My husband and I have been fluid bonded since we first had coitus. We have a latex policy in place for any genital contact involving other people, including manual stimulation and oral, and obviously intercourse. We have an agreement that if everyone gets retested (us for fairness, them for our peace of mind) then we can drop latex for manual and oral, but not intercourse. For fisting, latex really helps to smooth things out, take away rough spots and edges on the hands, so we use do use gloves for that, although there's no fluid exchange. It's just kinkier that way
I've only had two other partners with whom I didn't always use condoms. The first was my first, we used condoms initially then both got tested and did away with them. My second was a few years later, again after getting tested. I used a diaphragm with spermicidal jelly for birth control. Boy was that an ordeal, but it worked.
Now I'm on the pill continuously in order to inhibit menstruation, which my gyno and family doc both support. Love it! I had really heavy and painful periods, and I don't miss them one tiny bit. I suspect they do reduce my sex drive somewhat, but it works for both of us really. We don't have sex a whole lot, we prefer other forms of intimacy.
My husband was actually really excited when I asked him to get a vasectomy. His daughter's 18 so he's completely "been there, done that" when it comes to having kids. He was willing to do it again if it was something I'd felt a burning desire for, but I didn't and don't, and he's more than happy about that.
Physically, he observed that his testes seemed to hang a little lower/looser after the surgery, but no effects to his libido or ability to perform. If anything, it's the cliche that removing that risk of unwanted pregnancy has made him more frisky.
His doctor's confirmation procedure consisted of "Have you had kids? Oh, she's an adult now? And you're sure you don't want anymore? This is basically irreversible, are you still sure? OK, I'll schedule you in." Kinda pisses me off that they'll give it to men so easily but not women. I almost want to try getting one just to see if they'll let me, but I don't actually want to go through with it.
I had one friend who was able to get her tubes tied using the argument that she has severe anxiety and depression that would make motherhood very difficult for her and traumatic for the child, not to mention that she could pass these on to her offspring. Mention that every single person on both sides of your family is either bipolar or schizophrenic or severely depressed. It's amazing how prejudiced the medical system can still be towards mental health patients, and in support of preventing them from reproducing. She was child-free and only in her late 20's when she had the procedure.
I have over periods of my life not been able to stay hard with a condom. It becomes a frustrating dance of - "take it off, masterbate or whatever, get hard, condom on, go soft... rinse and repeat until your patience or time runs out."
Ever try a cock ring? My husband likes to use those from time to time, when we're in the mood for marathon sex... I imagine if you put one on between "get hard" and "condom on" that you might have better luck. No comment on the sensation, but he doesn't seem to mind.
Most likely they don't taste of much. They're made out of plastic and not rubber.
Blech. "they" may not taste like much themselves, but female condoms are lubricated, and that tastes awful.