How to Use A Condom

Know how to use a condom the right way, every time.

How do you put a condom on correctly?

The condom should be put on before any genital contact. Sperm may come out of the penis before the male ejaculates, so put the condom on before any skin-to-skin contact begins. You should also know that some STIs can be transmitted without intercourse, through genital (skin-to-skin) contact. To reduce the risk of pregnancy and STIs (including HIV), males need to wear a condom the entire time from the beginning to the end of genital contact, each and every time.

1. When you are opening the package, gently tear it on the side. Do not use your teeth or scissors because you might rip the condom that’s inside. Pull the condom out of the package slowly so that it doesn’t tear.
2. Put the rolled up condom over the head of the penis when it is hard.
3. Pinch the tip of the condom enough to leave a half-inch space for semen to collect.
4. Holding the tip of the condom, unroll it all the way down to the base of the penis.

When the condom is on, it should feel snug enough so that it won’t fall off during sex, but not too tight.

• If you accidentally put on a condom inside-out, throw it away and get a new one. You can tell a condom is inside-out if it won’t roll down the length of the penis easily.
• If the condom ever tears or rips when you are putting it on or when it’s being used, throw it away and use a new one.

How do you take off a condom correctly?

The most common mistake is not using condoms from the beginning of sexual contact to the very end, after ejaculation. Immediately after ejaculation, hold the bottom of the condom so it stays on and semen cannot spill out. Then, carefully withdraw the penis while it is still hard. Once the penis is out, you can remove the condom, wrap it in tissue, and throw it in the trash. Do not flush it down the toilet because it might clog.

What if the condom breaks?

If you feel the condom break at any point before or during sex:

• Stop immediately! 
• Withdraw.
• Carefully remove the broken condom and  put on a new one.

If the condom breaks, pregnancy can be prevented with emergency contraception. Emergency contraception (the “Morning-After Pill”) works best when it’s started as soon as possible after sex, but can be started up to 5 days after sex.

Remember: Emergency contraception helps prevent pregnancy, but it does NOT protect against STIs.

Source: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)