Condoms

Condoms are a form of contraception (birth control). They work by being a physical barrier between people during sex so sperm can't pass from one person to another. 

They're suitable for almost everyone. There are 2 types of condoms – external and internal.

External condoms

• These are thin tubes of latex that are fitted over an erect penis before sex, to protect against unplanned pregnancies and sexually transmitted infections (STIs).
• They're easily available and can be bought from Sexual Wellbeing Aotearoa clinics, supermarkets, pharmacies, pubs, public toilets, garages, nightclubs, dairies, sex shops and online.
• It's cheaper to get them with a prescription written by a prescriber or from a Sexual Wellbeing Aotearoa clinic or a sexual health centre. You can get up to 60 condoms (sizes 53 mm, 56 mm or 60 mm) or 144 condoms (size 49 mm) for $5 with a prescription.
• At some clinics you may be able to get a prescription after a telephone consultation.
• External condoms come in different shapes, sizes, colours, textures and flavours.

Internal condoms

• These go into your vagina and work by catching sperm at ejaculation (coming).
• An internal condom is a tube with flexible rings at each end – one end is closed and the other is open. The closed end stays deep in the vagina and the opened end stays outside the vaginal opening during intercourse.
• Internal condoms are latex-free so can be used by people who are allergic to latex and can be used with water-based lubricants.
• Internal condoms can be bought from a range of retailers such as the Sexual Wellbeing Aotearoa online shop(external link). However, these are not subsidised by the government so you’ll have to pay for the full cost.
• Internal condoms are not as easy to use correctly as external condoms.

Pros

✔ They protect you from catching and spreading STIs.

✔ They don’t affect your fertility if you want to become pregnant later on.

✔ They’re safe to use while breastfeeding.

✔ They’re widely available to buy without a prescription.

✔ They’re cheap if you get them from a healthcare provider. 

✔ They don’t have any side effects.

Cons

✘ Both partners must be prepared to use one every time they have sex.

✘ Some people are embarrassed to use condoms or feel they interrupt sex.

✘ Sex may feel different. The condom is a barrier, which can reduce sensitivity. 

✘ Some people are allergic to latex or rubber. Polyurethane condoms are available for people who are allergic to rubber. 

✘ Failure rates for barrier methods are higher than for most other methods of contraception – condoms may slip, break or leak.

Using an extra method of contraception is a good back-up measure in case a condom slips or breaks.

If a condom does slip or break and you are using no other method of contraception, you can use emergency contraception to help prevent pregnancy.

When used correctly and every time you have sex:

• External condoms are 98% effective in preventing pregnancy. This means that for couples who use external condoms perfectly for 1 year, 2 out of 100 will become pregnant.  
• Internal condoms are 95% effective in preventing pregnancy. This means that for couples who use internal condoms perfectly for 1 year, 5 out of 100 will become pregnant.

Correct or perfect use of condoms involves:

• using a condom every time you have sex
• putting a condom on before the penis touches the vaginal area
• the penis not touching the vaginal area after the condom is taken off. 

What causes condom failure?

Condoms are often not used correctly. This results in condom failure and unplanned pregnancies.

External condoms have a failure rate of about 15%. This means that, for all couples who use external condoms, about 15 out of 100 become pregnant in 1 year.

Internal condoms have a failure rate of about 21%. This means that, for all couples who use internal condoms, about 21 out of 100 become pregnant in 1 year.

Some of the most common reasons for condom failure are:

• not using a condom every time
• the condom isn’t put on (external condom) or in (internal condom) correctly
• the condom is the wrong size
• the condom breaking
• the external condom partly or completely slipping off the penis
• the internal condom coming out when the penis is pulled out.

Slipping off happens more often than breaking, usually when a condom is too large and when lubricant is put inside the condom or on your penis before putting on a condom. 

Condoms significantly reduce the chance of you catching or spreading HIV, chlamydia, gonorrhoea and hepatitis B. Condoms also reduce the chance of syphilis, herpes and genital wart virus infection.

However, they don’t give 100% protection because sometimes skin not covered by condoms can be infected with these viruses. 

For the best protection, use condoms during vaginal, oral, anal sex and when sharing sex toys (put a fresh one on before you start and whenever you switch who is using it).

Use a new condom each time you have sex and follow these steps:

• Check the condom pack to make sure the expiry date hasn't passed.
• Open the condom wrapper, being careful not to poke a hole in the condom with your fingernails, teeth or other sharp objects.
• Make sure your penis doesn't touch your partner’s vagina, mouth or anus before being covered by a condom.
• Check the condom is the right way up, then hold the tip of the condom and squeeze out the air to leave room for the semen after ejaculation (coming).
• Put the condom on as soon as your penis is hard (erect). If you're not circumcised, pull down the loose skin from the head of your penis (foreskin) before putting on the condom.
• While continuing to hold on to the tip of the condom, unroll it all the way down to the base of your penis.
• After ejaculation, hold on to the condom at the base of your penis and withdraw from your partner while your penis is still erect. This will keep semen from spilling out of the condom.
• Don’t flush condoms down the toilet, put them in the rubbish. They degrade naturally in landfill.

Lubrication makes it easy to slide in and out during sex. If there isn't enough lubrication, the condom is much more likely to break.

All subsidised condoms available in Aotearoa New Zealand are pre-lubricated but you may need to use extra, particularly for anal sex or if you have had problems with irritation or condoms breaking in the past.

• Do use a water-based or silicone-based lubricant (eg, KY Jelly®, Wet Stuff®, Sylk® or Durex Perfect Glide®).
• Do not use any lubricant with oil in it, such as petroleum jelly (eg, Vaseline®), grease, hand lotion or baby oil. Read the label if you're not sure what's in it. Oil (or petroleum) can weaken the condom and cause it to break.

Spermicides are no longer recommended for use with condoms as they can irritate sensitive skin and increase the risk of getting a sexually transmitted infection (STI).

Some creams used for vaginal thrush (candidiasis) can weaken external latex condoms. If you’re using latex condoms, apply the thrush treatment after you’ve had sex.

To avoid passing thrush to your partner, don’t have sex until the infection is gone or use condoms of non-latex material such as Durex Real Feel® condoms.

If your condom breaks and your main concern is pregnancy go to a Sexual Wellbeing Aotearoa clinic, your healthcare provider or a pharmacy for emergency contraception within 72 hours.

If you're worried about sexually transmitted infections (STIs) talk to a healthcare provider.

If you think your condom has broken before ejaculation (coming), stop and put on a new condom.

External condoms can be bought from Sexual Wellbeing Aotearoa clinics, supermarkets, pharmacies, pubs, public toilets, garages, nightclubs, dairies, sex shops and online. 

• It's cheaper to get them on a prescription written by a prescriber or from a Sexual Wellbeing Aotearoa clinic or a sexual health centre. You can get up to 60 condoms (sizes 53 mm, 56 mm or 60 mm) or 144 condoms (size 49 mm) for $5 with a prescription.
• You are legally allowed to buy condoms at any age.

Internal condoms can be bought from a range of retailers such as the Sexual Wellbeing Aotearoa online shop(external link). However, these are not subsidised by the government so you’ll have to pay for the full cost.