Condoms
Key facts
- A condom is a sheath that goes over your penis or inside your vagina during sex.
- Condoms are the only type of contraception that can reduce the risk of sexually transmitted infections.
- They can be used for vaginal, anal or oral sex and with sex toys.
- Condoms work well when they are used correctly, but they don’t work if they break or slip.
- You need to use a new condom each time you have sex.
What are condoms?
Condoms are a form of contraception that can be used by both males and females.
Condoms are designed to stop ejaculation (semen) from the penis entering the vagina or anus. They prevent pregnancy by stopping sperm from getting to the egg.
Condoms also reduce your risk of getting a sexually transmitted infections (STI). They work by stopping semen and other body fluids from passing between people during sex.
Condoms can be used for vaginal, anal or oral sex.
Types of condoms
There are 2 types of condoms:
- Male (external) condoms — these are rolled onto an erect (stiff) penis or a sex toy.
- Female (internal) condoms — these are inserted into the vagina.
A condom is a very fine sheath. Male condoms are usually made of rubber (latex). They’re also available in polyurethane (plastic) or polyisoprene (synthetic rubber).
Female condoms are made from polyurethane.
You should use a new condom every time you have sex.
Do not use both a male and female condom at the same time.
How well do condoms prevent pregnancy?
Condoms work well if they are used correctly.
When used correctly, the chance of an unplanned pregnancy is about:
- 2 in 100 using male condoms
- 5 in 100 using female condoms
If used incorrectly, or if the condom breaks, an unintended pregnancy could still occur. About 2 in 10 females will become pregnant due to condom misuse. The number is similar for both male and female condoms.
You might use other forms of contraception, to prevent pregnancy, such as the:
However, condoms are the only available contraceptive method that also reduces your chance of catching an STI.
Do condoms protect against all STIs?
Condoms offer protection from many STIs, such as
However, they can't protect you from infections such as:
Find out more about testing for STIs.
How should condoms be used?
Use a new condom each time you have sex.
Male condoms
If you are using a male condom, remove it from the packet carefully. Hold it at the top as you roll it down onto an erect penis.
You may want to use water-based lubricant with the condom.
Watch this animation from Get the Facts to find out how to use a male condom.
After sex, hold the condom at the base of the penis as you move away from your partner. This stops the condom from coming off.
Take the condom off and tie a knot in the open end. Wrap the used condom in a tissue and dispose of it in a bin.
Female condoms
If you are using a female condom, remove it from the packet carefully. Hold it by the ring at the closed end and insert it into the vagina as far as it can go. The open ring of the condom remains outside your body.
Female condoms can be inserted any time before you have sex.
Female condoms have lubricant in them, but you can add any type of lubricant if you need more.
Watch this video from FC2 Female Condom to find out how to use a female condom.
After sex, twist the outside ring and pull the condom out. Wrap it in a tissue and throw it away in the bin.
Where can I get condoms?
Female condoms
You can buy female condoms from:
- online stores
- pharmacies
- some women's health clinics
They can be bought without a prescription.
Male condoms
Condoms are available from:
- sexual health clinics
- supermarkets
- pharmacies
- online
Male condoms are cheaper and easier to find.
What problems can occur with condoms?
Condoms should be kept in a cool place and used before the expiry date.
If you’re using a latex condom, it's important not to use oil-based lubricants (such as petroleum jelly or massage oil). Oil based lubricants make the condom more likely to break.
Condoms may irritate your vagina, penis or anus. If you have an allergy to latex, make sure you use non-latex condoms. There are generally no other side effects.
What happens if the condom breaks or comes off during sex?
If you're not using another type of contraception, emergency contraception is available from pharmacies. This can be taken up to 120 hours (5 days) after sex to lower your chance of an unplanned pregnancy.
You may also be at risk of catching an STI. Talk to your doctor about getting tested and ask if you need treatment.
If you think you are at risk of HIV, post-exposure prophylaxis (PEP) can lower your chance of infection.
Resources and support
Family Planning Australia offers fact sheets on male and female condoms. They also host Talkline — call 1800 658 886, for advice on STI testing and emergency contraception.
You can also call the healthdirect helpline on 1800 022 222 (known as NURSE-ON-CALL in Victoria). A registered nurse is available to speak with you 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.
Other languages
The Health Translations website has information in languages other than English on both female condoms and male condoms.
Health Translations also has information on safer sex in Easy English.
Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander peoples
Watch deadly comedian Janty Blair yarn with Aboriginal health practitioner, Jecinta about STIs in True or Gammon (6-minute video).
Learn more here about the development and quality assurance of healthdirect content.
Last reviewed: November 2024
