How to use a condom

Condoms are made of latex (very thin rubber) or polyurethane (very thin soft plastic), and they fit over an erect penis. Female condoms are made of polyurethane, and they fit inside the vagina.

Whichever kind you’re using, put it on before you make any genital contact with your partner, or before you use sex toys.

Practice can help

If you're not confident about using condoms, practise when you’re alone. This will help you get used to putting on a condom and coming (ejaculating) while wearing one.

You can also ask a member of staff at a community contraceptive clinic, a sexual health or GUM clinic or a Brook young persons' service to show you how to use one. Find sexual health services near you.

One is enough

Don’t use two condoms together, or one male and one female condom together. This will make them less effective. Always buy condoms that have the CE mark on the packet. This means that they've been tested to high European safety standards. Condoms that don't have the CE mark won't meet these standards, so don't use them.

Using a male condom

You or your partner can roll the condom onto the penis. Some couples do it together as an enjoyable part of sex.

1. When the penis is hard, and before there's any genital-to-genital contact, carefully take the condom out of the packet. Be careful not to tear the condom.

2. If the penis has a foreskin, gently roll it back before putting on the condom.

3. Before you put the condom on the penis, unroll the condom a little bit to check that it’s the right way round and will unroll properly. 

4. Squeeze the tip of the condom to get rid of any air, then place it over the tip of the penis.

5. Roll the condom all the way down to the base of the penis. If it won’t roll down, it’s the wrong way round. Throw this condom away because there could be semen on the tip of it, and start again with a new one.

6. If you’re using lubricant, make sure that it’s water-based. Oil-based lubricant (such as lotion, baby oil and lipstick) can damage latex condoms.

7. Check during sex that the condom hasn’t slipped off (you should be able to feel it with your fingers at the base of the penis).

8. After sex, withdraw carefully while the penis is still hard. Hold the base of the condom to stop it coming off and to prevent any sperm from leaking.

9. Wrap the condom in a tissue and put in the bin. Don't put it down the toilet because this can cause blockages.

Condoms don't last forever. Change the condom after 30 minutes of sex because friction can weaken the condom, which makes it more likely to break or fail.

Using a female condom

The female condom is designed to line the vagina. There are two soft rings to keep it in place, and it's easy to use. You can read the instructions that come with it, and you can also ask a member of staff at a community contraceptive clinic, a sexual health or GUM clinic or a Brook young persons' service to show you how to use one.

1. Squeeze the inner ring (the closed end) of the condom between the thumb and middle finger of one hand.

2. With your index finger, push the condom as far as you can into the vagina. The ring at the open end of the condom should stay outside the vagina, resting against the labia (outer lips of the vagina). Make sure that the condom isn't twisted.

3. Make sure that your partner puts his penis inside the condom, not between the condom and the side of your vagina.

4. Check the condom during sex to make sure it stays in place.

5. After sex, remove the condom immediately. Lie down while you do this.

6. Lie down, twist the condom near the outer ring and gently pull it out. This way, semen is less likely to spill out.

7. Wrap the condom in a tissue and put it in the bin. Don't put it down the toilet because this can cause blockages.

Find out what to do if your partner says "but condoms don't fit me" or gives you other excuses not to use a condom.

Condom, no condom? is an interactive video on YouTube where you decide what happens. Just choose which button to click at the end of each section to continue the story, and see the consequences of your choices. 

Find out about the 15 methods of contraception.