Both you and your partner should know how to use a condom. If you have a
penis, you can practice the steps to putting on a condom when you are
alone. Masturbating while wearing a condom is a good way to get used to
the feel and fit as well. If you don't have a penis, you can practice
the steps below on a banana, zucchini or other similarly shaped object.
This preparation will make the process smoother and easier when you use a
condom with a partner.
The first thing to know is that you put
the condom on when the penis is erect, before there is any contact
between the penis and another person's body. Fluid released from the
penis during the early stages of an erection can transmit STIs and may
contain sperm.
Step 1: Open carefully
Check the expiration date. To ensure the package has not been
punctured, pinch the package to feel for the air bubble. Do not open the
condom wrapper with scissors or your teeth. If the condom is brittle or
sticky, throw it out and get a new one.
Step 2: Apply lubricant
Lubricant will reduce the risk of your condom breaking during use. You
can apply a tiny amount of lube to the inside tip of the condom and to
the outside of it once you roll it down. Be careful when applying lube
to the inside of the condom. Too much lube could cause the condom to
slip off. NEVER use oil-based lubricants like hand cream, Vaseline,
massage oil, or butter. These weaken latex condoms quickly, making them
much more likely to leak or break. ONLY use water-based or silicone
lubricants like Astroglide, Pjur, Wet or Liquid Silk.
Step 3: Pinch, place, & roll down
Pinch air from the tip of the condom with your thumb and forefinger.
This will reduce the chance of the condom breaking by leaving space at
the tip of the condom to hold the ejaculate and preventing an air bubble
from being trapped at the tip. Place the rolled up condom against the
end of the hard penis. Unroll the condom down to the base of your penis
with your other hand. If the condom was placed on the penis, but
couldn't roll down because it was inverted, make sure a new condom is
used. If you flip the condom over, there is a chance that fluids from
the tip of the penis are now on the outside of the condom.
Step 4: Withdraw
Immediately after ejaculation and while the penis is still erect, hold
the rim of the condom securely at the base of the penis and pull out.
This will keep the condom from slipping off inside your partner and keep
any semen from being spilled.
Step 5: Don't Flush
Remove the condom from the penis, away from your partner's body. Wrap
the condom in tissue and throw it away. Do not flush condoms down the
toilet. They're not biodegradable and could block up your plumbing.
A
new condom should be used each and every time you have vaginal, oral or
anal sex. Never reuse a condom. For increased protection against
breakage and against transmission of infection, use a new condom or
dental dam when you switch between types of sexual activity (for
example, from anal sex to vaginal sex).
