Home > Health Guides by Topic > Sexuality & Sexual Health > Contraception/Birth Control > Male Condoms Condoms:
A Guide for Teens
What is the condom and how does it work?
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The male condom is a sheath worn over the penis during intercourse. It prevents pregnancy by acting as a barrier and preventing the man's semen from entering the woman's vagina, so sperm can't reach a woman's "egg". Use of condoms allows males to have an active part in preventing pregnancy. Condoms also lessen the chance of males and females getting a sexually transmitted disease, including HIV. They act as a barrier to some organisms that carry sexually transmitted diseases, so these organisms cannot pass from one partner to another.
| Out of 100 women using condoms | |
| Typical use: 14 women become pregnant |  |
| Perfect use: 3 women become pregnant |  |
There are dozens of sizes, styles, shapes and features of condoms to choose from, some more effective than others. Condoms can be made out of latex, polyurethane, or lambskin (natural). Condoms may be lubricated or unlubricated. Some contain spermicides already and some do not. It is best to use condoms without spermicide.
Males are the ones who wear condoms, but you can always keep some on hand if you are in a sexual relationship with a male. Then you will have contraception available, and you can always practice safer sex.
Where can I get condoms?
Condoms, which are very cheap (about 50 cents each), can be bought at drug stores, many campus bookstores, and family planning clinics. You can also get them through Student Health Services at many colleges. Talk to your health care provider.
Does it matter which type of condom I use?
Yes! The best type of condom to use is one made out of latex. It provides the best protection against both pregnancy and sexually transmitted diseases. However, if you are allergic to latex, polyurethane condoms are still a good method. They provide just about the same protection against pregnancy and also give some protection against STDs, although they break and slip more often than latex condoms. Lambskin condoms, or natural condoms, are effective against pregnancy, but not effective in the prevention of sexually transmitted diseases. It's up to you if you use lubricated or unlubricated condoms, although most teens prefer lubricated.
How effective is the condom against pregnancy?
If women use the male condom every time they have sexual intercourse and follow instructions every time, it is 97% effective. This means that if 100 women use the male condom all the time and always use it perfectly, 3 women will become pregnant in a year.
It's obvious that the male condom is most effective against pregnancy when it is used all the time and always used correctly. If women use the male condom, but do not use it perfectly, it is 86% effective. This means that if 100 women use the male condom, but do not use it perfectly every time, at least 14 women will become pregnant in a year.
When used all of the time and when used correctly, condoms are very good at preventing pregnancy. Most condom failures are because of improper use. Using out-of-date condoms is another reason that condoms break.
How effective is the condom against STDs?
The answer to this question partly depends on which type of condom used. Latex condoms provide excellent protection against some STDs. Polyurethane condoms provide some protection against STDs, although it is still not clear just how much. Remember, lambskin condoms, or natural condoms, don't protect against STDs. The pores are too large to protect against the small particles that cause some STDs.
The answer to this question also depends on which type of STD. Latex condoms protect against only certain types of STDs. STDs can be spread by sexual activity in a few different ways. They are effective against STDs that travel in bodily fluids (blood or semen), such as the HIV/AIDS virus, hepatitis, chlamydia, and gonorrhea. Condoms are much less effective against STDs that are caused by organisms that live in sores on the genitals, such as syphilis. STDs like herpes and human papillomavirus (also known as genital warts) that occur on the genital skin can get passed from one partner to another even if a condom is used.
Most importantly, the effectiveness of a condom against STDs depends on whether the condom is stored correctly, and is used correctly and all of the time!
Latex and polyurethane condoms are not 100% effective in preventing STDs, so your best protection. is not to have sex. If you make a decision to have sex, condoms are your best protection. You can also lessen your chance of getting an STD by having sex with only one person who does not have an STD and who is not having sex with anyone else.
Where should I keep unused condoms?
Keep unused condoms in a dry, dark place at room temperature. Extreme heat or cold can weaken the material. Sunlight or humidity can also break down latex, causing condoms to break or tear more easily. Condoms should not be carried in a wallet or stored in a car glove compartment for more than two weeks, because the material will weaken and be more likely to break or tear.
How long are condoms good for?
Always check the date on the box. Some condoms are marked by the manufacture date (MFG= manufacture date). You can use these condoms for up to four years after the date of manufacture. Other condoms are marked EXP, which means expiration date. You should not use condoms anytime after the expiration date. If you are not sure how old the condom is, throw it away and use a new one. Never use condoms that are brittle, sticky, damaged, or an unusual color.
How do you use a condom?
First of all, use a new condom every time you have vaginal, anal, or oral sex. Be careful when opening a condom package so that you do not tear or nick the latex with your teeth, nails, or rings. Do not unroll the condom before putting it on the penis, because it can weaken the latex and make the condom difficult to use. You can put a condom on a male or he can put it on himself.
Gently press out air at the tip of the condom before putting it on. Make sure to leave space at the tip (about one-half inch) to collect the semen, so it will not leak out the side of the condom. You can use a water-based lubricant (such as glycerin or lubricating jellies) during intercourse to prevent condoms from breaking. If you put a drop of lubricant inside the tip of the condom (like KY-Jelly), you can increase both sensation and safety.
Never use an oil-based lubricant, since it will weaken the latex and make it break. Examples of oil-based lubricants are Crisco, lotion, Vaseline, or baby oil. Medications used to treat women's yeast infections can also weaken condoms.
Hold the tip of the condom between your thumb and forefinger against the head of the penis. If the penis is uncircumcised, pull back the foreskin before putting on the condom. Squeeze out any excess air to prevent the condom from bursting. Put the condom on when the penis is erect. Unroll the condom over the entire length of the erect penis.
After the male has ejaculated, he should pull out while the penis is still hard, since the condom can easily slip off when the erection is lost. He should hold the condom at the base of the penis while withdrawing so semen doesn't spill out. Gently, roll the condom toward the tip of the penis to remove.
What should you do with a used condom?
You should wrap the used condom in a tissue and throw it away in a waste container. Do not flush it down the toilet, since it can clog plumbing. Condoms cannot be reused, so use one condom for each time you have sexual intercourse and then throw it away.
What if the condom breaks or tears?
First of all, don't panic. The penis should be withdrawn immediately. (If you are going to keep having sexual intercourse, make sure that you use a new condom.) Contraceptive jelly or foam should be inserted into the vagina. Women should not douche. Douching can cause infections. Figure out why the condom broke so that it won't happen again. If you are concerned about pregnancy or sexually transmitted diseases, contact your health care provider immediately. You should strongly consider taking Emergency Contraception to prevent pregnancy. If you cannot get in touch with your health care provider, you can call the Emergency Contraception Hotline (1-888-NOT-2-LATE).
How often do condoms break?
Condoms hardly ever break if they are stored and used correctly. Studies show that latex condoms break only about 0.4% (4 out of 1000) of the time during the first five uses, and polyurethane condoms break 4% (4 out of 100) of the time during the first five uses. Couples using polyurethane condoms are 9 times more likely to experience breakage than those using latex condoms. When condoms break, it is usually because space for semen was not left at the tip of the condom, the condoms are out-of-date, they have been exposed to heat or sunlight, or they have been torn by teeth or fingernails. Also, using oil-based lubricants, rather than water-based, weakens latex, causing condoms to break. So if you store and use condoms properly, it is very unlikely that your condom will break.
What if the condom comes off and I can't remove it from my vagina?
Don't panic! You can usually reach it with a finger in your vagina. If not, contact your health care provider for an appointment.
What if my partner or I have an allergic reaction when we use a condom?
Some people may have an allergic reaction to condoms. It could be due to the spermicide or latex. Try a condom without spermicide (check the label), which is preferred anyway. If you think it might be due to the latex, you should try a polyurethane male or female condom. Talk to your health care provider.
Do we need to use other forms of contraception with the male condom?
It's a good idea to always use two forms of contraception to increase protection against pregnancy, such as birth control pills and condoms.
Updated 5/12/2005
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