Male Condom Use
![The Right Way To Use A Male Condom. Do use a condom every time you have sex. Do put on a condom before having sex. Do read the package and check the expiration date. Do make sure there are no tears or defects. Do store condoms in a cool, dry place. Do use latex or polyurethane condoms. Do use water-based or silicone-based lubricant to prevent breakage.](https://webarchive.library.unt.edu/web/20201219063559im_/https://www.cdc.gov/condomeffectiveness/images/condom-facts-english-large.png)
![The Right Way To Use A Male Condom. Do use a condom every time you have sex. Do put on a condom before having sex. Do read the package and check the expiration date. Do make sure there are no tears or defects. Do store condoms in a cool, dry place. Do use latex or polyurethane condoms. Do use water-based or silicone-based lubricant to prevent breakage.](https://webarchive.library.unt.edu/web/20201219063559im_/https://www.cdc.gov/condomeffectiveness/images/condom-facts-english-vertical.png)
This document contains sexually graphic images and may not be suitable for some audiences
The Right Way To Use A Male Condom
Condom Dos and Don’ts
- DO use a condom every time you have sex.
- DO put on a condom before having sex.
- DO read the package and check the expiration date.
- DO make sure there are no tears or defects.
- DO store condoms in a cool, dry place.
- DO use latex or polyurethane condoms.
- DO use water-based or silicone-based lubricant to prevent breakage.
- DON’T store condoms in your wallet as heat and friction can damage them.
- DON’T use nonoxynol-9 (a spermicide), as this can cause irritation.
- DON’T use oil-based products like baby oil, lotion, petroleum jelly, or cooking oil because they will cause the condom to break.
- DON’T use more than one condom at a time.
- DON’T reuse a condom.
How To Put On and Take Off a Male Condom
![remove condom from wrapper](https://webarchive.library.unt.edu/web/20201219063559im_/https://www.cdc.gov/condomeffectiveness/images/01-open.jpg)
Carefully open and remove condom from wrapper.
![Place condom](https://webarchive.library.unt.edu/web/20201219063559im_/https://www.cdc.gov/condomeffectiveness/images/02-erect.jpg)
Place condom on the head of the erect, hard penis. If uncircumcised, pull back the foreskin first.
![Pinch air out of the tip of condom](https://webarchive.library.unt.edu/web/20201219063559im_/https://www.cdc.gov/condomeffectiveness/images/03-pinch.jpg)
Pinch air out of the tip of the condom.
![Unroll condom](https://webarchive.library.unt.edu/web/20201219063559im_/https://www.cdc.gov/condomeffectiveness/images/04-unroll.jpg)
Unroll condom all the way down the penis.
![pulling out condom](https://webarchive.library.unt.edu/web/20201219063559im_/https://www.cdc.gov/condomeffectiveness/images/05-hold.jpg)
After sex but before pulling out, hold the condom at the base. Then pull out, while holding the condom in place.
![remove the condom and throw it in the trash](https://webarchive.library.unt.edu/web/20201219063559im_/https://www.cdc.gov/condomeffectiveness/images/06-dispose.jpg)
Carefully remove the condom and throw it in the trash.
Page last reviewed: July 6, 2016