- Don’t touch the wrong side of the condom to the penis, and then flip it to the right side. This can transfer semen and/or STIs.
- Don’t use out-of-date condoms. Check the expiration date carefully. Old condoms can be dry, brittle or weakened and can break more easily.
- Don’t unroll the condom before putting it on the erect (hard) penis.
- Don’t leave condoms in hot places-like your wallet or your car.
- Don’t use oil-based lubricants, like baby or cooking oils, hand lotion or petroleum jelly (like Vaseline®) as lubricants with latex condoms. The oil weakens latex and can cause condoms to break.
- Don’t use your fingernails or teeth when opening a condom wrapper. It’s very easy to tear the condom inside. If you do tear a condom while opening the wrapper, throw that condom away and get a new one.
- Don’t reuse a condom. Always use a new condom for each kind of sex you have.