Condoms have a “reservoir tip” that’s designed to hold ejaculate (or cum). This helps protect against pregnancy and sexually transmitted infections.
Use lubricant if you want but make sure it’s water-based because oil-based lubricants can damage latex or polyisoprene condoms and cause them to break.
Try to time it so you ejaculate right before orgasm — although this isn’t always possible.
What is a condom?
Condoms are made of latex, a type of rubber, or plastic (polyurethane and polyisoprene). They protect against pregnancy and many STDs during vaginal, oral, and anal sex. Some people use natural lambskin condoms, but they don’t work as well to prevent pregnancy and some STDs.
Male condoms have a closed end that goes on the penis and an open end that sits in the vulva. They are usually made of latex, but there are some that are safe for people with latex allergies. There are also female condoms, which are made of a synthetic material called nitrile and come pre-lubricated.
You can find male and female condoms at drugstores, supermarkets, and some family planning clinics. Some health centers and schools give them away for free. A condom is cheap, easy to use, and effective if used correctly.
A guy should put the condom on as soon as his penis becomes erect and before touching his partner. He should unroll it all the way to the base of the penis while holding the tip to leave room for semen after he ejaculates. The condom is then ready to be used for sex. A guy can add lube to the condom before sex to make it more comfortable, but he should never use oil-based lubricants because they can damage the condom and cause it to break.
How do you put on a condom?
Condoms are a great way to help prevent unintended pregnancy and sexually transmitted infections (STIs). But they only work if you use them properly. It is estimated that three-quarters of people make mistakes when using condoms, which can lead to a pregnancy or an STI.
Start by checking the expiration date and packaging, then carefully opening it using only your hands. Feel the rim of the condom to see if it is rounded or flat. If the rim is flat, it means that the condom is inside out and won’t roll down the penis properly. If this is the case, bin it and start again with a new condom.
Once you’ve got the right size, pinch it at its base with the pads of your fingers and then use the rest of your hand to roll it down the shaft to where it meets your balls. Make sure that it covers the whole shaft, and isn’t too loose or tight. If it feels slippery, put a bit of water-based lubricant on the tip to reduce friction and increase pleasure. But don’t use oil-based lubricants as they can weaken latex condoms and increase the risk of them splitting or tearing.
Some condoms are coated with spermicide, which slows down sperm so that it doesn’t reach your partner’s egg. You can also buy lubricant separately for extra comfort and to make it easier to insert the condom. Remember to withdraw the condom occasionally to check it is still in place and to add more lubricant. And never remove a condom without telling your partner – this is called stealthing and can be a form of sexual assault.
How do you know if a condom is working?
Condoms are very effective at preventing pregnancy and sexually transmitted infections (STIs) when used correctly. They are made of latex, polyurethane or polyisoprene and help stop sperm from meeting an egg during vaginal, oral or anal sex. When using condoms, be sure to use them the right way and keep them clean and dry. If you have any questions about how to use a condom, ask your doctor or nurse.
If you use the right kind of lubricant, a condom is much easier to slip on and off. It is best to lubricate with a water-based lube, such as K-Y jelly or Astroglide, rather than a petroleum jelly, baby oil, body lotion, or hand cream. The oil in these products can weaken the latex, causing it to break.
It is also important to use a condom that is still in good condition and hasn’t expired. You can check the expiration date on the packaging. If the condom feels sticky, brittle or stiff when unwrapped, throw it out and use another.
It can be difficult to tell if a condom has broken during sex. You might not feel anything or you might not realize that the condom has broken until after sex, when you may be already at a higher risk of pregnancy and infection. If you do suspect that a condom has broken, both partners should take an emergency pill (morning after pill) to reduce the chances of infection.
Do you have to pull out with a condom?
Using condoms is an important part of a healthy relationship. However, some people don’t feel comfortable with them because they think it’s a barrier to intimacy or that their partner doesn’t trust them enough.
Fortunately, there are ways to make the pull-out method more comfortable, like using extra lubricant and storing the condoms properly. Also, you can ask your boyfriend to hold the base of the condom during ejaculation so it doesn’t slip off. This may help them ejaculate more quickly as well.
The pull-out method works for pregnancy prevention, but it doesn’t offer protection against sexually transmitted infections (STIs). You and your boyfriend should talk about your sex needs and agree on the best way to use condoms together. You should always have back-up contraception available in case the condom breaks or you get an STI.
If you don’t want to use the pull-out method, you can add a spermicide, cervical barrier or a hormonal method of birth control, like the pill or vaginal ring, to condoms for extra protection. It’s also a good idea to know your cycles so you can be extra careful during high fertility days. You can find apps to help you track your fertile window or visit your GP to learn more about your fertility. You can also talk to your GP about other methods of birth control that don’t require removing the condom during orgasm, like LARCs and implants.
