Sexpert Q&A: How to Properly Put on a Condom
Dear Yvonne,
My girlfriend and I have had sex a few times and it seems every time we do it missionary-style, the condom breaks. Is this common or is there some way to prevent this? Any help would be greatly appreciated.
-Marshall
Dear Marshall,
Condoms can break for any of the following reasons: They’re not being used correctly; they were manufactured improperly, they’re past their expiration date or were damaged after manufacture. In most cases, breakage is due to human error, especially incorrect use, like not leaving a half-inch of space to collect semen at the tip or unrolling a condom the wrong way. Given this is a regular occurrence, it’s likely that your condom breakage woes have more to do with the way this prophylactic is being put on versus any manufacturing problem.
To correctly put a condom on, do the following after checking the expiration date:
1. Make sure the condom is right side out.
2. Pinch an inch at the tip, especially if you’re not using a reservoir-tip condom, so that the semen can be collected.
3. If you’re uncircumcised, pull back the foreskin before unrolling the condom on.
4. Smooth the condom over your shaft to get rid of any air bubbles that can cause your condom to break.
Dr. Yvonne Kristín Fulbright is a sex educator, relationship expert, columnist and founder of Sexuality Source Inc. She is the author of several books including, “Touch Me There! A Hands-On Guide to Your Orgasmic Hot Spots.”
Tags: condoms, Dr. Yvonne Fulbright, sex
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Or, better yet, consider why you’re in a relationship where condom use is recommended, and take appropriate action. (i.e. “marry your girlfriend”)
Keep in mind as well that condoms aren’t, according to a landmark NIH study, terribly effective at preventing the transmission of any STD besides AIDS (there are at least 27 others), and as you’re learning, unless one follows a very precise set of procedures, they’re not terribly effective in preventing pregnancy, either.
Change positions and practice makes perfect…
No, Bike Bubba, your information is incorrect. You have been misinformed as to the results of the study, as well as the study’s existence. If you don’t believe me, go find that study and post a link to it here. You cannot make statements like that without posting some kind of proof or link to show that you are not just parroting hearsay.
Bike Bubba : Condom use isn’t strictly for “risky” relationships. Birth control pills are not 100% effective, either, nor are all women able to take them. One could be married for a decade and still want to use a condom to make sure there aren’t any unexpected consequences.
You are right to point out the dangers from STDs, and there are myriad down sides to all “random” sex like that, and I would suspect you’re right as to the person asking the question. It does seem like he’s a bit inexperienced and just “fooling around.”
Does she make house calls?
Bike Bubba would be better known as Bible Thumper. Condoms work very well when used properly. Yes, there are STD’s that involve skin to skin contact that condoms are not effective against. That’s High School Health 101. Landmark NIH Study? Ha! Bubba has ripped that report apart and cherry picked facts for his argument which has more holes in it than a Clinton era definition of “if.” And Bubba, your logic is fatally flawed from the start as the virus is HIV, not AIDS, and it is in fact smaller than other STD’s in size, so if a jimmy hat stops it, how can you explain a larger virus or sperm making it’s way through the latex walls.
Marry your girlfriend? Give us all a break and head back to Salem circa 1620. Your village misses their idiot. Welcome to the 21’st century where people have sex and actually talk about it while taking responsibility for family planning, disease prevention, and changing societal norms.
Marshall, here’s my advice:
Buy good quality condoms. Trojan, Durex, Lifestyles, anything that has a decent, well earned reputation. You’re looking after your life here and your girlfriends, so the extra cents you pay for decent protection is worth it. Remember, an ounce of prevention is always worth a pound of cure.
Learn to use them properly. No shame in practicing when no one’s looking. It’s really pretty simple. Roll it on, roll around, pull it out, roll it off, throw it out. If you’re unsure, ask your doctor or go to the local Planned Parenthood. If you’re mature enough to “do it,” then you’re old enough to “do that.”
What is missionary style?
What is the missionary style?
As we are all human, don’t listen to old school faith pushers- It has nothing to do with taking responsibility for your love. Married couples use/misuse condoms all the same anyhow. You are doing the right thing by taking precautions. Cheers for your bravery, even in these new times.
My advice: Be a team. Have her supervise/ put on you herself. It can heighten the excitement as well.
+support condoms for senior highschools—get smart
Hey Bubba,
He didn’t ask you to judge him. So go ahead, cast the first stone. The guy obviously cares enough about your daughter’s future to at least use a condom.
–Jimbo
I like to fill them up with helium. They get about 6 feet long!
Alex,
Google it.
Bubba, using a condom does not mean you are not married, or going to burn forever in the pits of hell.
You give people with a higher than normal standard of morals a bad rap by spewing such trash.
I had to use condoms with my christian wife for six months after I had brain surgery to remove a malignant tumor. Because of chemo and radiation, it was strongly advised for us not to get pregnant.
I am a person of faith, and consider myself a christian. For those of you who think of Bubba as a “typical, Bible-thumpin’, christian”, please be aware that the true teachings of Jesus were of understanding, love, and humanity and Bubba by no means represents the faith I have.
Next time, please question your own motives for posting such garbage. Although I’m sure your snide remarks were made with the best of intentions, sometimes things can hurt more than help, and are better left floating in your head.
Sorry for the religious rant, back to condoms…..
Well, one issue I didn’t really see addressed (perhaps I overlooked it) is the size of the condom. When I first started engaging in sex, I found condoms breaking right and left. I tried Magnums and they stopped breaking. So, perhaps the size is the issue… (Which most men would consider a good issue)
Jeff, NIH, 1999. It explains in great part why the CDC found that up to 65 million adults have had, or currently have, an STD.
Bible thumping? Nah. This is called “science.” Thin barriers of sticky, hydroscopic material (latex) don’t form a very good bearing surface/barrier to much of anything. They also don’t make for very good sex.
As such, why anyone would use them unless they were in a relationship where avoiding AIDS was important is beyond me. Hence my comments.