Be prepared...
Condoms can be bought by anyone at supermarkets and pharmacies. There are no age restrictions. Condoms are also available for free at the AIDS Action Council.
Make sure condoms are available and conveniently located. If no condoms are handy at the time of a sexual encounter, you may easily be tempted to have sex without one.
Store condoms in a cool, dry place away from sunlight and heat. Do not carry condoms in your wallet for long periods of time. Friction from opening and closing your wallet, and from walking (if you carry your wallet in your pocket) can cause weakness in the condom.
Condoms are cheap. Get a few extra condoms to practice putting them onto your penis (if you have one!) or onto penis-like objects. Get a feel for them and how they work. Throw these practice condoms away. You can't use them for sex now.
Before sex...
Check the use by date. Using a condom after the use by date has expired increases the chance that the condom will break.
Don't use a condom that is brittle, sticky or discoloured. These are signs of age, and old condoms are more likely to break.
If a condom package is damaged, don't use the condom because it may be damaged also.
Avoid opening the condom until you plan to use it.
Using the condom...
1. Push the condom to one side before opening the packet.
2. Squeeze air from the tip (this allows room for the semen), then roll the condom onto the penis.
3. Always use lots of water-based lubricant when having penetrative sex. Using other lubricants, such as baby oil or vaseline can cause the condom to break.
4. Pull out and check the condom occasionally, and re-lube.
5. Hold base of condom when pulling out. Make sure that semen doesn't leak out of the condom.
The condom broke...
Don't panic. Stop having sex.
Go to the toilet and try to squirt out any semen and the condom (if it is still inside you).
There is a treatment called PEP that might prevent you getting infected by HIV if you act fast (preferably within a couple of hours, and definately within 72 hours).
There are PEP trained doctors at the Canberra Sexual Health Centre, and also at the emergency departments at the Canberra Hospital and Calvary Hospital. They will be able to talk with you to help you decide if you should take PEP.
For more information, see the information sheet, or call the AIDS Action Council on (02) 6257 2855.
Extra tips...
Use each condom only once.
Condoms are not just for penises! They can be used on Vibrators dildos sex toys to prevent infections being transmittted. Remember to use a new condom every time the toy etc is being used with a different person.