Condoms and lube

Of all the things covered in this site nothing (including PEP) is as good at stopping HIV as a condom. Used properly they have a very low failure rate. But each year about one in 10 of us has a condom rip or come off. How you use a condom makes a big difference to the chance of it breaking or coming off.

Some tips:

• Use a size that fits - you can buy larger and smaller brands.
• If you have an allergy to latex, you can get latex free brands such as Avanti Ultima which are made from polyisoprene.
• When opening condoms be careful not to tear them with teeth or jewellery.
• Try not to unroll or stretch it too much before putting it on.
• A condom can only go on a cock correctly if it's fully erect.
• Roll the condom all the way down (if it's only halfway down it's likely to come off).
• Avoid getting air trapped under it - squeeze air out of the end before rolling it on.
• Wearing two condoms means they'll rub against each other, causing them to split or slip off.
• After about 30 minutes rubbers are more likely to rip. Keep checking or put on a fresh one.
• After 'coming', grip the condom at the base of the dick before pulling out so it doesn't get left inside.

Lube

No lubricant means more friction, which makes it more likely a condom rips or comes off.

• Spit's no good - there's never enough and it dries quickly.
• Water-based lubes are needed (e.g.: Wetstuff, Liquid Silk).
• Oil-based lubes weaken rubbers, so avoid body or skin creams, Vaseline or any oil used in cooking.
• Use lots of lube on the condom-covered dick and in and around the arse-hole.
• Keep lube on the outside of the condom. Lube underneath it (on the dick) means condoms slide off.
• Avoid lubes with Non-oxynol-9 in them (the packaging will say). This ingredient irritates the inside of the arse, making it more likely HIV is passed on.

For more info and tips on using condoms, including tips on staying hard when using them, check out www.chapsonline.org.uk/getiton

• This article was last reviewed on: 18/10/11
• Date due for next review: 18/10/13