If you buy condoms online, make sure that you buy them from a pharmacy or other legitimate retailer. Always choose condoms that carry the BSI kite mark and the European CE mark as a sign of quality assurance. This means they have been tested to the required safety standards. WHO’s work on controlling the spread of STIs, including HIV, is guided by the Global health sector strategy on HIV, Hepatitis and Sexually Transmitted Infections, 2022–2030 . This includes the scale-up primary prevention such as condom availability and use. In addition, WHO supports countries’ efforts to create an encouraging environment allowing individuals to discuss STIs, adopt safer sexual practices, seek treatment and provide accessibility of people-centred quality STI care. Some condoms come with spermicide on them. You should avoid using this type, or using spermicide as a lubricant, as it does not protect against STIs and may increase your risk of infection. Who can use condoms?

Some condoms come with spermicide on them. Spermicide is a chemical that kills sperm. Spermicides that contain the chemical nonoxynol-9 do not protect against STIs and may even increase your risk of getting an STI. It’s best to avoid using spermicide-lubricated condoms, or spermicide as an extra lubricant. Who can use condoms? Dams can be harder to find than condoms. You can buy dams online, or in some sex shops or drug stores. You may also be able to find them at some sexual health centers, like your local Planned Parenthood. You can also make a dam by cutting open a condom or internal condom — just cut the tip off so it’s open at both ends, cut the condom from the bottom to the top, open it up, and lay it over your partner’s vulva and/or anus.

If the condom will not roll down, you may be holding it the wrong way round. If this happens, it may have sperm on it, so throw it away and try again with a new one.

Condoms, when used correctly and consistently, are safe and highly effective in preventing transmission of sexually transmitted infections, including HIV, and unplanned pregnancies. Condoms are safe, inexpensive and widely available. Some couples find that using condoms interrupts sex. Communicating about sex with your partner can help avoid embarrassment and make sex better. If used correctly every time you have sex, condoms are extremely effective at preventing STIs. Condoms are also 98% effective at preventing pregnancy. This means that 2 out of 100 women using male condoms as contraception will become pregnant in a year.

When using a condom, you have to pull out after you have ejaculated and before your penis goes soft, holding the condom firmly in place. For most people, there are no serious risks using condoms. Some people are allergic to latex condoms but you can get condoms that are less likely to cause an allergic reaction. Where can you get condoms? WHO also includes condoms use as part of its contraception and family planning portfolios, ensuring that all people have access to their preferred contraceptive methods and the ability to determine if, when and how often to reproduce. This includes producing evidence-based guidelines on the safety and effectiveness of contraceptive methods and their provision, developing quality standards for their manufacture, providing pre-qualification of approved contraceptive commodities and helping countries introduce these methods. Research from WHO, HRP and partners from February 2022 indicates that interventions that use a positive language about sex, including sexual pleasure, are effective in increasing condom use.

There are both external (male) condoms and internal (female) condoms (also called external condoms and internal condoms, respectively), which are effective when used correctly. External condoms are most common and are sheaths or coverings that fit over a man’s erect penis before penetration. Internal condoms are also available and are sheaths or linings that fit loosely inside the vagina before penetration. When used correctly every time you have sex, male condoms are 98% effective. This means 2 out of 100 people will become pregnant in 1 year when male condoms are used as contraception.

What are the best condoms to get?

DUREX QUALITY, FROM THE WORLD’S NO. 1 CONDOM BRAND*: With over 90 years of expertise manufacturing condoms, all Durex condoms are made from the finest quality raw materials and 100 Percent electronically tested for holes and imperfections with 5 more quality tests carried out on every batch; dermatologically tested too *Sales based Lambskin and other animal membrane condoms only prevent pregnancy — they don’t protect you from HIV or other STDs. Pro-tip: if you cut a condom up the side, you can open it out and put it over the vulva for safer oral sex there. Condoms are helpful for everyone! Make sure that your penis does not touch your partner's genital area before you have put on a condom – semen can come out of the penis before full ejaculation (you have come).