Information...

Condoms that have been properly tested and approved carry the British Standard Kite Mark or the EEC Standard Mark (CE). In the USA, condoms should be FDA approved, and elsewhere in the world, they should be ISO approved. Condoms have an expiry (Exp) or manufacture (MFG) date on the box or individual package that informs you when you must have used the condom by. It is extremely important to check this before you use a condom especially if you have had them stored in a draw for awhile. When purchasing a new pack of condoms ensure it appears to be in good condition and has not been tampered with.

Condoms can deteriorate if they are not stored properly as they are affected by both heat and light. So it's best not to use a condom that has been stored in your back pocket, your wallet, or the glove compartment of your car. If a condom feels sticky or very dry you should avoid using it as the packaging has probably been damaged.

The condom should unroll smoothly and easily from the rim on the outside. If you have to struggle or if it takes more than a few seconds, it probably means that you are trying to put the condom on upside down. When removing the condom, don't try to roll it back up. Hold it near the rim and slide it off. Then start again with a new condom.

If a condom breaks during sexual intercourse, then pull out quickly and replace the condom. Whilst you are having sex, check the condom from time to time, to make sure it hasn't split or slipped off. If the condom has broken and you feel that semen has come out of the condom during sex, you should consider getting emergency contraception such as the morning after pill.