How to put on a condom, step by step
Eight short animated steps. Used correctly every time, external condoms are highly effective at preventing pregnancy and most sexually transmitted infections.
Educational content, not medical advice.
Animated steps
Before you start
Put the condom on before any genital contact, not partway through. Store condoms somewhere cool and dry — not in a wallet or a hot car, where heat and friction weaken them. If you or your partner are sensitive to latex, polyisoprene or polyurethane condoms are good alternatives. Fit matters too: too tight can tear, too loose can slip, so it's worth trying a couple of sizes.
Common mistakes
- Opening the packet with teeth, scissors or long nails.
- Starting inside-out, then flipping it over and using it anyway. Start again with a new one.
- Not pinching the tip, which traps air and makes breakage more likely.
- Not rolling it all the way down to the base.
- Using oil-based products (lotion, massage oil, petroleum jelly, coconut oil) with latex.
- Using two condoms at once. The friction makes both more likely to tear.
- Reusing a condom, or using one that's expired, sticky, brittle or stored in heat.
- Waiting until after softening to withdraw, or not holding the rim.
If it breaks or slips off
It happens, and it's nobody's fault. Stay calm, stop, and withdraw carefully while holding the rim. Then:
- Emergency contraception — if pregnancy is possible, speak to a pharmacist or doctor as soon as you can. Emergency contraceptive pills work best the sooner they're taken (usually within 3 to 5 days, depending on the type). In many places, a copper IUD fitted within 5 days is another, highly effective option.
- HIV risk — if there's a chance of HIV exposure, contact a sexual health clinic, doctor or emergency service straight away. Post-exposure medication (PEP) must be started within 72 hours, and works best the earlier it starts.
- STI testing — book a check-up. Some infections take time to show up on tests, so a clinician can tell you the right timing and whether to retest.
- Skip douching or internal washing — it doesn't reduce risk and can cause irritation.
- Talk it through — a calm, honest conversation with your partner makes the next steps easier for both of you.
Local services differ by country. A pharmacist, doctor or sexual health clinic can tell you what's available near you and how quickly you need to act.