or specifically endorsing Adam & Eve which is mentioned in the video, nor Dr. Doc/Sexplanations the content provider.

So now that you’ve used a condom, what comes next? Well believe it or not, there are a couple of steps to follow. First, let’s celebrate your use of a condom! Congrats on helping prevent the possible spread of HIV and STIs. NOTE: only use a condom once – no washing and reusing because they won’t be effective.

Now let’s review the cardinal rule with disposing of a used condom – DO NOT FLUSH IT DOWN THE TOILET. While it seems really easy to simply flush it away, this can lead to lots of issues; from sewage backing up, pipe clogs and overflows, causing issues down the line too whether in a septic tank or at the waste processing plant. Currently the condoms supplied by the FreeC2U program are not biodegradable, which means they won’t break down.

When it comes to using a toilet after sex, use it to pee after sex to avoid a urinary tract infection. Use some soap and water to wash yourself up and enjoy the rest of your day. Just remember to not flush that used condom.

For the used condom itself, be sure to carefully remove the condom by holding it at the base and not spilling the contents. Keep in mind that lubricant can make things slippery, so pay attention as you use the open end to tie it into a knot – like when you finish blowing up a balloon. Now look around and find a nearby trash can. It might be next to the bed, near the furniture, or in another room. Be aware that other people might see it in the trash, so consider wrapping the used tied off condom in a tissue before tossing.

Preferably, the trash container has a secure lid. Why? Simply put, pets and maybe small children. Curiosity is the culprit. This goes beyond the privacy concern of others not seeing your business from a used condom in the trash. Because of their heightened sense of smell, pets might get curious about the new scent in their space. Think about those online videos where pets drag the trash out everywhere or embarrassingly carry sex toys in their mouth proudly. And children, especially the little ones, could turn your space into a wonderland of adventure. The trash can should probably be off-limits for various reasons including safety and embarrassment. It’s also best to have a bag liner in the trash can to avoid sticky issue later when emptying it.

The condoms supplied in the FreeC2U program are based on the available inventory from our providers. While we cannot guarantee we will have the perfect condom for you, hopefully the types we do have meet your needs. Each product webpage includes specifications for the model being reviewed including items such as length, width, diameter, circumference, lubrication, material, and any features.

Click here to watch a video about the various kinds of condoms from the American Sexual Health Association. And for basic information about a simple home test to determine which standard condom to get, regular or XL, click here to watch a demonstration video.

And if the free condoms available in the FreeC2U program are not fitting adequately, we suggest watching this video about a ONE Condoms and visiting their website to consider finding the right size. Unfortunately we cannot provide ONE Condoms for free but we hope you will be able to purchase the model that fits perfectly.

If we have run out of stock for a particular item, we will restock as soon as possible when the items are either shipped by the Pennsylvania Department of Health or our suppliers. We never know when we will deplete our current inventory, so we cannot tell you when the website will go out of stock. Restocking inventory has a number of steps to complete. We plan to have our inventory refilled as quickly as we can. The best idea is to place your order as soon as possible.

As we launch this program, tracking will not be included initially for packages shipped. We appreciate your patience while this program is launched. On average, we expect packages to take approximately 1 to 2 weeks to be ordered, processed, individually prepared, and then mailed via USPS. If the postal service is not facing delays, the package most likely would arrive within one week once metered for postal charges. Keep in mind, packages will most likely leave Erie and be processed by the USPS in Pittsburgh PA, then delivered via postal workers in Erie County PA.

To save on costs, packages are not tracked nor require signature upon arrival. The FreeC2U program mailers are mailed out weekly vis USPS from the Erie County Department of Health. Because the mailers are considered a first-class package, ship time by the USPS is estimated as 2 to 5 days. If your order is not received after 14 days since order submission [date is listed on your email confirmation], submit a new order and add notes that your initial order was not received.

Keep in mind each person can only order once every two weeks. We always check names and addresses to make sure there are no duplicate orders in fairness to all Erie County residents to have some inventory available to fulfill their request.

If your order was cancelled, it may be because:

• You placed multiple orders within 14 days, so we only sent out your previous order (we only allow 1 order every 14 days/2 weeks),
• You placed multiple orders within a week fulfillment period AND we only completed the most recent order,
• Your order contained obscene language,
• Your order suggested the package would be sent to a different person,
• Your order information suggested that you are under 13 years old,
• Your information has been suspected or reported as invalid due to reselling items distributed for free in the FreeC2U program,
• You do not live in Erie County, Pennsylvania

For additional information/assistance, give us a call at 814-315-3375 to get answers to questions and we’d be happy to assist you!

If your order was put on hold, it may be because:

• You placed multiple orders, so we are only sending out your previous order (we only allow 1 order every 14 days/2 weeks),
• Your address was invalid,
• Weather could effect the efficacy of the condoms / lube / dental dams preventing shipment temporarily until the region climate improves [example: freezing temperatures affect mailing items]