How to use a condom

How to use a condom properly

Condoms can only work well if they do not come off or split. If they are stored and used carefully, this will only very rarely happen.

Both men and women should know how to use one.

It is a good idea for people to practice putting a condom on and off - in private, on a penis or suitable object, before using one during sex. They will then feel happy and confident that they know what to do.

You should:

• Choose good quality condoms (from a good shop or clinic if possible). Store them in a cool place, away from heat or sunshine which can damage rubber;
• Use a new condom each time, and use it only once. Check the date on the packet, and that the packet is not damaged, crushed or torn;
• Open the packet carefully, so the condom is not damaged. Check that the condom is neither brittle nor sticky. If it is, throw it away and use another one;
• When having sex, wait until the penis goes hard, but put the condom on before the penis touches the other person's sex organs or anus;
• Check that the condom is the right way up, with the roll on the outside;
• With one hand, pinch the top of the condom to press out the air bubble;
• With the other hand, roll the condom right down to the base of the penis, to the pubic hair;
• If a lubricant is used (and this can help to prevent the condom from splitting), use a water based one (KY jelly), not oils, fat or cream which can damage the rubber;
• After sex, hold the condom in place and withdraw the penis from the vagina or anus while it is still hard;
• Take the condom off carefully, making sure that no semen is spilled, wrap it up and dispose of it carefully in a toilet or latrine.

With anal sex there is a greater risk that a normal condom will split, so a special thicker condom should be used, together with lots of a water based lubricant.

Never re-use a condom.

If a new condom is used each time a couple has sex, they will be protecting both themselves and their partners health and future life.

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