Why Do My Condoms Always Break

Why Do My Condoms Always Break

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You Asked It: Why Do My Condoms Break?

Condom mishaps can happen to anyone, but they’re pretty rare if you use condoms the right way.

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First, it’s great that you’re taking control of your sexual health and using condoms! As you probably already know, they’re the only kind of birth control that also prevents the spread of sexually transmitted infections (STIs, sometimes called sexually transmitted diseases or STDs). Condom mishaps can happen to anyone, but they’re pretty rare if you use condoms the right way, every time you have sex.
Here are the most common reasons that condoms might break during sex, and how you can fix them.
These can wear the condom down over time. This means you shouldn’t store your condoms in the glove compartment of a car (where it can get super hot), in your wallet (where there’s a lot of friction), or anywhere with direct sunlight. Instead, keep them in a bedside or closet drawer, where it’s cool and dark.
Check the expiration date on your condoms. If they’re expired, toss them.
If you use oil-based lube (like Vaseline, coconut oil, baby oil or body lotion), STOP. Oil weakens latex and can make the condom break. Instead, use a little water- or silicone-based lube in the tip of the condom, and around and just inside the opening of the vagina or anus. We talk more about different kinds of lube and how to use it here.
As you roll the condom on, pinch the tip with two of your fingers. This makes sure there’s plenty of room for ejaculate (or come/cum). If you don’t pinch the tip, the condom can break when you have an orgasm. We go into more detail about how to put on a condom here .
NEVER use two condoms at once. This makes it much more likely that they will tear.
Don’t use your teeth or scissors. This can accidentally tear the condom. Open the condom with your fingers instead.
If your condom doesn’t roll all the way down the shaft of the penis or feels tight or uncomfortable, it might be too small. Try a few different condoms to find one that works for you. This doesn’t mean that you need to go straight for the Magnums, though! “Regular”-sized condoms fit most people. If you use condoms that are too big, they’re more likely to slip off , so you’ll just be creating a different problem for yourself!
If not, keep in mind that external (sometimes called “male”) condoms aren’t the only kind of condoms. You could try using internal (sometimes called “female”) condoms instead. These are condoms that are inserted inside the vagina or anus instead of going over the penis or sex toy. We talk more about how to use internal condoms here.
If you’re having penis-in-vagina (PIV) sex and your partner isn’t using another method of birth control, they can use emergency contraception up to 5 days after sex to help prevent pregnancy . Broken condoms also put you both at risk for STIs, so you should both be tested . If either of you is at risk for HIV, you can take PEP (post-exposure prophylaxis) up to 72 hours after sex to greatly reduce the chances of spreading the virus.
If you’re 10-22 years old in NYC, you can get free, confidential health care including STI testing and treatment, birth control, emergency contraception, sexual health education and free condoms at the Mount Sinai Adolescent Health Center. No judgment, no charge.
You’ve got questions. We’ve got answers. At the Mount Sinai Adolescent Health Center , we answer a lot of questions. Topics range from nutrition to pregnancy prevention, and everything in between. Now, we’re bringing these questions back to you with our weekly advice column, You Asked It. Got a question? Send us a message on Facebook , Twitter or Instagram , or email us at teenhealthcareorg@gmail.com with “You Asked It” in the subject line.
This column is not intended to provide medical advice, professional diagnosis, opinion, treatment or services to you or to any other individual, only general information for education purposes only.
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Victory shall be mine! · Author has 450 answers and 476.5K answer views · 7 y ·
How often do condoms break? How can it be prevented?
I am 13 and I am a virgin. I want to have sex. How do I not ejaculate so quickly so me and the girl can enjoy it?
What’s the worst experience you’ve ever had with a condom and why?
I'm a 13-year-old boy and I'm having sex today. My girlfriend is bringing condoms but I'm scared that I'm gonna get her pregnant. What should I do?
How often do condoms break or slip off in use?
I just had protected sex, and he pulled out before ejaculating, but the condom got stuck inside my vagina and he came in his hand. Should I be worried?
My and my girlfriend want to have sex for the first time. We’re both 14, but I’m not sure which condoms to use. My penis is 6 inches long and my girth is 4.5. What condoms would you recommend?
When I was having sex with a condom in my vagina, it didn’t burn, but as soon as he took the condom off and put his dick inside of me, it started burning. Why?
I'm 15 and my girlfriend is 12 and we want to have sex, are condoms effective at preventing pregnancy?
Is there a way to check if the condom has broken right after having sex?
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Do ultra-thin condoms break easily?
Which is the best condom to use when having sex for the first time?
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How often do condoms break? How can it be prevented?
I am 13 and I am a virgin. I want to have sex. How do I not ejaculate so quickly so me and the girl can enjoy it?
What’s the worst experience you’ve ever had with a condom and why?
I'm a 13-year-old boy and I'm having sex today. My girlfriend is bringing condoms but I'm scared that I'm gonna get her pregnant. What should I do?
How often do condoms break or slip off in use?
I just had protected sex, and he pulled out before ejaculating, but the condom got stuck inside my vagina and he came in his hand. Should I be worried?
My and my girlfriend want to have sex for the first time. We’re both 14, but I’m not sure which condoms to use. My penis is 6 inches long and my girth is 4.5. What condoms would you recommend?
When I was having sex with a condom in my vagina, it didn’t burn, but as soon as he took the condom off and put his dick inside of me, it started burning. Why?
I'm 15 and my girlfriend is 12 and we want to have sex, are condoms effective at preventing pregnancy?
Is there a way to check if the condom has broken right after having sex?
Something went wrong. Wait a moment and try again.
I once had two break in a row, from a good brand - in my particular case, I realised it was a subtle combination of two things: I’m uncircumcised, and I was at the time experiencing something like “soft glans syndrome,” where the shaft becomes hard but the glans stays quite soft. This can be due to physical damage, but in my case I think it was psychological (I was chronically stressed from work). I realised the particular movement of the foreskin over the soft glans during intercourse (with a properly hard glans, the foreskin tends to stay retracted) was creating a kind of ratcheting motion,
I once had two break in a row, from a good brand - in my particular case, I realised it was a subtle combination of two things: I’m uncircumcised, and I was at the time experiencing something like “soft glans syndrome,” where the shaft becomes hard but the glans stays quite soft. This can be due to physical damage, but in my case I think it was psychological (I was chronically stressed from work). I realised the particular movement of the foreskin over the soft glans during intercourse (with a properly hard glans, the foreskin tends to stay retracted) was creating a kind of ratcheting motion, pulling the condom back tighter and tighter until it broke. Not much one can do about that, unfortunately; I tried extra lubricant *inside* the condom which sort of helped, but also made it much easier for the condom to slip off altogether, so hold on to the base if you try that.
Condoms rarely break because of sex, regardless of how wild you are while in the act. It could be a variety of reasons.
(1) Overwhelming odds are that you are probably wearing them wrong. Pinch the tip and roll it down. It should slide easily. There should be no air bubbles, especially near the tip. The dry part should be inside and moist on the outside. (2) Some people just don't work well with dry condoms so go for lubricated ones. I doubt dryness could be a cause but I suppose its not completely crazy to think of it. (3) Maybe you are well-endowed and wearing condoms too small for your jun
Condoms rarely break because of sex, regardless of how wild you are while in the act. It could be a variety of reasons.
(1) Overwhelming odds are that you are probably wearing them wrong. Pinch the tip and roll it down. It should slide easily. There should be no air bubbles, especially near the tip. The dry part should be inside and moist on the outside. (2) Some people just don't work well with dry condoms so go for lubricated ones. I doubt dryness could be a cause but I suppose its not completely crazy to think of it. (3) Maybe you are well-endowed and wearing condoms too small for your junk. In that case, good for you champ! Get bigger sized condoms :)

Medically Reviewed by Dany Paul Baby, MD on April 27, 2022
Condoms make oral, vaginal, or anal sex safer . Condoms are a reliable form of contraceptive that helps prevent infections and pregnancies. But sometimes a condom may break, exposing you to the risk of getting sexually transmitted diseases (STDs) , or the chance of becoming pregnant.
When used correctly, condoms are one of the most effective forms of contraception. There are two general types of condoms:
1. External condoms. These are condoms that go over a penis, and are sometimes called "male condoms." They are made of different types of materials like latex, plastic, and lambskin.
2. Internal condoms. These condoms can be inserted into the vagina or anus, and are often called "female condoms."
The most common materials used to make condoms include:
When used correctly, condoms hardly break. However, even when used properly, it can still happen. If you suspect yours has broken, stop having sex immediately and check it out.
If the condom breaks and there is a high risk of infection, consider doing the following:
If you are unsure of your or your partner's health status, consider visiting the hospital for an STI test as soon as possible. When a condom breaks during sex it exposes you to body-to-body contact with sexual fluids. Unprotected contact with bodily fluids is the most common cause of infection from HIV and other STIs.
If either you or your partner is at a high risk of contracting HIV, consider visiting the hospital within 72 hours. Your doctor may get you on post-exposure prophylaxis (PEP) pills to reduce the chances of you getting an HIV infection.
You may also have a pregnancy scare when you notice the condom is broken. To avoid getting pregnant, take an emergency contraception pill (morning after pill). In most cases, the pill is effective for up to five days after your last sexual encounter. Emergency pills are most effective when swallowed as soon as possible.
Here are a few reasons why your condom may break:
Many times, condom breakage is avoidable. Here are some of the tips that you can use to prevent condom breakage:
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention: "What are condoms?"
Insider: "How to have safe sex if you have a latex allergy."
Mount Sinai Adolescent Health Center: "You Asked It: Why Do My Condoms Break?"
NHS: "How effective is contraception at preventing pregnancy?"
Open Doors: "What to do if a condom breaks."
Planned Parenthood Federation of America: "Condom." "How do you know if you have the condom on right?" "What do I do if the condom broke?"
The Nemours Foundation: "What if the Condom Breaks?"
What you should know to prevent pregnancy.
© 2005 - 2022 WebMD LLC. All rights reserved.
WebMD does not provide medical advice, diagnosis or treatment.

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Condoms are one of the best forms of birth control because they're cheap, you can buy them anywhere, they help prevent pregnancy, and they also help stop the spread of STIs . But still, they aren't perfect.
Condoms can break and are also prone to user error (such as putting them on incorrectly or choosing the wrong size). For that reason, external condoms (the kind that goes onto a penis) are only about 85 percent effective at preventing pregnancy in real life, according to Planned Parenthood — that's compared to 98 percent effective with perfect use.
To help prevent unwanted pregnancy and protect yourself and your partner against STIs, you should make sure you know how to use a condom properly , as well as the necessary steps you can take to prevent them from breaking.
If a condom does break during sex , stay calm and assess your options. You can take emergency contraception , if you want, and chat with your doctor about getting tested for STIs.

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