It is important to know how to use acondomcorrectly to prevent pregnancy and the transmission ofsexually transmitted infections (STIs). This not only includes knowing how to put anexternal condom—rolling it down correctly and pinching the tip of the condom—but also how to properly open the packet and dispose of the used condom afterward.This can be tricky if you’re using a condom for the first time and challenging for anyone who hasn’t taken the time to practice. And it pays to practice because, when used correctly and consistently, condoms are an effective form ofcontraception(birth control) and STI prevention.This article reviews how to put on a condom properly, including photos of things you should and shouldn’t do.
It is important to know how to use acondomcorrectly to prevent pregnancy and the transmission ofsexually transmitted infections (STIs). This not only includes knowing how to put anexternal condom—rolling it down correctly and pinching the tip of the condom—but also how to properly open the packet and dispose of the used condom afterward.
This can be tricky if you’re using a condom for the first time and challenging for anyone who hasn’t taken the time to practice. And it pays to practice because, when used correctly and consistently, condoms are an effective form ofcontraception(birth control) and STI prevention.
This article reviews how to put on a condom properly, including photos of things you should and shouldn’t do.
1Check the Expiration Daterobertelyov / Flickr / CC BY 2.0The first step to using a condom correctly is making certain it’s still usable. Always check theexpiration date on the condom packagebefore using the condom.When condoms are old or stored improperly, the latex breaks down. This increases the risk that the condom will be less effective, which can leave you with an unintended pregnancy or STI.Be sure the packaging hasn’t been damaged, too. If you notice a tear, hole, or signs of wear, throw it out—regardless of its expiration date.Stillbirth and Gestational Diabetes: How to Lower Your Risk
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Check the Expiration Daterobertelyov / Flickr / CC BY 2.0The first step to using a condom correctly is making certain it’s still usable. Always check theexpiration date on the condom packagebefore using the condom.When condoms are old or stored improperly, the latex breaks down. This increases the risk that the condom will be less effective, which can leave you with an unintended pregnancy or STI.Be sure the packaging hasn’t been damaged, too. If you notice a tear, hole, or signs of wear, throw it out—regardless of its expiration date.Stillbirth and Gestational Diabetes: How to Lower Your Risk
Check the Expiration Date
robertelyov / Flickr / CC BY 2.0
The first step to using a condom correctly is making certain it’s still usable. Always check theexpiration date on the condom packagebefore using the condom.
When condoms are old or stored improperly, the latex breaks down. This increases the risk that the condom will be less effective, which can leave you with an unintended pregnancy or STI.
Be sure the packaging hasn’t been damaged, too. If you notice a tear, hole, or signs of wear, throw it out—regardless of its expiration date.
Stillbirth and Gestational Diabetes: How to Lower Your Risk
2Feel for the Air BubbleDoug Menuez / Getty ImagesAnother way to check the freshness of a condom package is to feel for the air bubble.An air bubble is intentionally put in the package to protect condoms from damage. Its presence means there aren’t holes in the packaging and the condom should be intact.The easiest way to check for the bubble is to gently squeeze the package between your thumb and first finger.
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Feel for the Air BubbleDoug Menuez / Getty ImagesAnother way to check the freshness of a condom package is to feel for the air bubble.An air bubble is intentionally put in the package to protect condoms from damage. Its presence means there aren’t holes in the packaging and the condom should be intact.The easiest way to check for the bubble is to gently squeeze the package between your thumb and first finger.
Feel for the Air Bubble
Doug Menuez / Getty Images
Another way to check the freshness of a condom package is to feel for the air bubble.
An air bubble is intentionally put in the package to protect condoms from damage. Its presence means there aren’t holes in the packaging and the condom should be intact.
The easiest way to check for the bubble is to gently squeeze the package between your thumb and first finger.
3Open the Package CarefullyRafe Swan / Getty ImagesThe foil packets that condoms come in are pretty easy to open, but it’s important to be careful with it.First, wash your hands. This is especially important if you could have bodily fluids on your hands from foreplay, which can contaminate the condom.Then, carefully tear open the package along the corner or edge (most packaging indicates where you should tear). Don’t use your fingernails, scissors, or any other sharp object, as you may rip or tear the condom along with the wrapper.Preserving the MoodWondering how to put on a condom without losing the mood? One way is to practice beforehand so you can do it quickly and easily. You can also teach your partner to do it and make it part of the foreplay.
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Open the Package CarefullyRafe Swan / Getty ImagesThe foil packets that condoms come in are pretty easy to open, but it’s important to be careful with it.First, wash your hands. This is especially important if you could have bodily fluids on your hands from foreplay, which can contaminate the condom.Then, carefully tear open the package along the corner or edge (most packaging indicates where you should tear). Don’t use your fingernails, scissors, or any other sharp object, as you may rip or tear the condom along with the wrapper.Preserving the MoodWondering how to put on a condom without losing the mood? One way is to practice beforehand so you can do it quickly and easily. You can also teach your partner to do it and make it part of the foreplay.
Open the Package Carefully
Rafe Swan / Getty Images
The foil packets that condoms come in are pretty easy to open, but it’s important to be careful with it.
First, wash your hands. This is especially important if you could have bodily fluids on your hands from foreplay, which can contaminate the condom.
Then, carefully tear open the package along the corner or edge (most packaging indicates where you should tear). Don’t use your fingernails, scissors, or any other sharp object, as you may rip or tear the condom along with the wrapper.
Preserving the MoodWondering how to put on a condom without losing the mood? One way is to practice beforehand so you can do it quickly and easily. You can also teach your partner to do it and make it part of the foreplay.
Preserving the Mood
Wondering how to put on a condom without losing the mood? One way is to practice beforehand so you can do it quickly and easily. You can also teach your partner to do it and make it part of the foreplay.
4Find the Correct Side of the CondomTatyana Azarova / Getty ImagesHold the condom up and make sure the side you will place on the penis is the correct one.The rim should be rolled up on the outside, rather than tucked underneath.You can unroll the condom a bit to check for this, if needed. You shouldn’t have to stick your fingers inside the condom to do this.You’ll know you have the correct side if you can easily roll the condom down over the penis.If you accidentally put the condom on inside out, throw it out and start again with a fresh one, as the outside may have come into contact with fluids.
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Find the Correct Side of the CondomTatyana Azarova / Getty ImagesHold the condom up and make sure the side you will place on the penis is the correct one.The rim should be rolled up on the outside, rather than tucked underneath.You can unroll the condom a bit to check for this, if needed. You shouldn’t have to stick your fingers inside the condom to do this.You’ll know you have the correct side if you can easily roll the condom down over the penis.If you accidentally put the condom on inside out, throw it out and start again with a fresh one, as the outside may have come into contact with fluids.
Find the Correct Side of the Condom
Tatyana Azarova / Getty Images
Hold the condom up and make sure the side you will place on the penis is the correct one.
The rim should be rolled up on the outside, rather than tucked underneath.
You can unroll the condom a bit to check for this, if needed. You shouldn’t have to stick your fingers inside the condom to do this.
You’ll know you have the correct side if you can easily roll the condom down over the penis.
If you accidentally put the condom on inside out, throw it out and start again with a fresh one, as the outside may have come into contact with fluids.
5Make Room and Put the Condom OnKoldunova_Anna / Getty ImagesPinch the tip of the condom with the pads of your fingers and place it on the penis. You want to create a half-inch gap at the top of the condom.Doing this will ensure that there’s a space for fluid released duringejaculation(climax). Without it, the condom could break.This can also help keep air from getting trapped inside the condom. Most condoms have what’s called a reservoir tip for this purpose.(You can skip this step if you’re using the condom over a sex toy.)
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Make Room and Put the Condom OnKoldunova_Anna / Getty ImagesPinch the tip of the condom with the pads of your fingers and place it on the penis. You want to create a half-inch gap at the top of the condom.Doing this will ensure that there’s a space for fluid released duringejaculation(climax). Without it, the condom could break.This can also help keep air from getting trapped inside the condom. Most condoms have what’s called a reservoir tip for this purpose.(You can skip this step if you’re using the condom over a sex toy.)
Make Room and Put the Condom On
Koldunova_Anna / Getty Images
Pinch the tip of the condom with the pads of your fingers and place it on the penis. You want to create a half-inch gap at the top of the condom.
Doing this will ensure that there’s a space for fluid released duringejaculation(climax). Without it, the condom could break.
This can also help keep air from getting trapped inside the condom. Most condoms have what’s called a reservoir tip for this purpose.
(You can skip this step if you’re using the condom over a sex toy.)
6Unroll the Condom All the WayOleksiy Maksymenko / Getty ImagesOnce you have the condom in place, unroll it so it covers the full shaft of the penis.Doing this will help reduce the risk of transmission of any STIs that are transferred from skin to skin contact, such assyphilis. It also makes the condom less likely to slip than if it’s only rolled down part of the way.Condoms should feel snug, but not uncomfortably tight. However, some people find the condom is too long, too short, too tight, or too loose.Find a condom size that fits. If the condom is too loose, find one that has slightly smaller width for a closer fit. If it is too tight, look for a slightly larger size. Problems with how the condom fits or feels can result in condom breakage, loss of erection, and slippage during withdrawal or sex.What Size Condom Do I Need?It’s important to find theright size of condomfor you or your partner. That makes it more comfortable and more effective, as it’s less likely to slide off. Typically, it takes trying a few different sizes to determine what you need.Signs and Symptoms of STIs
6
Unroll the Condom All the WayOleksiy Maksymenko / Getty ImagesOnce you have the condom in place, unroll it so it covers the full shaft of the penis.Doing this will help reduce the risk of transmission of any STIs that are transferred from skin to skin contact, such assyphilis. It also makes the condom less likely to slip than if it’s only rolled down part of the way.Condoms should feel snug, but not uncomfortably tight. However, some people find the condom is too long, too short, too tight, or too loose.Find a condom size that fits. If the condom is too loose, find one that has slightly smaller width for a closer fit. If it is too tight, look for a slightly larger size. Problems with how the condom fits or feels can result in condom breakage, loss of erection, and slippage during withdrawal or sex.What Size Condom Do I Need?It’s important to find theright size of condomfor you or your partner. That makes it more comfortable and more effective, as it’s less likely to slide off. Typically, it takes trying a few different sizes to determine what you need.Signs and Symptoms of STIs
Unroll the Condom All the Way
Oleksiy Maksymenko / Getty Images
Once you have the condom in place, unroll it so it covers the full shaft of the penis.
Doing this will help reduce the risk of transmission of any STIs that are transferred from skin to skin contact, such assyphilis. It also makes the condom less likely to slip than if it’s only rolled down part of the way.
Condoms should feel snug, but not uncomfortably tight. However, some people find the condom is too long, too short, too tight, or too loose.
Find a condom size that fits. If the condom is too loose, find one that has slightly smaller width for a closer fit. If it is too tight, look for a slightly larger size. Problems with how the condom fits or feels can result in condom breakage, loss of erection, and slippage during withdrawal or sex.
What Size Condom Do I Need?It’s important to find theright size of condomfor you or your partner. That makes it more comfortable and more effective, as it’s less likely to slide off. Typically, it takes trying a few different sizes to determine what you need.
What Size Condom Do I Need?
It’s important to find theright size of condomfor you or your partner. That makes it more comfortable and more effective, as it’s less likely to slide off. Typically, it takes trying a few different sizes to determine what you need.
Signs and Symptoms of STIs
7
Check for Trapped Air
If the tip of the condom feels like an inflated balloon, there’s air inside. Leaving it there could make the condom more likely to break during sex.
Sometimes putting a little bit of lube in the tip of the condombeforeputting it on can help prevent this.
8Hold the Condom When WithdrawingAfter ejaculation, condoms should be removed carefully before the penis becomes less erect.As the penis is withdrawn from the vagina, anus, or mouth, hold onto the base to keep the ejaculate inside. If the condom slides off inside your partner, twist the open end of the condom shut before removing it.If you don’t do this, the condom may slide off or leak.Top 10 External Condom Facts
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Hold the Condom When WithdrawingAfter ejaculation, condoms should be removed carefully before the penis becomes less erect.As the penis is withdrawn from the vagina, anus, or mouth, hold onto the base to keep the ejaculate inside. If the condom slides off inside your partner, twist the open end of the condom shut before removing it.If you don’t do this, the condom may slide off or leak.Top 10 External Condom Facts
Hold the Condom When Withdrawing
After ejaculation, condoms should be removed carefully before the penis becomes less erect.
As the penis is withdrawn from the vagina, anus, or mouth, hold onto the base to keep the ejaculate inside. If the condom slides off inside your partner, twist the open end of the condom shut before removing it.
If you don’t do this, the condom may slide off or leak.
Top 10 External Condom Facts
9
Throw Away the Condom
Condoms should be put in the trash, not the toilet. (They can clog pipes.)
It’s a good idea to wrap the condom in toilet paper or a paper towel to prevent it from leaking and making a mess. It also protects your privacy better.
Condom Care and Tips
Properly handling condoms when they’re not being used can help prevent condom failure:
If you’re using condoms as a form of birth control, consider adding another contraceptive method likethe pill,IUD, or shot. Condoms are 98% effective if used properly and only about 87% effective if mistakes happen. Using two forms of birth control reduces the chance of pregnancy during vaginal intercourse.
How to Get Free or Low-Cost Birth Control
Summary
Condoms are an important form of birth control and an easy way to avoid disease. However, in order to work properly, they must be used correctly.
Always check the expiration date and packaging, and open it carefully. When you’re putting it on, leave room for the ejaculate and make sure you unroll it right side out. Always hold it in place when withdrawing from your partner and throw away the condom when you’re done.
How to Place an Internal Condom
6 SourcesVerywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Nemours TeensHealth.How can you tell if a condom has expired?Planned Parenthood.How to put a condom on.Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Condom use: An overview.Marfatia YS, Pandya I, Mehta K.Condoms: Past, present, and future.Indian J Sex Transm Dis AIDS. 2015;36(2):133-139. doi:10.4103/2589-0557.167135Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.How to use a condom.Planned Parenthood.How effective are condoms?Additional ReadingCenters for Disease Control and Prevention.Types of condoms.
6 Sources
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Nemours TeensHealth.How can you tell if a condom has expired?Planned Parenthood.How to put a condom on.Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Condom use: An overview.Marfatia YS, Pandya I, Mehta K.Condoms: Past, present, and future.Indian J Sex Transm Dis AIDS. 2015;36(2):133-139. doi:10.4103/2589-0557.167135Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.How to use a condom.Planned Parenthood.How effective are condoms?Additional ReadingCenters for Disease Control and Prevention.Types of condoms.
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.
Nemours TeensHealth.How can you tell if a condom has expired?Planned Parenthood.How to put a condom on.Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Condom use: An overview.Marfatia YS, Pandya I, Mehta K.Condoms: Past, present, and future.Indian J Sex Transm Dis AIDS. 2015;36(2):133-139. doi:10.4103/2589-0557.167135Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.How to use a condom.Planned Parenthood.How effective are condoms?
Nemours TeensHealth.How can you tell if a condom has expired?
Planned Parenthood.How to put a condom on.
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Condom use: An overview.
Marfatia YS, Pandya I, Mehta K.Condoms: Past, present, and future.Indian J Sex Transm Dis AIDS. 2015;36(2):133-139. doi:10.4103/2589-0557.167135
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.How to use a condom.
Planned Parenthood.How effective are condoms?
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Types of condoms.
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