Using a condom
Using condom protects you and your partner!
- Always practice safer sex.
- It is best to use high-quality condoms and lubricants. Lubricants should always be water- or silicone-based. Lubricants reduce the risk of condom bursts.
- It is important to know the right way to use a condom. When a condom stays in place and does not break it protects against sexually transmitted infections.
If the condom breaks during intercourse:
- Wash yourself only on the outside with water.
- Do not wash internally.
- After the condom burst, visit hospital or health services as soon as you can. Tell them you had a condom burst or unsafe sex.
- Take an emergency contraception immediately, latest 72 hours after condom burst, if you weren't already using contraception.
- Contact health care professionals for STD testing and consultation. Pro Centre Helsinki / Tampere offers anonymous testing on STDs and consultation.
If the condom breaks after anal sex:
- Wash yourself on the outside.
- Never spray water into your anus! It can lead to wounds and sores in the mucus membrane of the rectum and increase the risk of infection.
- Contact health care professionals for STD testing and consultation. Pro Centre Helsinki / Tampere offers anonymous testing on STDs and consultation.
If the condom breaks after oral sex:
- Spit out the semen.
- Rinse your mouth with water.
- Don't brush your teeth or use dental floss for at least an hour.
- Don't eat or drink anything for at least an hour
- Contact health care professionals for STD testing and consultation. Pro Centre Helsinki / Tampere offers anonymous testing on STDs and consultation.
The condom can slip off the penis if:
- The condom was not rolled down to the base of the penis.
- The condom is too big or small for the penis. Condoms have different sizes.
- The penis is not completely erect before the condom was put on.
- The erection is lost during intercourse.
- Intercourse lasts a long time.
- The penis is thicker at the base than at the end.
- The partner lets the condom fall off because he wants unprotected sex.
The condom can break if:
- Oil-based lubricants are used, for example Vaseline, hand cream or moisturiser.
- Sex lasts a long time and no lubricants are used.
- The condom is out of date (too old). You should check its expiry date on the wrapper.
- The condom is damaged if the wrapper was opened with fingernails or teeth. Be careful when opening the wrapper!
- The penis is too big or small for the condom.
- You use two condoms at the same time. Condoms can break by rubbing against each other.
More information about having the safest sex can be found for example on these pages:
www.tht.org.uk/informationresources/safersex/condoms/
www.gmfa.org.uk/sex/hivandaids/condoms-and-lube
