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Condoms

Condoms are still the safest and easiest way to safeguard your sexual health - find out how we can help make them easier to use.

image of condom

Step 1

As soon as the penis gets hard place a rolled up condom on the tip.

 putting on a condom

Step 2

Squeeze out the air from the end of the condom (to make room for any cum), and unroll the condom to the base of the penis.

 putting on a condom

Step 3

Use plenty of lubricant on the outside of the condom. After cumming, hold onto the base of the condom firmly (to stop any cum leaking), then pull out. Use each condom only once.

 putting on a condom

It's worth mentioning that using a femidom and condom together is not recommended - it's more likely to cause either or both to split.

Lubricants or `Lube'

Using lubricant means more comfort and safety. Not using any, not using enough or using the wrong sort makes condoms more likely to break or come off.

Lubricant should go on the condom-covered penis, and in and around the vagina or anus.

Avoid getting lubricant on the penis before the condom goes on – this makes it more likely to slip off.

Condoms are made weak by oil-based lubricants such as skin cream, Vaseline, massage oil, baby oil, hair gel, cream or oil-based food from the kitchen.

Water-based lubricant should be used (eg KY jelly, Wet Stuff, Astroglide) and can be bought in chemists and supermarkets.

You can also buy silicone lubricant – it stays slippy for longer and is safe to use with all condoms (but can stain clothes or bedding, and damage sex toys made of silicone).

Add more lubricant during sex to reduce the risk of a condom breaking or slipping off and don’t rely on spit – it dries quickly, causing condoms to break.