No, you don’t just roll it on and go. There’s an art to it. (Or at least, a correct way to put it on.) After all, you’ve got to be safe here. We know what you’re thinking: “I know how to put on a condom. I’ve been having sex for years.”
That may be true, but if all men performed this seemingly-simple task correctly, a bunch of researchers from Canada wouldn’t have arrived at this staggering conclusion: Ninety-four percent of all men make at least one error before they get down to business. Or maybe it’s just Canadians who don’t know what they’re doing. (Kidding, guys.)
Here are the top 5 mistakes that men made during the last time that they had sex with a condom:
1. You’re not using lubricants.
Wearing a condom increases friction during sex, which can make you feel dry and uncomfortable, says study co-author Robin Milhausen, Ph.D. Water-based lubes, like KY Jelly, can make the rubber more slippery, so the sex feels natural. Still, nearly 63 percent of all the men in the study didn’t use a lubricant at all, and another 2 percent used an oil-based kind. (For the record, stick to the water lubes—oil varieties are more likely to cause breakage).
2. You’re not letting out the air.
If the tip of your condom resembles a big light bulb, you have a problem. “Having air in the condom puts pressure on the latex, which increases your chances of breakage during intercourse,” says Milhausen. In the study, around 37 percent of men didn’t squeeze out the air. Maybe we’re just too excited…?
3. The condom didn’t feel right.
One in three men said that they felt less pleasure and sensation. Plus, it felt unnatural and uncomfortable. (To be fair, it is a condom, after all. Herpes is even less comfortable.) Here’s how to make the best of it: Milhausen recommends using a water-based lubricant on the outside and inside of the condom. “It will allow the condom to move freely around your penis, which feels more natural.” She recommends the new Trojan Ecstasy, which fits tight at the base but flares throughout the body of the condom.
4. You’re not checking for damage.
Sometimes, condoms become broken during storage, says Milhausen. That, and they can be ripped during your haste to open the wrapper. “Make sure it isn’t dry, grainy, or stiff when you take it out,” she says.
5. You’re putting it on too late.
Nearly 23 percent of men penetrated before they put on a condom. “People can get caught up in the moment and underestimate their risk,” says Milhausen. “They might think they’re doing a good thing by wearing a condom at all.” Remember: Even a few seconds of unprotected sex puts you at risk for STDs. If you’re transmitting fluids, you need to wrap it up.
—Kiera Aaron
