Here's how to get around slip-off condoms and other contraceptive bloopers

It doesn't matter what Mills & Boon tells you, it's not that easy to get into the mood. When you do, you have to struggle with the big P. Protected sex saves you from pregnancy and infections, but contraceptives have the unfailing ability to kill the mojo. We get experts to share tips on how to keep the passion going without the risk.

Condom

Hitch: Stopping to slip it on slows down momentum

The passion is high enough for both of you to make the final move, when he has to stop to reach out for the condom pack, tear it open and slip it on. It's an action that could take close to 30 seconds depending on whether it's dark or the lights are on, where the condom is kept, and how good your motor skills are. But for a condom to be slipped on correctly, a man's penis must be erect. For some of them, taking a break to roll on a rubber can slow down momentum, making you have to start all over again. Frustrating. The way out say experts, is for the woman to keep the passion engine chugging by indulging in erotic chatter. If you can trigger his fantasies for half a minute, and focus on his other erogenous zones, you'll manage to whiz past into lustland without any risks.

Birth control pills

Hitch: They are not kind to your mojo

Birth control pills contain hormones, and have the nasty power to play havoc with your libido, especially when you are halfway through your period. This leaves you less likely to want to have sex in the first place. The pill is also notorious for leaving women feeling bloated, and grappling with breast tenderness, weight gain, and moodiness.

Here's where your gynaecologist can play saviour. Get the doctor to put you on a different pill. You can choose from three major categories of oral contraceptives (progestin-only, the combined pill and those for extended use), and each of these affects the body differently. There's a chance that one of these types is less likely to affect your libido.

Love experts say a large part of your desire rests in your head, so train your mind to get into the mood. Find time to flirt with your partner, and fantasising about getting busy helps.

Contraceptive jelly

Hitch: Slipping out to apply it interrupts love-making

Contraceptive jellies or spermicide inserted vaginally may be a strong birth control tool for women who don't wish to be on the pill, but a sudden trip to the loo to squirt it into your diaphragm, and up your vagina, is nothing short of a speedbreaker in love-making. It's also enough time for the lady's mind to wander into areas that have little to do with sex.

Gynaecologists suggest you indulge in a bit of pre-planning. The jelly can be inserted an hour before intended love-making, if you don't want it to interrupt the session. Better still, make it a habit to pop it in every night before going to bed, just like you would brush your teeth. That way, you are always prepared.

Condom

Hitch: It may not fit right

We hate to bust the myth, but size is a crucial factor when the snug fit of a condom is concerned. If a guy is on the smaller side, standard condoms could slip off right in the middle of all that heat. This ups the risk of pregnancy, making it the perfect excitement killer.

While some brands offer a variety of sizes, others don't. So, you'll have to try a variety of brands before you find the one that fits best. Be careful while slipping it on, and roll it to the base of the penis shaft, while keeping a slight space at the tip.