Putting on a condom may seem second nature to you by now, but are you actually doing it the right way? Sadly, research suggests you might not be.
Researchers from Indiana University analysed 50 studies on condom usage, and after crunching the numbers on 16 years of data, they found a laundry list of errors. Could you be making one of them?
Check out the top 15 things that couples are doing wrong when gearing up for getting down.
1. Late application
Across the numerous studies, between 17 and 51.1% of people reported putting a condom on after intercourse has already begun. (Which doesn’t quite cut it when it comes to STD prevention.)
2. Early removal
Between 13.6 and 44.7% of the respondents reported removing the condom before intercourse was complete.
3. Completely unrolling the condom prior to application
Between 2.1 and 25.3% of people admitted to completely unrolling the condom before sliding it on. How does that even work?
4. No space at the tip
Failing to leave space for semen at the tip of the condom was reported by 24.3 to 45.7% of the respondents
5. Failure to remove air
When looking back to their last sexual encounter, 48.1% of women and 41.6% of men reported that they didn’t squeeze the air from the tip before use.
6. Inside-out condoms
Between four and 30.4% of participants reported they began rolling the condom on inside out, but then flipped it over and continued its use. And that’s bad, since it can expose her to your pre-ejaculatory fluids, which can get her pregnant.
(Nope, that wasn’t just a lie your gym teacher told you.)
7. Failure to completely unroll the condom before use
When looking back to their last sexual encounter, 11.2% of women and 8.8% of men had began intercourse before the condom was unrolled all the way.
8. Exposure to a sharp object
Between 2.1 and 11.2% of people had opened condom packets with sharp objects. The problem: If it’s sharp enough to rip the wrapper, it’s sharp enough to rip the condom. Duh!
9. Failure to check for damage
When removing the condom from the package, 82.7% of women and 74.5% of men reported that they fail to check for damage before use. What to look for: Make sure the wrapper isn’t worn down or ripped open, keep your eyes peeled for expired dates, and check for visible imperfections while unrolling.
10. No lubrication
Between 16 and 25.8% of people reported using condoms without lubrication. The trouble? If you’re having sex for an extended period of time, the condom is more likely to tear without lubrication.
11. Lubrication complications
Roughly 3.2% of women and 4.7% of men reported using an oil-based lube with a latex condom. That weakens the latex, which can make it prone to breakage.
12. Incorrect withdrawal
Nearly 31% of men and 27% of women reported that (post-sex) they failed to promptly and properly withdraw after ejaculation. No matter what the Cranberries sang, guys, this ain’t a time to let it linger.
