Tips for using condoms

Useful tips

Boys and men can practice by putting a condom on themselves. Girls and women can practice by putting a condom on a banana.
Use good quality condoms. These are condoms with a CE logo on the packaging. That is a European quality mark.
Check the expiry date in advance. You’ll find it on the packaging. Old condoms are not safe.
Keep condoms away from keys as they can damage them.
Do not open condoms with your teeth or with scissors.
Don’t roll the condom down until the penis is completely erect.
Use a water-based lubricant (on sale at supermarkets and the pharmacy). Lubricants that aren’t water based can damage the condom’s rubber. In that case, the condom is no longer safe. So don’t use face cream, body lotion, oil, wax, gel or sunscreen as a lubricant.
Never put your penis into a vagina or anus without a condom.

Use good quality condoms. These are condoms with a CE logo on the packaging. That is a European quality mark.
Condoms don’t need to be extra strong. You can still use condoms that are called extra strong, but ‘ordinary’ condoms with the CE logo are also suitable.
Use extra water-based lubricant to prevent the condom tearing. Anal sex is less smooth than vaginal sex.
Do you go from vaginal sex to anal sex or vice versa? Then change your condom too.

Pinch the tip of the condom with your thumb and index finger when you put it on. A handy trick is to twist the tip of the condom.
Use a new condom if you’re having sex for longer than a quarter of an hour.
Withdraw your penis once you’ve had an orgasm.
Hold on tight to the bottom of the condom when you pull out.
Use a new condom if you’ve had an orgasm and you want to have sex again.
Use one condom at a time. It’s perfectly safe if you use it correctly.

Unroll the condom in one go without pinching the tip. There’ll be air inside it. And this may make it burst.
Have sex for half an hour with the same condom.
Leave your penis in the vagina or anus for a while after you’ve had an orgasm.
Withdraw without using your hands.
Once you’ve had an orgasm, have sex again with the same condom.
Use two condoms on top of each other (this causes tearing).

Just when you don’t expect it, you need a condom. Not having a condom is the main cause of unsafe sex. So, make sure you are prepared.
Make sure you always have a few extra condoms handy in case one tears.
It’s best to keep condoms in a cool dark place, like your bedside table or in your wallet or purse. Condoms don’t like extreme cold or heat. So, don’t put them in the fridge, and keep them out of the sun.
Store away from sharp objects.