Putting on a condom

1. Remove the condom from the wrapper carefully using your fingers – do not use your teeth to open the packet as you could damage the condom before you use it.
2. Squeeze the air out of the teat on the tip of the condom and place it over the erect penis.
3. Roll the condom down the length of the erect penis to the base of the shaft (near your pubic hair).
4. If necessary, apply some water-or-silicone-based lubricant over your condom-covered penis. This is especially important for anal sex as the anus is not self-lubricating, whereas vaginal fluid does provide lubrication during sex.
5. Be sure to check the condom occasionally during intercourse, to ensure it is still intact and hasn’t split.
6. After ejaculation, pull out whilst holding on to the base of the condom, so that you don’t leave it behind. Be sure to pull out before your penis becomes soft.
7. Remove the condom carefully and wrap it inside tissue. Dispose of it in the bin – don’t flush it down the toilet to protect the environment.
8. Wash your hands (and your penis) to be sure you do not have any body fluids on your hands and further reduce the risk of STI transmission.

There are 3 things you should look out for with your condoms:

• Expiration date
• A BSI (heart-shaped) or CE mark on the package. This confirms that the condom has been tested for durability

• Never reuse a condom.
• Never use two condoms together as this increases the chances of them splitting or tearing.
• Condoms are free on the NHS for young people, and available from different outlets such as your doctor, pharmacies, clinics or local social services.
• If you’re going to use lubricant, make sure it’s water-based. Other products like massage oil, baby oil, moisturiser, sun cream, etc. have oil in them and will damage latex condoms, making them much likely to split.

Feel: Before opening, feel for the rib of the condom inside the packaging. Push it to the side so that it doesn’t get damaged when you tear the packaging open. Check which way to roll it down before it touches the penis. Never flip the condom if you’ve tried to put in on the wrong way around.

Pinch & Roll: Make sure the condom is put on the penis as soon as it is erect (hard), before it goes near anyone’s mouth, vagina or anus. Pinch the tip of the condom between your thumb and forefinger to get rid of any air and allow for a space at the top for cum to collect in. Use your other hand to roll the condom down the penis all the way to the base.

Remove: When you are finished, withdraw the penis before it gets soft, holding the condom at the base until the penis is withdrawn from your partner’s mouth, vagina or anus, and then take it off, wrap it in toilet paper and throw it in the bin (not down the toilet as condoms don’t flush).