Preparing for Sex

• The male partner should put on a condom before his penis touches his partner’s vagina.
  
  
• Remove the condom from its package. Be careful not to tear it accidentally with a fingernail or other sharp object (such as your teeth) when opening the package. Take care not to poke a hole in the condom while taking it out of the wrapper.
  
  
• If the condom has a little receptacle (small pouch) at the end of it (to collect semen), begin rolling the condom onto the penis with the receptacle left empty so that semen can fill it. Be sure to squeeze the air out of the receptacle end. Place the condom against the tip of the penis and carefully roll the sides down the shaft of the erect penis. The rolled ring should be on the outside of the condom. If the condom does not unroll easily, it may be upside down. If you find you are rolling it on incorrectly, throw it away and try another so you don’t expose your sexual partner to germs.
  
  
• If there is not a receptacle end, be sure to leave a little space between the condom and the end of the penis. Otherwise, the semen may push up the sides of the condom and come out at the base of it before the penis and condom are withdrawn. Be sure to squeeze the air out of the tip of the condom so there is not any air between the penis and the condom. This leaves room for semen. Air left in the tip can cause the condom to break.
  
  
• Some people find it helpful to unroll the condom a little before putting it on the penis. This leaves plenty of room for semen collection and prevents the condom from being stretched too tightly over the penis.
  
  
• If the penis is uncircumcised, pull the foreskin back before putting on the condom.
  
  
• Keep the condom in place on the penis until after intercourse or after the male has ejaculated.