New Mexico AIDS InfoNet www.aidsinfonet.org Fact Sheet Number 152
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CONDOMS •
WHAT ARE CONDOMS? Check the condom during sex, Guide the penis into the large ring to
A condom is a tube made of thin, flexible especially if it feels strange, to make avoid unprotected contact between the
material that is closed at one end. sure it is still in place and unbroken. penis and the partner’s rectum or
Condoms have been used for hundreds of • Do not use a male condom and a vagina.
years to prevent pregnancy by keeping a female condom at the same time. • After sex, remove the condom before
man’s semen out of a woman’s vagina. • Use water-based lubricants with latex standing up. Twist the large outer ring
Condoms also help prevent diseases that condoms, not oil-based. The oils in to keep the semen inside. Gently pull
are spread by semen or by contact with Crisco, butter, baby oil, Vaseline or cold the condom out and throw it away.
infected sores in the genital area, including cream will make latex fall apart.
HIV. Most condoms are made to go over a • Use unlubricated condoms for oral sex
man’s penis. A new type of condom was (most lubricants taste awful). NONOXYNOL-9
designed to fit into a woman’s vagina. This • Do not throw condoms into a toilet. Nonoxynol-9 is a chemical that kills sperm
“female” condom can also be used to They can clog plumbing. (a spermicide). It can help prevent
protect the rectum. pregnancy when it is used in the vagina
Using a Male Condom: along with condoms or other birth control
• Put the condom on when your penis is methods. Nonoxynol-9 should not be used
WHAT ARE THEY MADE OF? erect – but before it touches your in the mouth or rectum.
Condoms used to be made of natural skin partner’s mouth, vagina, or rectum.
(including lambskin) or of rubber. That’s The liquid that comes out of the penis Because nonoxynol-9 kills HIV in the test
why they are called “rubbers”. Most before orgasm can contain HIV. tube, it was considered as a way to prevent
condoms today are latex or polyurethane. • If you want, put some water-based HIV infection during sex. Unfortunately,
lubricant inside the tip of the condom. many people are allergic to it. Their sex
Lambskin condoms can prevent pregnancy. • If you are not circumcised, push your organs (penis, vagina, and rectum) can get
However, they have tiny holes (pores) that foreskin back before you put on a irritated and develop small sores that
are large enough for HIV to get through. condom. This lets your foreskin move actually make it easier for HIV infection to
Lambskin condoms do not prevent the without breaking the condom. spread. Nonoxynol-9 is not recommended
spread of HIV. • Squeeze the air out of the tip of the as a way to prevent HIV infection.
condom to leave room for semen (cum)
Latex is the most common material for and unroll the rest of the condom down
condoms. Viruses cannot get through it. the penis. CONDOM MYTHS
Latex is inexpensive and available in many • Do not “double bag” (use two
styles. It has two drawbacks: oils make it condoms). Friction between the Condoms don’t work: Condoms prevent
fall apart, and some people are allergic to it. condoms increases the chance of HIV transmission very well if they are used
breakage. correctly every time you have sex.
Polyurethane is an option for people who • After orgasm, hold the base of the
are allergic to latex, but only the female condom and pull out before your penis Condoms break a lot: Less than 2% of
condom and one brand of male condom are gets soft. condoms break when they are used
made of polyurethane. • Be careful not to spill semen onto your correctly: no oils with latex condoms, no
partner when you throw the condom double condoms, no outdated condoms.
away.
HOW ARE CONDOMS USED? HIV can get through condoms: HIV
Condoms can protect you during contact Using a Female Condom: cannot get through latex or polyurethane
between the penis, mouth, vagina, or The female condom is a sleeve of condoms. Don’t use lambskin condoms.
rectum. Condoms won’t protect you from polyurethane with a closed end and a larger
HIV or other infections unless you use them open end. There is a flexible ring in each
correctly. end. THE BOTTOM LINE
• Store condoms away from too much • Put the condom in place before your When used correctly, condoms are the best
heat, cold, or friction. Do not keep them partner’s penis touches your vagina or way to prevent the spread of HIV during
in a wallet or a car glove compartment. rectum. sexual activity. Condoms can protect the
• Check the expiration date. Don’t use • For use in the vagina, squeeze the mouth, vagina or rectum from HIV-infected
outdated condoms. smaller ring and insert it into the vagina, semen. They can protect the penis from
• Don’t open a condom package with like inserting a diaphragm. The larger HIV-infected vaginal fluids and blood in the
your teeth. Be careful that your ring goes over the opening to the mouth, vagina, or rectum. They also reduce
fingernails or jewelry don’t tear the vagina to protect the outside sex the risk of spreading other sexually
condom. Body jewelry in or around organs from infection. transmitted diseases.
your penis or vagina might also tear a • For use in the rectum, remove the
condom. smaller ring. Put the condom over your Condoms must be stored, used and
• Use a new condom every time you partner’s erect penis. The condom will disposed of correctly. Male condoms are
have sex, or when the penis moves be inserted into the rectum along with used on the penis. Female condoms can be
from the rectum to the vagina. the penis. used in the vagina or rectum.
Reviewed September 15, 2001
Partially funded by the National Library of Medicine and the New Mexico Department of Health
Fact Sheets can be downloaded from the Internet at http://www.aidsinfonet.org