What is a condom?
A condom is a thin, stretchy sheath that's worn during sex to stop body fluids passing between partners. Used correctly, condoms help prevent pregnancy and protect against most sexually transmitted infections (STIs), including HIV. They're the only type of contraception that does both.
Most condoms are made of thin latex rubber, but there are also non-latex options for people with allergies. In the UK, look for the UKCA or CE mark and ideally the BSI Kitemark on the packet, which show a condom has been tested to recognised safety standards.
This guide is general information, not medical advice. If you have questions about contraception or sexual health, a sexual health clinic, pharmacist or GP will be happy to help.
Before you start: check the date and the packet
Every condom has a use by date printed on the wrapper. Out of date condoms can dry out and tear, so always check. Give the wrapper a gentle squeeze too. You should feel a small cushion of air, which tells you it hasn't been damaged.
Keep condoms somewhere cool and dry. A wallet or a car glovebox gets warm and causes friction, which can weaken them over time. Open the wrapper carefully with your fingers, never with your teeth, scissors or sharp nails, and push the condom to one side first so you don't tear it.
How to put a condom on, step by step
Put the condom on once the penis is erect and before there's any genital contact, because fluid can be released before ejaculation. Check which way it unrolls. The rolled rim should be on the outside, like a little hat. If you start the wrong way, throw it away and use a new one, as it may already have fluid on it.
Pinch the closed tip of the condom between your finger and thumb to squeeze out any air. This leaves room for semen and makes it less likely to split. Keep pinching the tip while you place it on the head of the penis, then use your other hand to roll it all the way down to the base.
Smooth out any air bubbles as you go. If the condom won't roll down easily, it's probably inside out, so start again with a fresh one.
Lube, removal and disposal
A little lubricant makes sex more comfortable and makes a condom less likely to tear. Use a water based or silicone based lube with latex condoms. Never use oil based products such as baby oil, massage oil, petroleum jelly or body lotion, because oil weakens latex and can cause it to break.
After ejaculation, hold the condom at the base while withdrawing, before the erection goes down, so it doesn't slip off. Take it off away from your partner, wrap it in a tissue and put it in the bin. Never flush condoms down the toilet.
Use a new condom every time you have sex, and a fresh one if you switch between types of sex. Never reuse one, and don't wear two at once, as the friction makes both more likely to split.
Types of condom: latex, non-latex and internal
Latex condoms are the most common and come in lots of sizes, thicknesses, textures and flavours. Getting the right size matters, because a condom that's too tight can split and one that's too loose can slip. Many brands offer trim or larger fits, so it's worth trying a few.
Non-latex condoms, usually made from polyurethane or polyisoprene, are a good choice for anyone with a latex allergy. Internal condoms, sometimes known by the brand name Femidom, are worn inside the vagina or anus rather than on the penis. They're less widely stocked but available from many clinics.
Condoms are also a good idea for sharing sex toys, with a fresh one for each person. Our guide on how to choose, use and clean sex toys explains more, and most adult shops stock a wide range of condoms and lube.
Free condoms, and what to do if a condom breaks
Condoms are free from NHS sexual health clinics across the UK, and many GP surgeries and young people's services hand them out too. Many areas also run C-Card schemes giving young people free condoms. Our guide to sexual health clinics and STI testing explains how to find a service near you.
If a condom splits or comes off, try not to panic. If pregnancy is possible, emergency contraception works best the sooner it's used. The emergency pill can be taken up to 3 or 5 days afterwards depending on the type, and an IUD (coil) fitted within 5 days is the most effective option. Pharmacies and sexual health clinics can help, and clinics provide it free.
If there's a risk of HIV, go to a sexual health clinic or A&E as soon as possible to ask about PEP, which needs to be started within 72 hours. It's also sensible to have an STI test, and the clinic will advise on the right timing. Talking openly with a partner about protection is part of consent and respecting boundaries.
Your questions, answered
How do you put on a condom?
Check the date, open the wrapper carefully, pinch the tip to remove air and roll it down to the base of the erect penis with the rim on the outside, before any genital contact.
What is a condom?
A thin sheath, usually latex, worn during sex to help prevent pregnancy and most STIs, including HIV. Internal condoms are worn inside the body instead.
Which way does a condom go on?
The rolled rim should sit on the outside so it unrolls down easily. If you start it the wrong way, throw it away and use a new one.
What should I do if a condom breaks?
Get emergency contraception quickly if pregnancy is possible, ask a sexual health clinic or A&E about PEP within 72 hours if HIV is a risk, and book an STI test.