Vote for the new Philadelphia Condom wrapper design

When the time is right, and you're ready to slip into something a little more, er, comfortable, would she prefer . . . a rubber ducky?

While it's always smart to plan ahead in these amorous matters, now there's a unique opportunity to choose the wrapper design for a whole new brand: the Philadelphia Condom.

Online voting for the five finalists pictured here goes through 11:59 p.m. Feb. 20.

Philly's condom art contest, an idea pioneered by New York City to help make safe sex cool, drew 124 entries. A panel of artists and activists chose the finalists.

With rates of sexually transmitted diseases high and rising — gonorrhea was up 33 percent here in the first nine months of 2010 vs. the same period in 2009 — the city is trying various tactics to slow transmission.

It already distributes 1.5 million free condoms a year (New York gives out 41 million).

The limited-edition Philadelphia brand is projected to raise that number by at least 50 percent.

The first run of 100,000, expected in April, will be a Philadelphia sticker on Trustex lubricated condoms; other types, with the art on the foil wrapping, may come in the fall.

They will be distributed free at more than 100 locations around the city, from college health centers to churches and beauty salons.

But first, the vote.

What to look for in a winner?

Something that will help "to renew interest in condoms," said Caroline Johnson, disease-control director for the Philadelphia Department of Public Health.

"And to make people sit up and take notice and say, 'Hey, look at this!' "

What's in your wallet?

To check out more Check Up items go to www.philly.com/checkup