Do You Know How To Put A Condom On Correctly?

You hear it over and over again: Condoms can save your life.  But do you know how to put one on correctly? Are you using the right-size condom? How about your choice of lube? You can't afford to make a mistake.

If you've never used a condom before, the following tips and guidelines will help you keep things safe. And if you've been using them for years, you may want to take this little refresher just to make sure you're doing things right. 

Make sure it's fresh
Condoms aren't like fine wine; they don't age well. Check the expiration date on the condom wrapper, and if that date has already gone by, throw the condom out. If there's no date at all, don't use it. Ideally, you should make sure your condoms are fresh way before you're even close to having sex.

Open the package with care
Condoms can be easily torn, so be careful if you're trying to be seductive and rip the wrapper open with your teeth. Rings, fingernails and watches can also create tears in a condom so slightly you may not even notice them, so it's best to lose the jewelry when your clothes come off.

Are you uncut?
If you're uncircumcised you'll want to make sure to roll the foreskin down off the head of your dick before putting on a condom.

It needs to be stiff
It may seem like a silly thing to say, but you'd be surprised how many people try to put on a condom when they aren't hard (erect). So to make it clear for everyone: Wait until your dick is hard before putting the condom on.

Getting started
Sometimes it's difficult to tell which way the condom is going to unroll, so look carefully and make sure.  Before putting the condom on the tip of your dick, you'll want to squeeze the reservoir tip shut. This will give the semen a place to collect. Taking this precaution will greatly lower the chance that the condom will burst when you cum.

Unrolling
When you unroll the condom, you should see and feel that there is a little room at the top. Gently unroll, with you or your partner holding the tip, until it is unrolled all the way down the shaft to the base of your penis.

To lubricate or not
Many condoms come with some lubrication already on it, but if the condom you're going to use isn't lubricated you'll have to add some kind of water- or silicone-based lube. If your condom is already lubricated, adding more will help increase sensitivity and also help prevent the condom from breaking. We've also found that putting a little bit of lubricant in the reservoir tip before putting the condom on will also help to increase the sensitivity, but make sure to use only a drop or two.

Get busy!
We trust you don't need help in this area. Just try to take a quick breather from the fun every few minutes to pull out and check that the condom hasn't broken or slipped off.

After you cum
After cumming, many guys tend to get a little sloppy. You need to hold on to the base of the condom when you're pulling out so it doesn't slip off as you start to lose your hard-on. Once you can safely remove the condom, do so and tie a knot at the base to keep the semen inside. Condoms shouldn't be thrown into the toilet because they can cause clogs, so the best thing to do is wrap it in some toilet paper and throw it into the trash.

Keep it clean
After you remove the condom you need to remember your dick is still covered with sperm, so you'll want to wash off as soon as possible.

Condom questions?
Do you have questions about what condom is right for you?  Hunter Hargraves from the STOP AIDS Project of San Francisco gave us the following tips and guidelines to help you pick the right one.

• Use the right glove. If you are allergic to latex, use a synthetic non-latex condom. Avoid condoms with spermicide for anal sex – spermicide, or nonoxynol-9, can cause abrasions inside the anal walls, making transmission of STDs more likely. Finally, wear one condom at a time – “double bagging” doesn’t work under any circumstances.


• Lube it up. While most lubricants work well with latex condoms, oil-based lubricants dissolve latex. Make sure the lube you use is condom compatible. Water-based and silicone-based lubes are totally condom safe. Don’t use massage oil as lube for anal sex – they often contain perfumes or other chemicals that irritate the inside of your anus.


• Don’t expose a condom to light or heat, both of which can break down latex. Try not to carry a condom in your wallet (the friction and pressure can cause breakage).


• Know your size. Jokes about being too big or too small aside, find a condom that is appropriate for the size of your dick. Condoms that are too big can come off during rough fucking, and condoms that are too small can break more easily during sex. Be honest with yourself and with your partner about what you really need!


• Keep it fresh. Switch out the condom every 20 minutes in order to ensure that it doesn’t break during a hot fuck.

Have questions about condoms or other sex-related issues, email them to sexuality@planetoutinc.com. 

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Our thanks to Hunter and all the others at STOP AIDS Project for all they do for our community.  They've been working tirelessly since 1985 to prevent HIV transmission among all gay and bisexual men in San Francisco. They bring diverse gay and bisexual men together to talk about the challenges and issues posed by HIV/AIDS through neighborhood outreach, workshops and community forums.

Comments

[g]

there is a sex educator named sue johanson from Canada who talks about how to correctly put on condoms. She has demonstrated it several times over a banana.

[TheLordofWales]

Ummm ...
isn't just easier to bareback with a partner(s) who's neg?

[zarxo]

Hate to say it but a decent article.

[jonathan_dee]

seriously to the guy who said to bareback, its always a risk , i wouldnt if i where you.

[oldkingtroll]

LOL @ zarxo -- sometimes these things do happen!

[Adam]

I have to agree here. GREAT ARTICLE! Informative and well written.

Way to go gay.com!

[Astro]

Wow, finally some good informative content here on gay.com

Keep the good articles like this coming.

[out]

I must agree, I have stopped myself from commenting on the content of articles many times. This actually was informative and to the point, and actually what I expected from the title.

[tiger]

I have to say, I would expect more from you, gay.com. I'm going to have to assume, by the way this was written, that you're expecting the average reader to be a complete moron: why the hell are you only using slang for certain terms in a "professionally" written journal article!? I think we're all mature enough to not giggle if you use the words 'penis' and 'erection'. Frankly I'm insulted. Your attempt to appeal to the general public has resulted in a miserable failure, congratulations.

[Tommy WinBear]

Additional tips:
When rolling down to the base, pull your erection out slightly from your body and roll a little bit more. The condom should stay put and not roll up or off.

Always change condoms when you change partners. If you are in a scene with multiple receptive partners, you don't want to transfer anything unwittingly from one bottom to another.

[Brad]

great article! should mention a trick to knowing which way to roll is blow on it! and it will show you :P even if your hook up is negative... how many different dudes' cum you want in you? ehhh even if there wasn't HIV and whatnot... i want it to be a special thing if i'm letting someone connect like that with me.

[muzyqman]

Message to TheLordofWales: Do you really want to bareback with a gay who is negative? I heard that some gay men occasionally lie about their HIV status. DO let us know what funeral home to send the flowers to.

[MonsterousMonster]

Lord of wales, there are other STDs out there, and some guys don't even have symptoms. Even if you aren't barebacking, getting tested for stuff once or twice a year doesn't hurt.

[Rain City Blues]

To the guy asking about barebacking:

The period immediately after infection takes place is when you have the highest viral load you will ever have, and thus, when you yourself are the most infectious. However, the body doesn't build antibodies up to a detectable level for six months post infection. Since the HIV test only detects those antibodies, you have a six month window when you are highly infectious before you will show up as poz on a test.

Thus, barebacking with a partner you believe to be neg could in fact be barebacking with an extremely infectious poz partner. Your risk of infection for receptive anal sex is higher than it is for accidentally sticking yourself with a needle containing HIV positive blood (assuming the needle doesn't enter an artery or vein and penetrates the skin). It's only slightly less dangerous than intravenous drug use.

If you must have unprotected sex, stick to oral sex-the risk is very low unless you have large wounds inside your mouth-in which case you're probably not that horny anyway.

I understand that condoms are cumbersome, they reduce sensation, and it's kind of an interruption of the flow you,re in when you're fucking. They do save lives, though.

[Glute Max]

Nice article. But... I think I need some help to make sure I understood it all. Anyone out there, ready to demonstrate for me how to put on and use a "cock bag"?

[Jason]

I don't know ANYBODY who uses condoms. I hear people say that they use them, but when in private chat, or talking in detail. VERY few people use condoms.
And no amount of "educating" will change that.
People don't use them, because they don't like the way they feel. Raw feels better, to them the risk is worth it.

FACT.

[Investigaytor]

Well Jason those people are retarded and frankly don't love their life (otherwise than sex). You see those barebackers, do you really think they care about their future? As long as they get off they dont give a shit and I've done m y research 80% of the guys i see on gay.com or A4A say that their neg, but on more sex focused sites they state they are positive.

[Tony]

Hey tiger,

What the hell got your panties in a wad tonight? I thought the article was great. Did it offend your sensibilities because they called it a 'dick' instead of a 'penis'?

Do you think they might be trying to reach the main audience that is on here and hopefully trying to get them to understand a little bit about safe sex? How many 20-year-olds call it a 'penis' compared to calling it a 'dick'.

I think it's you who should be ashamed of yourself. This is a great article, they are trying to keep guys safe and you're deriding them for not calling it by a clinical, generic term so you aren't offended. Get real, pull your head out of your anus (do you like that clinical term) and listen to the kids that are out there having unprotected sex. Maybe then you'll understand why the author might have written it this way.

[Loky]

I've heard every stupid excuse on why someone "can't" wear a condom during anal intercourse "it doesnt feel right" "i cant keep it up" "I cant cum" Blah, blah, blah. Either stick to one partner or wrap it! And to all of you that are buying Magnum! Only 10% of the population is big enough for that brand. It is not a a status symbol. It's not Prada, it's not a Mercedes, it's not a summer home in the Hamptons. It's a condom meant for guys that are so huge that few would feel comfortable allowing them to shove it someplace special.

[Laun]

To those who need the education fine. However to the rest it is rather condescending and uninformative.

[Dragon]

Thanks for the information. It isnt as if I didnt already know..but its good to hear over and over. Far too many people dont use or dont want to use a condom. Sure bareback is a wonderful feeling, but it is never so wonderful that its worth dying over. If your partner (for the day, night or forever) really cares about you and themselves it wont be a discussion. And besides if your a damn good lover, you can make putting a condom very sexy. Trust me on this!!

[Just me]

informative? this is just common sense.. how many idiots are there out there?

[doc1066]

Ya right, go bareback with the guy who says he's negative .... OMG what planet are you on, read the rest of the posts about disease and common sense ... and Jason ... sorry dude but I know lots of guys who use condoms regularly .. some of us get it!!! Play safe please, the folks who love you don't want you dead.

[Rain City Blues]

You know, I think a lot of this is generational. I came out in 1988, when the disease was killing people very rapidly and gruesomely. To me, sticking your anonymous unprotected penis in my ass is like putting a gun to my head. Maybe its loaded, maybe its not, I'd rather not find out either way.

Some of the younger ones have never known a world without the drugs we have today, and maybe it seems to them like HIV is bothersome but not the horror it was when I was a kid. Still, these guys should be made aware of the nasty side effects produced by those drugs, the opportunistic infections that become very difficult to explain the outward physical manifestations of (try explaining to someone you can't be around a cat because you're afraid of toxoplasmosis sometime), the expense-most state or federal-level assistance programs don't become available until after you develop AIDS itself, and you need to start your therapies before that happens if you want to live very long.

Plus, every time you have sex post-infection, you are endangering the guy your with, and a lot of guys will treat you like you're radioactive. In the 1980's, people didn't know what was causing the disease, there weren't any tests, and condoms weren't commonly used-so the GLBT community rallied around poz guys to support them. Nowadays, people hear that you're poz, and they wonder why you didn't pay attention to the gazillions of warnings you've received. The excuses of 30 years ago don't work anymore-you know what you have to do to prevent it. So the stigma is harsher now than it was then.

Then there are the guys my age that just give up on condoms-maybe its because of education fatigue, maybe its because there are no programs targeting 30-50 year olds-who are, incidentally, the age bracket with the greatest number of new infections per year. Its easy to get federal funds to design an intervention targeting teenagers, voters have sympathy for young people. Getting money to do an intervention aimed at 45 year old men is much harder. Even moreso when religio-political elements that want to block federal funds from reaching programs targeting groups like gay men in general, and older gay men-who are commonly percieved of as predatory-in particular.

Despite the difficulties involved in designing intervention programs, we can't just give up. The whole world may hate us, but we have to stick together for our common survival. In the 1980's, the gay community rallied around each other for their common defense against an epidemic partly fueled by governmental reticence, ignorance, and a refusal to integrate condoms into the sex lives of our community members. We have to do that again. Currently, over 60 percent of all new infections int he US are among gay men. This is still very much a gay disease, and it will take a united gay effort to stop its spread

[Justme]

Like it or not.. gay guys know that most guys dont use condoms .. they take chances as long as the guy is hot.. then they try to get the poz guy in trouble.. It's the truth admit it or not!

[Richard]

FACT: Stating the word fact in your statement doesn't necessarily make it truthful, or factual.

[ChrisNYC]

This information should be posted everywhere that gay men function.Hook-up sites (which I dont use) Bars & clubs (which I go to for social purposes) I do NOT bother with guys who whore their body around for a quick fix.Guys who make excuses not to or refuse to use condoms are the reason why I have been abstaining til Im in a relationship.Even when in a relationship,I use condoms,I never go without.I am friends with someone who is INDEED HIV positive,I can tell you I learned so much about the HIV virus from him.When he was diagnosed with HIV,he was well near death and very weak,he was a walking corpes.Although he is now up to a healthy weight and is doing better,he has to take medication every 12 hours (His life depends on that medication) He can no longer work,so he is now on permanent disability.During cold days he cannot go outside,it will be too risky on his immune system.Because of his condition,he has bad circulation in his feet and cannot walk barefoot on a solid surface (it will be like walking on glass for him).He has told me time and time again,NOT to let some guy use me and abuse me the way he let a guy do to him.Because of that he is paying for it for the rest of his life.He attends therapy to help him cope with his situation and has suffered a great deal of depression because of it.The common cold for him is literally like having acute influenza.If he risks going outside on a cold day or a rainy day and gets his clothes soaking wet he can wind up with a case of pneumonia (if that happens,it will be time for his family to start making funeral arrangents) Im quite sure you know what that means.His life is in a very fragile state (much more so than an HIV negative person) If he misses taking his medication for a day or 2 he will wind up in bed for a week.There are alot of guys out there who are just to DAMN immature,selfish,and ignorant to understand how fatal HIV/AIDS is,so instead of being an adult and taking responsibility for themselves and respecting the person they are using or (what ever the case may be) they make asinine excuses to NOT use a condom.THERE IS NO EXCUSE.BE RESPONSIBLE & USE A DAMN CONDOM.Its not a hard thing for a person with common sense to do.It is also necessary to take other measures such as getting tested regularly (if you are one of those sluts).My friends commend me on abstaining til Im involved with someone special.Yeah thats right.I have self-control.When I am involved I still use protection.Im almost 22 years old,I am going to a design/art school to prepare myself to get a career started in the graphic design field,I have family and friends who love me and care about me and dont want to see me sick or dead,I have a pretty good life and I have alot to live for,Im not gonna let some sex-crazed low-life,bring me down because the only thing that he lives for is his dick and getting off.Im an intelligent,attractive,affectionate,considerate,
loving,committing,passionate person.I have alot more to offer than a one-nite-stand or 20 minute screw job,and I deserve better than that.Because IM WORTH IT.Some PIGS will say that Im being scared.WRONG ANSWER PAL!!!Thats called being a mature responsible adult.Calling someone "scared" because they wont do bareback with someone is NONSENSE!!! Thats like calling a person "scared" because they wont try Crystal Meth.What the hell is wrong with men these days? The education is all over the place,but they still rationalize and make jackass excuses for why they Wont use condoms?Thats sick!!!For you guys who refuse to use condoms,I hope you have a good life insurance package and a good health care plan,because sooner or later you will need it.For those of you who are actually stupid enough to lie about your HIV status and tell your one-nite-stand that you are negative when you are actually POSITIVE,I hope you have enough money to help the person you infect pay for their medical treatment (yes it is expensive)You would be a real jackass for infecting someone and not even thinking about the other person's well being. Some of you guys should be encountered by someone who is not only honest about their HIV status but is also HIV Positive and is thoroughly educated on their condition,you would get a visual on what a man living with HIV has to go through for the rest of their life.MAYBE IT WILL WAKE SOME OF YOU UP!

[TheLordofWales]

Huh ... My comment about "just bareback with a neg guy" caused a stir.
GEE! That was entirely unexpected
... drama queen pansies.

I believe that adults have already made a decision about condom usage, drug usage, sexual preference and even hair length.

This article is for adults who have chosen to use condoms and may need a refresher course, young adults who may be unclear on the details as well as for the general interest reader.

Blogging on a gay.com post about your "convictions" regarding bare or wrapped sex only serves to polarize one from another.
It implies "I'm a mature adult. You're a child."
This is unproductive and/or counterproductive.

So why am I doing it? Simple: I wanted to measure people's response. Now that I've done that the game is over.

;-)

[Laun]

Ok chris, In general those sexual active gay, bi or not USE A CONDEM. I agree its time for people not to be paranoid but be realistically responsible.

[alwayssafe]

I have to say that I was a little surprised at first to even see an article like this, then I was appalled at some of the comments.
I got the banana demonstration in high school over 20 years ago, before I was sexually active and have always thought that condoms were just standard issue. I have always had one on hand, regardless of my relationship status. In a monogamous relationship or at my sluttiest, I consider it part of the ritual.
My partner died five years ago from AIDS, which was a surprise to everybody, but I came out clean. People might say that a condom is uncomfortable, but what I am going to describe in the following paragraph is even more so. don't read if you are squeamish.
-Dementia, not knowing where you are, who is with you, or what is happening around you.
-Not being able to go to the bathroom for days, and when you finally do, crapping a stream of blood.
-Your skin constantly crawling and only finding relief with somebody rubbing your hands and feet.
-Being so weak that you can't get up to go to the bathroom, and unable to control your body functions anyway, so you wear a diaper.
-Puking up blood constantly.
Those are just the symptoms I saw my partner go through. I'm sure there are many out there who know what I'm talking about. Is a condom that big of an annoyance if at the very least it doesn't invite all that?

[Laun]

Yep, for all the above reasons I keep a condom on hand, large. Everyone must fit themselves it doesn't matter size just the protection.

[TheLordofWales]

Huh.
- I simply use Physical Diagnosis to determine someone's health.
- Then I use anti-viral herbs to combat potential of the virus.
- Magic Johnson uses Poke Root.
- There's a lot of info on Cat's Claw and many other herbs.

I've done all kinds of bareback kink with poz & neg guys. I've never contracted anything. AND I SHOULD HAVE! I don't have the Delta 32 immunity. But I do keep herbs that are known to combat ALL viruses, like Cat's Claw & Devil's Claw tea.

The Medical Institution has all of you so scared. Before responding to me, ask a few Natural Doctors who use homeopathics, herbs and other modalities that can been scientifically proven to completely cure ALL forms of infection. The ones who have cast off Western Medical viewpoints about.

Then think back on all the people who have suffered from all manner of disease, from Latex Allergy to full blown AIDS, and ask yourself "Why do we allow this Medical Monster to perpetuate?"

After that, then contact me with your responses. Because that's what I went through! That's my education! If you go through the same thing, I'll be happy to listen to your viewpoints.

If you haven't gone through that and are unwilling to go through that, spare me your commentary. It's not because I'm not listening ... it's because I've already heard it and responded to it 1000s of times.

And my response is ... Go ask NATURAL DOCTORS about cures for infections. Get their stories. Do it with an open, yet skeptical, mind.

I have concluded that you don't need condoms. You should NOT use them.
Replace them with Physical Diagnosis and a good herb book.
Go to see a Homeopathic Dr or a Personal Trainer for advanced cases.

These are my conclusions. Do your due diligence and ask a few Natural Drs. If draw different conclusions, I'll be happy to hear you out.

[trophycub84]

A gal by the name of Maria Falzone goes to campuses and speaks about safe & great sex. She has her routine on DVD, and it can be bought at www.sexrules.org

[Jonny]

Dear ChrisNYC,

I am so glad you said what you said I have a friend who has full blowen AIDS, And I always used condoms even before I met him, but knowing him & seeing him almost everyday reasures me that using a condom does not make me dum I would be dum not to!

And I am not being close minded... This coment is for TheLordofWales I know for a FACT from talking with HIV & AIDS victoms face to face that what your saying is PURE BULL SHIT! You should be put on trial for saying these lies! Why are you making these statements "GO TO NATURAL DOCTORS" Do you want people to DIE? Your welcome to write me at my personal email about this to try & prove what your saying because I do want to talk with you not to prove you wrong, but to hopfully prove me wrong!

JELaurin@yahoo.com

[John]

i dont see any reason to be rude. its an informative article which is something i dont always see on here. and to be honest just because someone doesnt know how to use a condom doesnt mean theyre retarded. there are a lot of young guys on here who are not active and are not that educated about things like this. just bite your tongue next time, it saves you from looking like the moron :)

[mtk]

ChrisNYC,

Your advice not to use condoms is totally irresponsible and immoral. Do what you want with your life - don't end other people's lives from your looniness.

[Mr]

to 'natural medication'

I also have a friend who has just been diognosed + (unfortunately he lives in a country where there is no gov support, and availability of drugs is very limited.

We are yet to find any 'posative' informaton regarding the use of natural medications.

maybe you can enlighten us???

[bj]

is it a good thing after your first sex that the cum is still in the condum

[B]

Most people don't want to use protection for whatever reason but yet they bitch and whine whenever they catch something. =stupidity
Apparently, to most people, getting a nut is worth having a life-threatening disease.

Most men just want sex and that's all they're concerned about. Is it so astonishing that their are so many gay men who have an STD or are HIV positive? Hardly.

[ted]

u really love ur life.keep it up.