Common problems with condoms

Allergy

If you notice irritation, redness or itching after using a condom, you may wonder if you are allergic to the condom. In fact, allergy to rubber (latex) condoms is very unusual, but it would be sensible to switch to a polyurethane type such as Durex Avanti. There have been no reports of allergic responses to the polyurethane material.

In fact, irritation is more likely to be due to nonoxynol 9 or nonoxynol 11, a spermicide (i.e. it kills sperm) that is an ingredient of some lubricated condoms (but this is becoming less commonly used). So try avoiding condoms that are labelled 'spermicidally lubricated'.

Another possible cause of irritation is too much friction, so use extra lubrication. Put some of the lubricant inside the top of the condom so that it covers the surface of the penis as you roll the condom on.

Putting it on and taking it off

Condom manufacturers never mention this problem in their leaflets. They simply tell you to unroll it onto the hard, erect penis, and preferably to pinch the teat or closed end to keep it empty at the same time. To do this properly, you need three hands or the assistance of a cooperative partner. It is no wonder that a survey conducted by the University of Sydney, Australia – which asked men about what really happened when they used condoms – found that two-thirds of them sometimes or often lost their erection while trying to put the condom on, so it was then impossible to put it on properly. Many disliked using a condom because it drew attention to this wilting problem (Reproductive Health Matters 1994;3:55–62).

The researchers suggest that, to make things easier for yourself, you should not try to pinch the teat at the end of the condom as you put it on. They found that pinching the teat makes no difference to the likelihood of the condom breaking or slipping off during intercourse. Latex condoms are designed to stretch enormously, so there is no reason why the presence of 1 ml or so of air in addition to 3–5 ml of semen should 'burst' the condom. They also suggest that instead of rolling the condom on, as recommended by the manufacturers, you could try pulling it on like a sock with your thumbs or fingers inside. Using this method, you can put it on securely even if your penis is not fully rigid. Obviously you have to be careful not to damage it with your nails. In their study, the researchers found that people who used this method had less chance of the condom slipping off or breaking.

If the condom does not reach the base of your penis or is difficult to roll down, then it is probably inside out. Take it off and try again with another one.

Slipping off

If you find a condom slips off, you probably assume it is too large for you. In fact, it is probably too small. If the condom is too tight you probably aren't unrolling it fully down the penis. This means that, during intercourse, the ring at the base of the condom is entering your partner's vagina, where it can be dragged off. If the condom is the right size, the ring will be right at the base of your penis, and will remain outside the vagina during sex.

If you have difficulty putting the condom on properly try the 'pull-on' method (see above). Finding the right size may be a matter of trial and error, because only a few manufacturers clearly show the length and width on the pack. The consumer magazine Which? measured various brands; the lengths varied from 168 to 191 mm, and the circumference from 98 to 111 mm. The other problem is that most men don't really know how the size of their erect penis compares with other men, so are unsure whether they need a large condom or not. And most men only consider length whereas, just like short fat legs in stockings, a short fat penis also needs a large condom.

After ejaculation, when the penis quickly becomes limp, the condom can easily slip off, spilling sperm into your partner's vagina. At this stage, you must hold the condom firmly round the penis so that it remains in place until you have withdrawn.

Splitting or breaking

Research has shown that condom breakage is not a myth – it can happen.

How commonly do condoms split?

A few surveys have tried to find out how often condoms split, but have given wildly differing results. Here are some figures.
The University of Sydney, Australia, ran a study of condom breakage in three brothels. They supplied the fresh condoms, together with forms to fill in if there was an accident and little plastic bags to put the torn condoms in so the researchers could analyse in the laboratory how and why they tore. Of the 1,269 condoms the sex workers used, only 6 were broken. Next, they did a survey of ordinary men, and found that their breakage rates were far higher – about 7%, including breakages while putting the condoms on (Lancet 1989; :1487–88)
A USA study asked 92 couples to keep a sex diary, totalling 4,637 condom usages. Six condoms split while being put on, and 13 split during sex – a total breakage rate of 0.41% (Contraception 1997;56:3–12)
French researchers did a telephone survey of 20,000 people, asking about condom breakages. The breakage rate seemed to be 3.4% (American Journal of Public Health 1997;87:421–4)
A US survey found a breakage rate of 3.1%, The chance of breakage decreased with experience in using condoms (Sexually Transmitted Diseases 2005;32:35–43)

Why condoms split
Damage from ripping the packet open with teeth, scissors, knives or pencils is a common cause of tears.

Inexperience. Practice with condoms makes perfect, which is probably why, in the University of Australia study, the sex workers had the lowest breakage rate. The study also found that men were most likely to break condoms if they didn’t use condoms often, and if they rolled the condom on rather than pulled it on.

Lack of lubrication may be another reason for breakage. Prostitutes tend to use additional lubrication, which may be another reason for their lower breakage rate.

Penis size is a possible factor. Condom manufacturers say that condoms are designed to stretch enormously, so a large penis should not make a condom more likely to break. However, a study from Australia suggests that you are more likely to break a condom if you have a thick penis, but length of the penis does not make any difference (International Journal of Sexually Transmitted Disease and AIDS 1998;9:444–7).

What to do if a condom slips or breaks

If a condom slips off during intercourse, or if it breaks, the woman should visit her doctor or a family planning clinic as soon as possible for emergency contraception.
Emergency contraception – used to be called the morning-after pill.
Emergency contraception prevents pregnancy after intercourse has occurred - so it is a back-up if another method fails (such as when a condom breaks or slips off, or you forget a pill)
In fact it can be taken up to 72 hours after intercourse – not just on the morning after, but the earlier the better
The main side-effect is nausea (in 50%) and vomiting (in 20%)
It usually consists of a single dose, or two smaller doses taken 12 hours apart
In the UK (not in Ireland), you can buy it from a chemist for about £20, but only if you are aged 16 or above. It can only be given to you by a trained pharmacist, who will try to check that you are 16 or over. You cannot simply pick it up from the shelf
You can also obtain it from your doctor, from a family planning clinic or from an NHS walk-in centre (see Useful contacts). If you are a college student, your college website may give advice about getting emergency contraception from the Student Health Centre. As a last resort, you could try your Accident and Emergency (casualty) department
The next period is unpredictable – it might be earlier or later than usual
Emergency contraception doesn't always work, so if your next period is late you might be pregnant. Have a pregnancy test to check

Written by: Dr Margaret Stearn
Edited by: Dr Margaret Stearn
Last updated: Friday, February 26th 2010

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Comments on this article

Posted by Optional on 23/07/2010 at 08:45:14 pm

Everytime I have sex with a new guy the condom seams to break, this has happened 4 times.. and its always so new to my partner. I think theres something wrong with my vagina

Posted by Optional on 22/07/2010 at 11:43:32 am

while having sex ... the condom split into 2 ... bt was not in the vagina. .. But it was on the base of her vagina. could she be pregnant

Posted by Anonymous on 14/07/2010 at 10:30:38 am

My husband has lost about 45 pounds in the lsat year...I an wondering if this is part of the reason the condom keeps slipping off after we have (or perhaps during) sex.

Posted by delillo2000 on 25/06/2010 at 11:31:06 pm

I realize this site is viewed by people all over the world, so perhaps the types of condoms available in other countries are made SO differently that the "tube sock" method makes sense. I also understand that foreign social mores may sometimes inhibit lovers from handling a condom the way the manufacturers intended. Perhaps it is this handicap that the author of this article is trying to address. I can only speak from a sexually-liberated, American culture, "Sheik Elite" and "Lifestyles" brand use perspective. With that in mind, here is my somewhat dissenting opinion: I have been putting condoms on penises since I was 19 and I have never had trouble pinching the tip and using the roll down method with "only" two hands. In fact, I would absolutely NOT recommend putting a condom on like it's a sock. That just seems ridiculously awkward and time consuming to me. I also suspect that the results would not be nearly so tight or secure a fit. The dresser just has to be quick, efficient and FIRM about it. Perhaps some of the issues are angle and lack of mental focus for men trying to dress their own penises. (Let's not forget where all the blood is at that moment! ;)) My advice is, have the girlfriend or male partner who is receiving penetration dress the cock. As the receiver, he or she often has more incentive for ensuring that the condom is used effectively and less disincentive/apprehension regarding the way it is going to feel. Receivers are also able to get right down there and take care of business properly while the one being wrapped concentrates fully on maintaining his arousal. Having a skilled, confident partner place a condom on you can actually be very sexy, and should be smoothly integrated into the hotness of foreplay. For example, I knew one woman who could put a condom on (properly and completely) using only her mouth. (I know this because she demonstrated it for our Sexuality Education class in college. :)) Now how many men do you suppose would actually LOSE their erection if - in the heat of the moment - their partners did something like that?! ;) Embrace the challenge, and you'll have success. Decide to make it fun -- and it WILL be fun. ***But for those who still struggle with the basic mechanics of the PROPER method (sorry Doc, but I think you're just wrong about that one), here's how I was taught: Once an erection is achieved AND you are ready to begin intercourse, tear open the condom package and remove the condom WITHOUT unrolling it. Make sure the reservoir tip as well as the SEAM of the rolled edge faces upward as you hold the condom horizontally above the erect penis. (When in doubt, remember to hold it "like a HAT -- not a boat".) Pinch the reservoir tip of the condom with your weak hand while positioning the rolled up condom on the tip of the penis (again, just like a hat). Holding your strong hand in the shape of a "C", circle it around the “pinching” fingers of your other hand, resting it just above the brim of the "hat". Now stroke the "C" downwards with a firm, steady squeeze. The condom should begin to unroll beneath the pressure of your dominant hand. Every time the condom stops unrolling, release your grip and start over again, firmly stroking downward from the tip of the penis. It takes a few overlapping, downward-only, strokes to unroll the condom all the way to the base of the penis. Done with the right attitude, rolling a condom into place should feel slightly erotic -- like a handjob. With practice, the entire procedure, from package opening to perfect placement, shouldn't take more than about 10 seconds. It’s a mental multi-task far more than it is a physical one. Practice going through the motions a lot, and eventually you’ll be able to keep your mind happily on the sex while your hands perform the routine with automatic ease. Additional point of procedure: EVERY TIME the man removes his protected penis from whatever orifice he is penetrating, he must use one hand to firmly hold the base of the condom in place. This "safety hold" should also be used during moments of deep, rapid thrusting to prevent the condom from unrolling and being essentially "suctioned" right into the vagina, anus, etc. of his partner. It is especially important to perform this deliberate "safety hold" exit within a few seconds of ejaculation, as the penis will begin to lose hardness almost immediately. If you stall around, this loss of erection will cause the condom to leak its contents into the vaginal or anal opening of your partner, exposing him or her to pregnancy or blood born infections. *** Poster’s Qualifications: CSU, Chico trained Health Educator

Posted by Optional on 06/06/2010 at 07:17:24 am

If a condom breaks down near the base, is the chance of pregnancy high?

Posted by Optional on 24/04/2010 at 07:07:50 am

Hey, I try to put a condom on but i see that the head of the penis( or whatever it's called) is too big and when i put a condom on, there are a lot of air space between the "head" and the "body". Please help!

Posted by Optional on 12/04/2010 at 04:07:29 pm

i have had sex about 25 times but around 20 times the condom has split my penis is about 6 inches so i dont think that it is the length that causes it to break i have used various types inc.uding durex any help please

Posted by Matey! on 24/03/2010 at 05:40:26 am

i got told that precum cant get a girl pregnant, so dont worry ;) xx

Posted by Optional on 19/03/2010 at 01:57:17 pm

I wanted to know whether the bit of the condom - the top half - that broke off will be repelled by my body naturally, if we should get fingers in to find it or if I should see my dr and get her to located and remove?

Posted by Anonymous on 12/02/2010 at 12:16:00 am

I was having sex with a girl at a brothel and the condom broke. My seimen was released inside her. She said she knows what to do. She also said she was clean and getting a test done every 90 days. What should i do as my penis was in direct contact with her vigina.

Posted by lisa on 01/02/2010 at 08:22:00 pm

hiya me n my bf were haven sex bit a joost got my injection n while we were haven sex the comdom split whit will happen to me will a get pregnant or get a diese :p ave also been tested for all the dises n it was negitive for all

Posted by Anonymous on 13/12/2009 at 01:53:00 pm

I have the problem with the condom rolling back up and the ring starts getting caught in her vagina and begins being pulled off. A couple of solutions i came up with require using a wide rubber band of the right diameter, place it the base of the condom ring to prevent it from rolling back up. The other solution is to use some flexible bandage tape. Wrap two or three turns around the base of the penis and the condom ring. This prevents the ring from rolling back up. My personal preference is using the tape, because the rubber band method cuts off the blood too much and the penis starts turning blue. I know its a little more hassle, but it really is more enjoyable and you feel more confident when you are having a long period of intimacy together.

Posted by Anonymous on 31/08/2009 at 09:38:00 pm

i had sex with the boy and he said the condom might of split what should i do now wait to see if i come on my period or get the morning after pill to be on the sfae side

Posted by Ano on 19/08/2009 at 01:46:00 am

Me And My BF On the saturday had sex and the condom slipped off then on sunday the condom actualy split im goin on the pill now

Posted by Anonymous on 09/08/2009 at 09:51:00 pm

My partner and I just had sex and the condom broke. what can i do to make sure i wont get pregnant?

Posted by Anonymous on 04/08/2009 at 12:10:00 am

Whilst having sex my condom split, after 2 or 3 minutes I realised and took it off and there was nothing in it. It is possible that sperm could of gone in her, and what is the liklehood of pregnancy through 'pre-cum'?

Posted by Anonymous on 06/07/2009 at 12:00:00 am

When me and my boyfriend use a condom it always slips off, and we never notice till the end, meaning I have to take the morning after pill everytime it happens. It happen so often it's a routine

Posted by Anonymous on 14/06/2009 at 12:45:00 am

i am on the pill and me and my partner always use a condom too to be safer but last night the condom split... is it recommended to get the emergency contraception or will the pill be enough?

Posted by Anonymous on 12/06/2009 at 09:53:00 pm

My boyfriend's penis is too big for the condom. Where can you buy large condoms in shops?

Posted by noa on 11/03/2009 at 02:56:00 pm

can sperm slip trugh a condom without the condom breaking???

Posted by Anonymous on 04/03/2009 at 09:10:00 pm

Me and my partner were having sex. We had intercourse for about 45 minutes and we used a condom. When he came, he stayed inside my vagina. When he was finished he pulled out and there was no condom on his penis. He had to search with his fingers for the condom inside my vagina and he pulled it out. What caused this?

Posted by Anonymous on 21/01/2009 at 09:41:00 am

Having read just read this article I am disappointed that the focus on what to do if a condom splits is to go get the morning after pill, obviously I dont disagree but how about explaining how to deal with other dangers such as STI's too

Posted by Hanikah on 09/01/2009 at 01:48:00 pm

I HAD A BOYFRIEND WHO ONLY LASTED A MINUTE ... WITH OR WITHOUT A CONDOM. HELP . I THINK HE HAS A PROBLEM...WE BROKE UP BUT I DON'T WANT ANY GIRL TO FACE THE WORST SEX OF HER ILFE WITH THIS MAN