Content

• Steps
• Method 1 of 3: Getting Started
• Method 2 of 3: Preliminary check
• Method 3 of 3: Donning Safety
• Tips
• Warnings

Condoms have been around since the late 1950s as a means of protecting against unwanted pregnancies and sexually transmitted infections (STIs). Despite modern technologies and materials, condoms can still be damaged and become unusable, which significantly affects their quality. If you want to know how to properly test a condom for suitability and quality, read this article.

Steps

Method 1 of 3: Getting Started

1. 1 Check the expiration date on the condom packaging at the time of purchase. Before you buy condoms, make sure they are within their expiration date. Do not buy or use condoms that have expired.
   • The packaging must indicate the expiration date: month and year.
   • Expired condoms are less reliable and can break easily. Do not use expired condoms.
2. 2 Store condoms correctly. Store condoms in a cool, dry place away from heat and direct sunlight. Do not put condoms in your wallet as they can deform.
   • Never store in the back pocket of your trousers. They can easily deteriorate if you sit on them.
3. 3 Do not store condoms in the glove compartment of your car. Inside the car, temperature fluctuations from very high to very low, as well as humidity, can occur, as a result of which condoms can deteriorate.
4. 4 Use a new condom each time. Never reuse a condom. Reuse can cause the condom to break and leak body fluids, putting both partners at risk. Throw away the condom immediately after use and take a new one the next time you have sex.

Method 2 of 3: Preliminary check

1. 1 Check the expiration date on the individual condom packaging. Being overly vigilant never hurts - even if you checked the expiration date of condoms when you bought it, it doesn't hurt to check the expiration date on the individual packaging. If the expiration date has passed, do not use such a condom. The higher the probability that it will tear.
2. 2 Assess the condition of the condom packaging. The packaging should not have any scuffs or holes. If you find any abrasion on the packaging, the condom will most likely be unusable as it could dry out and break easily.
3. 3 Press down on the packaging. You should feel some air resistance in the package. This means that the package has not been damaged, torn or punctured, and the condom is usable.
4. 4 Press down on the condom in the package and roll it from side to side. While lightly pressing on the condom in the package, try to slide it to the other side with a sliding motion. If the condom moves, slips inside, this means that the lubricant has not dried out and the condom can be used, of course, if its expiration date has not expired.
   • This test only works with lubricated condoms. Unlubricated condoms will not slide inside the package, but you can use the air resistance test described in the previous paragraph.
   • A dry condom will be less reliable and may crack or break, which increases the risk of pregnancy and sexually transmitted infections.

Method 3 of 3: Donning Safety

1. 1 Do not open the condom package with your teeth. It may seem convenient and logical to open a condom with your teeth when the moment comes, but it can cause tiny tears on the condom that you might not notice when you put it on. Therefore, open the individual packaging by pulling on the corner where the recess is specially made for this.
2. 2 Do not open the package with sharp objects. Never use scissors, a knife, or any other sharp object to open a condom package to avoid accidentally puncturing or cutting through the condom.
3. 3 Feel the condom. If it is too dry, hard, or sticky when you take it out of the package, then it probably was not stored properly. Better to throw it away and use another.
4. 4 Remove jewelry if it gets in the way. Rings and genital piercings can damage a condom, so if you have such accessories it is best to remove them before putting on the condom. Also, be careful when putting it on if you have sharp nails.
5. 5 Squeeze the tip with two fingers. Make sure to release all the air from the tip, as it may tear the condom during use.
   • Squeeze the tip of the condom with your thumb and forefinger while unrolling the rest of the condom over your penis.
6. 6 Check how the condom fits. There are several reasons why you need to make sure you choose the right size condom. The condom should not be too small or too large and should not curl back when placed on an erect penis. Measure your penis while erect to buy the correct size condom. You may have to try several types and sizes before you find the one that suits you best.
   • There should be some space at the tip of the condom for semen to collect. The tip that you pinched with two fingers while putting on the condom to remove air should be that space for the ejaculate. If there is no free space on the tip of the condom, the condom may break, which can lead to pregnancy and STIs.
   • The condom should not sit too loose and slip. Over-sized condoms do not hold fluid well and can come off the penis altogether, putting you and your partner at risk.
   • Before buying condoms, measure your erect penis.
   • Be realistic: “small” and “large” are related to penis width rather than length, but there are also shorter and longer condoms, so choose carefully for safer sex.
7. 7 Use water-based lubricants. Oil-based lubricants can negatively affect the quality of the condom and cause it to break. So choose a water-based lubricant.
   • Do not use oil-based lubricants, baby oil, massage lotion, petroleum jelly, or hand cream as a lubricant.

Tips

• Do it right and have fun. Most condoms break due to misuse. Follow the directions and use the condom correctly without having to check for holes.
• All condoms are thoroughly tested.
• You can be confident in your own safety if you use a condom correctly.

Warnings

• A condom may not protect against HPV (human papillomavirus), so consider getting vaccinated as it is a common sexually transmitted disease.
• Do not fill a condom with water or air either before or after use. Filling a condom with water or air before use can lead to rupture and deformation and, after use, to unnecessary contact with each other's liquids.