A sticker that covers a manβs penis hole to prevent pre-ejaculate from escaping is proving incredibly controversial, particularly among advocates of safe sex.
The Jiftip sits on top of the penis hole, also known as the meatus, and claims to allow a man to have otherwise unprotected sex until, in the moments prior to orgasm, he pulls out, takes off the sticker and ejaculates.
Its aim is to enable users to βenjoy real sexβ thatβs βworry-freeβ, but sexual health experts have warned itβs a very real STI and pregnancy risk.
According to Jiftipβs website, the product works best when you clean a manβs penis tip. You can then align the sticker, bond it to the skin and βenjoy real sexβ.
The idea is that itβs a βbetter alternativeβ to using nothing. βItβs a backup for the pull-out,β reads the Jiftip website. βPull off the shield and ejaculate. Thatβs it, safe and worry-free.β
The productβs disclaimer on the site is a little contradictory however, as its makers note that Jiftip should be used βfor pleasure enhancement and convenience onlyβ. βDo not use for pregnancy or STIs,β it reads.
The stickers come in packs of three for $6 (Β£4.50). They are shipped worldwide.
Emma Soos, managing director for The Womenβs Health Clinic, told HuffPost UK the product is βpointless, as it wonβt protect against pregnancy or STIsβ.
βFor anyone who thinks this may be a quick fix - itβs not,β she said. βI understand the thinking around it as condoms can take away sensitivity but that is no match for an unwanted pregnancy or infection.β
Natika Halil, chief executive of the sexual health charity FPA, advised against using the product, saying βthereβs no evidence to suggest that this product is safe or effectiveβ. She added that it could also βpotentially be very painfulβ.
βAs the company themselves say, it isnβt approved to prevent pregnancy or sexually transmitted infections β so if you want to avoid either of those, weβd recommend avoiding this product as well,β she told HuffPost UK.
βItβs quite concerning that the company implies that sex without condoms isnβt βreal sexβ, as condoms are the only form of contraception that can help prevent sexually transmitted infections.β
Itβs common for STIs to not have obvious signs and, if left untreated, many of them can permanently damage health.
βIn men, chlamydia and gonorrhoea can lead to a painful infection in the testicles, and potentially reduce your fertility,β Halil continued.
βAlthough many STIs are easy to treat weβre also finding that common STIs such as gonorrhoea are becoming resistant to antibiotic treatment, so itβs always better to protect yourself in the first place by having safer sex and using condoms.β
She advises men to experiment with different kinds of condoms when masturbating - including different shapes and sizes - to discover which type feels best for them.
βThis helps to make condoms an aid to pleasurable sex without the worry of infections, rather than something which creates awkwardness,β she concluded.
When asked about the productβs safety and reliability, a spokesperson for Jiftip told The Mail Online: βThereβs really no way to know. When used as directed itβs an alternative to using nothing. Beta trials will help us know more. Feedback is promising.
βThe critics always scoff and scorn, what they should be focused on is the same thing weβre focused on. That a huge group [of people] are currently using nothing.β