Web Toolbar by Wibiya

Condoms Dos and Don'ts

  • Shop around : Use lubricated latex condoms. Always use latex, because lambskin condoms don't block HIV and STDs, and polyurethane condoms break more often than latex. Shop around and find your favorite brand . Try different sizes and shapes (yes, they come in different sizes and shapes!). There are a lot of choices--one will work for you.

  • Keep it fresh: Store condoms loosely in a cool, dry place (not your wallet). Make sure your condoms are fresh--check the expiration date. Throw away condoms that have expired, been very hot, or been washed in the washer. If you think the condom might not be good, get a new one. You and your partner are worth it.

  • Take it easy: Open the package carefully , so that you don't rip the condom. Be careful if you use your teeth. Make sure that the condom package has not been punctured (there should be a pocket of air). Check the condom for damaged packaging and signs of aging such as brittleness, stickiness, and discoloration.

  • Keep it hard: Put on the condom after the penis is erect and before it touches any part of a partner's body. If a penis is uncircumcised (uncut), the foreskin must be pulled back before putting on the condom.

  • Heads up! Make sure the condom is right-side out . It's like a sock--there's a right side and a wrong side. Before you put it on the penis, unroll the condom about half an inch to see which direction it is unrolling. Then put it on the head of the penis and hold the tip of the condom between your fingers as you roll it all the way down the shaft of the penis from head to base. This keeps out air bubbles that can cause the condom to break. It also leaves a space for semen to collect after ejaculation.

  • Slippery when wet : If you use a lubricant (lube), it should be a water-soluble lubricant (for example, ID Glide, K-Y Jelly, Wet, Astroglide) in order to prevent breakdown of the condom. Products such as petroleum jelly, massage oils, butter, Crisco, Vaseline, and hand creams are not considered water-soluble lubricants and should not be used.

  • Slippery when wet--part 2 : Put lubricant on after you put on the condom, not before--it could slip off. Add more lube often. Dry condoms break more easily.

  • Come and go...: Withdraw the penis immediately after ejaculation, while the penis is still erect; grasp the rim of the condom between your fingers and slowly withdraw the penis (with the condom still on) so that no semen is spilled.

  • Clean up : Throw out the used condom right away. Tie it off to prevent spillage or wrap it in bathroom tissue and put it in the garbage. Condoms can clog toilets. Use a condom only once. Never use the same condom for vaginal and anal intercourse. Never use a condom that has been used by someone else.

Remember

Condoms with the spermicide Nonoxynol-9 are NOT recommended for STD/HIV prevention. Nonoxynol-9 (N9) irritates rectal walls, which increases the chance of HIV infection if infected body fluids do come in contact with them.

Remember that condoms do not provide 100% protection against all STDs —but you are ALWAYS safer using a condom! You can get certain STDs, like herpes or HPV , from contact with your partner's bare skin, even if one of you is wearing a condom. But condoms lessen the risk of infection even for those types of STDs.

To view places in Wake County to get free condoms CLICK HERE

Reminder:  Never use a condom more than once
Quick Condom Guide: Pinch it, Roll it, Lube it, Do it

To learn more about how to use a condom correctly, see the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs' Tips For Using Condoms And Dental Dams .

Tests: Find places where you can get free HIV/STD testing in Wake County.

Condoms: Find places where you can get free condoms in Wake County.

For general information about Wake County’s HIV/STD program and testing, please call 919-250-3950.
Do you have questions about HIV/STDs that you want answered?  E-mail questions to: std.program@wearemembersofthiscommunity.org

To see all other resources in Wake County, North Carolina & the United States, CLICK HERE to return to our resources and links page.
This education awareness project is sponsored by the
LGBT Center of Raleigh .
​
Created and designed by Luke Keeler .
Info from CDC , AIDS.gov and THT
Page last updated:  04/01/17