Take a big deep breath and don’t panic. Your situation isn’t uncommon and there are ways to fix it, but it’s totally normal to be nervous. A great place to start is by asking yourself if you use a second form of birth control, such as oral contraceptives aka “the pill.” If you don’t, you might want to take an emergency contraceptive (EC) to help prevent pregnancy.
Now, it is not uncommon for the condom to accidentally slide off during sex. This can happen if your partner ejaculated and the condom became slippery or if the condom was the wrong size (too big or too small).
It’s completely up to you and your comfort level, but it’s possible for you to remove the condom from home. If you want to try to remove the condom at home, begin by washing your hands. Then choose a quiet, comfortable place to lay down. Once you are laying down, take a couple nice deep breathes (as you did before). Begin by taking one clean finger and inserting it you’re your vagina, feel around for the condom. If you are able to feel the condom, insert a second finger and take hold of it. Use the two fingers to help gently pull the condom towards the entrance of the vagina and out.
Now, if you are unable to feel the condom or you’re uncomfortable removing it at home, call your health care provider (HCP). It’s important to tell your provider what is going on so that they can schedule you an urgent appointment. The longer the condom is inside you, the higher the risk for infection.
Our health guides are developed through a systematic, rigorous process to ensure accuracy, reliability, and trustworthiness. Written and reviewed by experienced healthcare clinicians from Boston Children's Hospital, a Harvard Medical School teaching hospital and consistently ranked as a top hospital by Newsweek and U.S. News & World Report, these guides combine clinical expertise, specialized knowledge, and evidence-based medicine. We also incorporate research and best practices from authoritative sources such as the CDC, NIH, PubMed, top medical journals, and UpToDate.com. Clinical specialists and subject matter experts review and edit each guide, reinforcing our commitment to high-quality, factual, scientifically accurate health information for young people.