Product 101

Tips for How to Put on a Condom Correctly

Playful teasing between you and your partner has made the air thick with anticipation. Finally, the moment has come: it’s time to tear open that condom package and let the fireworks commence! First, though, you need to know how to use a condom and put it on properly.

Condoms are an effective and necessary form of protection, but only when used the right way. The first step to using them properly is by putting the condom on correctly!

How to Put on a Condom the Right Way

Before you can begin penetrative sex, you need two things: consent and protection against sexually transmitted infections (STIs) and unintended pregnancies. Follow this simple process for how to put on an external condom* so you can get down and dirty while staying safe: open, inspect, pinch and roll!

1. Open the Condom Wrapper with Hands

When opening the condom wrapper, always use your hands. If you cut it open with a pair of scissors, a knife, or your teeth, you might accidentally tear the condom. Now wouldn’t that be a case of blue balls?

2. Look for Rips

Make sure the condom does not have any tears, rips or holes. This is unlikely if you are using a new, unexpired condom that has been stored properly. Still, you want to verify. Do not use the condom in the event you discover any form of breakage.

3. Make Sure the Condom Is Not Inside Out

How do you tell if a condom is inside out? Make sure the rolled-up ring is on the outside and the tip is up. If the condom doesn’t unroll, it could be backward or damaged.

4. Pinch the Tip

Pinch the tip of the condom using your thumb and index finger. Doing so allows a bit of space at the top to collect semen. Do this even if the condom doesn’t have a reservoir tip.

5. Roll the Condom Down the Penis Shaft

Place the condom over the tip of the penis and, while still gently squeezing the tip with one hand, roll it down the length of your erect penis with the other. The ring should be at or near the base of the shaft.

Now you know how to use a condom for some frisky fun. You’re not quite done yet, though.

Keep your condom on through ejaculation. Immediately after ejaculation, hold the condom in place and withdraw the penis while it is still erect. Dispose of a used condom by wrapping it in tissue and throwing it in the trash. Take care not to spill any semen and make sure to wash your hands after disposing!

*While you can use an internal or “female” condom that goes inside the vagina or an external condom that rolls over an erect penis for protection, the external or “male” condom is the most common, and the one we’re talking about here.

How to Put on a Condom If You’re Uncircumcised

If you have an uncircumcised penis, you want to pull back the foreskin before putting it on. Follow the first three steps above but pull back the foreskin before you pinch the tip of the condom and roll it down the penis shaft.

You might also consider using a roomier condom, like Trojan™ Ecstasy™ Ultra Ribbed. Its comfort shape allows for more freedom of movement, with extra deep ribs at the base and end to increase stimulation.

What Happens if You Don’t Pinch the Tip of a Condom?

If you don’t pinch the tip of the condom, you risk air getting trapped inside the condom, which may result in a higher chance of breakage. Pinching the tip stops air from getting trapped in the condom and allows more room for semen. It also helps you roll the condom down easier.

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Tips for Putting on a Condom Without Being Awkward

Properly putting on a condom is just one of the steps to helping you and your partner reach the Big O. Still, putting on the condom can be occasionally nerve-wracking, especially if you have a hard time figuring out how to put on the condom and that stiff pickle turns flaccid. Naturally, you’d prefer to avoid interrupting an intimate moment.

Follow some of these tips to help avoid condom anxiety and put your condom on like a pro so you can bring the pleasure:

Practice, practice, practice: Have you ever watched a TikTok video of someone putting a condom on a banana?? The exercise may serve as a baseline for how to put a condom on, but it’s not quite the same as putting it on your own penis. It’s a good idea to practice putting on a condom (and masturbating with it on) so that, when the moment arrives, you’ll be ready!

Have the condom ready: You should have easy access to the condom you prepare to use and refrain from keeping them in your wallet. Store your condoms somewhere at room temperature, like a bedside table. Now that’s a heat check ;)

Don’t rush it: You want to be fully erect before putting on your condom. So, enjoy the moments leading up to penetration! Really get into the buildup, whether it’s foreplay, oral sex or another activity on your sex bucket list. Doing so can help you stay hard as a rock, which may ease the stress of putting on the condom.

Bring extras, and don’t panic: If the condom doesn’t unroll properly or you’re having a hard time getting it on at first, take a beat! Condoms come in packs of 3 or larger, and you can also buy them in bulk. So, you should already have extras stored away and ready for use at the drop of a hat. It also provides another opportunity to engage in more foreplay or oral sex before giving it another go!

Ask for an assist: You can always ask your partner to help you put the condom on. Halting stimulation for even a brief moment can result in possibly losing an erection when putting on a condom, so you might see if your partner can keep touching you as you do it to help you stay erect. Alternatively, you could have them turn away. Ultimately, it comes down to whatever you both feel comfortable with and can help lessen any potential awkwardness.

If you’ve already put the condom on but have concern about staying erect, try using some lube! It can help make penetrative sex more comfortable and pleasurable. Lubes also help reduce friction, which lessens the chance of condom breakage. Should you decide to use lube, make sure it’s of the water- or silicone-based variety and not oil.

Why Should You Use a Condom?

Condoms are 98 percent effective in protecting against unintended pregnancies and sexually transmitted infections (STIs) when used correctly. That statistic holds true regardless of whether you use a latex or non-latex condom.

There’s more to protection than simply grabbing any condom from your local convenience store. Understanding your size and finding the right fit are important factors in knowing how to use a condom correctly. In that sense: size does matter when it comes to which condom you choose!

Whether you’re looking for a non-latex option such as Trojan™ Raw™ Pure Feel™ or are especially well endowed and demand a Magnum™ Raw™, refer to the Trojan™ size chart so you can find the condom that suits you best.

What are the Different Types of Condoms?

Most condoms are considered external, or condoms made for people with a penis. There are also internal condoms for people with a vulva. Moreover, condoms come in different shapes and styles, which may help define your fit.

When it comes to external condoms, some are slim or snug, while others have roomier fits. Additionally, some external condoms have a reservoir tip, whereas others have a bulbous end. If you’re wondering how to put on a condom without a reservoir tip, the steps above still apply! You still want to pinch the top end of the condom before rolling it down the shaft.

Knowing your size and girth can help inform which shape you might choose, though it also comes down to personal preference!

Where Can I Get Condoms?

You can get condoms by buying them in person, online, or curbside pickup or delivery! But those aren’t the only options.

College students can usually get condoms from their school’s health center. Additionally, communal health centers and Planned Parenthood facilities typically offer free condoms. So, if you’re wondering about where and how to buy condoms, you don’t have to burden yourself much!

Put on Your Trojan™ Condom and Get Busy

The mood can strike you or your partner at any time. Perhaps some flirty foreplay has you feeling frisky. Or you’re raring to go after receiving (and giving!) some outstanding oral sex. That’s great! But you still need to know how to put a condom on and not rush the moment to help ensure you and your partner are protected for penetrative sex.

Safety is sexy. It’s even sexier when you feel confident putting on that condom so you can continue to turn up the heat. When you reach for that condom, make it a Trojan™!

Trojan™ has an assortment of latex and non-latex options in all shapes and sizes. You can also add a lube or sex toy to help make things particularly wet and wild. So, what are you waiting for? Break out that Trojan™ condom and get it on!