Condoms have long been a popular choice for contraception, and their mainstream status leads some new users to wrongly assume that they already know all of the right steps for proper usage. The truth is, there are many common mistakes made when using condoms, some of which put you at risk of pregnancy while others put you at risk of disease transmission. Here are a few of the common condom mistakes you should avoid.
Not Checking it for Damage
In the heat of the moment, you may feel inclined to rush to put the condom on without looking at it first. However, this can lead to problems. After all, if there's any damage to it, the condom may not perform its intended function. Whether it's a small hole already in the condom or you catch a fingernail on it in the process of trying to put it on, you need to check it for any signs of damage before going any further.
Using it After the Expiration Date
Many people dismiss the expiration date on a condom package as irrelevant, but the fact is that those dates are very important. The expiration date on the package is determined by the time in which it takes spermicide or the latex itself to break down. It's also important to remember that carrying one in your wallet or back pocket can shorten its lifespan because the heat of your body can deteriorate the latex.
Not Putting it on Early Enough
While you may think that you don't need to put the condom on early in your activities, it should always be on before any physical contact occurs in that area. Disease transmission could happen early on in a sexual encounter, so it is best to have the condom in place from the beginning. The more prepared you are, the better.
Forgetting the Space at the Top
If you forget to squeeze the tip of the condom, you may be risking the integrity of the material and its protection. You have to force the air out of the tip by squeezing it a little bit, because that's the only way to ensure space for it to truly serve its purpose. If you don't do this, you may inadvertently stress the latex, causing the condom to rupture.
As you can see, there are many seemingly small things that can make a big difference when you're using condoms. Talk with a local contraceptive specialist for more tips before you use a condom for the first time. That way, you can be sure that you're using it properly and getting all of the possible benefits from it. If you're interested in other forms of contraception, visit a company like Mile High OB GYN.
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1 March 2016
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