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Sex Ed: 4 Common Reasons why Condoms may Break

Sex Ed: 4 Common Reasons why Condoms may Break

Condoms are an essential part of enjoying safe-sex with a partner. They act as a protective barrier between genitals, reducing the risk of unintended pregnancy, sexually transmitted infections and HIV. While condoms are one of the only contraceptives that are triple-protective, they can occasionally break, leaving you and your partner at risk. With this in mind, here’s 4 common reasons why condoms may break, so you can minimize the risk and maintain safer-sex practices.

Expiry date 

Believe it or not, condoms do have an expiry date - which is usually found on the back of the condom packet. Most condoms are made from a material, known as latex, a natural type of rubber. This material can deteriorate over time, losing its elasticity and becoming brittle, making  the condom more prone to tearing or breaking.

In addition, all condoms are pre-lubricated, making sex feel comfortable and reducing the risk of rubbing. However, over time the lubricant may dry out, meaning that friction may occur during sex, which may cause the condom to break or tear, increasing the risk of unintended pregnancy and sexually transmitted infections

What about latex free condoms? Although latex-free condoms are made from another type of material, they are still at risk of tearing or breaking due to age, in a similar way to latex condoms.

Therefore, in order to reduce the risk of your condom breaking and to continue having safe sex - always check the expiry date and make sure your condom is in-date.

Incorrect size 

Wearing the wrong size condom is another reason why a condom may break. A condom that’s too small may stretch, causing extra pressure on the material and increasing the risk of tears or breakage. Also, a condom that’s too small may not cover the whole of the penis, putting you at risk of unintended pregnancy, sexually transmitted infections or HIV. If a condom is too small, it may feel uncomfortable during sex and can prevent blood flow leading to erection problems. 

In addition, a condom that’s too big is also at risk of breaking as it may cause unnecessary friction, leading to breaks or tears. Having a condom that’s not securely fitted may also mean there’s a risk of the condom slipping off during sex, leaving the penis exposed and running the risk of unintended pregnancy, sexually transmitted infections and HIV.

Pasante offers four different sized condoms; trim, regular, king and super-king, so there’s always a condom to meet your needs, so that you can enjoy safer-sex without worrying about the risk. 

To find out how to correctly measure your penis, click here

Incorrect storage

Correctly storing condoms is vital for ensuring they maintain their effectiveness and continue to protect you from unintended pregnancy and sexually transmitted infections. Here are two reasons why condoms may break due to incorrect storage;

Sunlight or heat

Condoms should be stored away from direct sunlight or heat. This is because higher temperatures or sunlight can not only cause the condom material to weaken, but also dry out the lubricant on the condom, increasing the risk of tearing or breaking during sexual intercourse. Therefore, always make sure your condom is stored in a cool, dry place to reduce the risk of breakage.

Heavy items / friction 

Condoms that are placed somewhere where they are continually knocked or have heavy items placed upon them are also at risk of breakage. Condoms that are placed upon heavier items can often become compressed and lose their shape, causing tears or punctures in the condom or packaging. In addition, if condoms are placed somewhere where they are at risk of constant friction, the material may weaken, causing the condom to tear or break during sex.

Lubricant 

While water-based lubricants are safe to use with condoms, there are other lubricants that can cause the condom to break. Oil-based lubricants, such as baby oil, massage oil or vaseline can cause damage to a condom, causing the material to weaken and increasing the risk of tears and breakages leading to a risk of unintended pregnancy, sexually transmitted infection and HIV. 

However, water-based lubricants increase pleasurable sensations and are ideal for enjoying safe sex with condoms. Our succulent strawberry or fresh mint are the perfect choice for oral sex, while our light-lube is perfect for all types of sexual activity. 

If you’re feeling a little exotic, we’ve recently launched two new lubricant flavours; Exotic banana and Cookies and Cream - which one will become your new favourite? 



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