Male condoms – are they the right contraceptive for you?

Get the lowdown on male condoms, including how these male contraceptives work, their advantages and disadvantages, and where you can get them. 

How does a male condom work?

How effective are male condoms?

Male condom advantages

Disadvantages of male condoms

Where can you get condoms? 

Your health questions answered 

External condoms are also the only male contraceptive that isn’t permanent. Find out how they work, their advantages and disadvantages, and what can make them less effective. 

## How does a male condom work?

A male condom is a type of barrier [contraception](/sexual-health/15-different-types-of-contraception) – which means it stops sperm from reaching an egg and fertilizing it. Other barrier contraception methods include [female condoms](/sexual-health/female-condoms), diaphragms and caps.

Male condoms:

- are fitted over a hard (erect) penis to collect semen when a man cums (ejaculates)
- are made from latex, polyurethane or polyisoprene 
- come in different sizes to fit different penis lengths and widths, and in a variety of styles, textures, colors and flavors


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## How effective are male condoms?

If they’re used perfectly every time, male condoms can be up to 98% effective at preventing pregnancy. But with ‘typical’ use – how they’re usually used in real life – they’re about 82% effective. This means that about 18 out of 100 women who use them as contraception will get pregnant each year.

Male condoms can also significantly reduce the risk of getting a [sexually transmitted infection (STI)](/health-library/conditions/sexually-transmitted-infections). With perfect use, it’s thought that they can be 98.5% effective at preventing [HIV](/health-library/conditions/hiv) transmission, and 66–75% effective against other STIs.

### How to help male condoms be most effective 

You can help ensure you get the best from external male condoms by:

- __making sure his penis doesn’t touch your vagina__ – before he puts on a condom
- __putting them on correctly__ – read about [how to put on a condom](/sexual-health/how-to-use-a-male-condom), to cut the risk of it splitting or slipping off 
- __avoiding damaging them__ – with sharp nails, teeth or jewelry, for example
- __only using water or silicone-based lubricants__ – oil-based products, such as baby oil, lotion, petroleum jelly or cooking oil, can cause some condoms to break
- __storing them away from heat and friction__ – avoid using your wallet, and consider a pocket in your bag or your bedside table instead
- __using non-latex condoms if you’re also using creams or pessary treatment for [thrush](/health-library/conditions/thrush)__ – latex condoms can be damaged by these types of medicine


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## Male condom advantages

Advantages to using male condoms as contraception include:

- they’re easy to get and simple to use 
- you only need to use them during sex – you don’t have to remember to take a pill or have a medical appointment (as you do with [IUD](/sexual-health/intrauterine-device-iud), a contraceptive injection or the implant)
- they protect against STIs – including HIV – whether you have vaginal or anal sex (you might want to consider using a different type for anal sex – for example, the ONE male condom was FDA-approved for use in anal sex in 2022)
- they don’t contain hormones – so they’re suitable for use by most people
- they can be used if you’re taking medication
- side effects are unlikely
- they can increase the clearance rate of [human papillomavirus (HPV)](/health-library/conditions/what-is-hpv) and reduce the number of abnormal cervical cells in people with a cervix – if used consistently and correctly

![Couple using a condom](//images.ctfassets.net/iqo3fk8od6t9/188uaumqZyVJGka0DL4wjy/d96391d62795a81c536e5152d22ec3e9/image1-3-2.jpeg)


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## Disadvantages of male condoms

Potential downsides of male condoms are:

### Disadvantages for sex

- you have to plan ahead, so you have them ready when you need them 
- they can break or slip off during sex
- you or your partner may feel that putting them on interrupts sex
- you might not enjoy the sensations of sex so much (textured or ribbed condoms are available to help with this)
- men who sometimes struggle to stay hard during sex ([erectile dysfunction](/sexual-health/erectile-dysfunction-what-can-i-do)) can find it difficult to use a condom correctly

### Disadvantages for health and relationships

- both partners need to be motivated to use a condom every time they have sex 
- they’re less effective at preventing pregnancy than some other types of contraceptives, such as hormonal contraception or the copper IUD
- your partner could remove a condom during sex without your consent – this is known as ‘stealthing’, which exposes you to the risk of pregnancy and STIs, and shows a total lack of respect. It’s illegal in some countries, including the UK (most US laws don’t specifically cover stealthing, other than in California)

### Do all condoms protect against STIs? 

Some condoms are coated in spermicide – a chemical that kills sperm. But these are being phased out and should be avoided, because spermicide doesn’t protect you against STIs such as chlamydia and HIV, and may even increase your risk of infection.

### Can condoms cause UTIs in males?

Spermicide condoms may increase the risk of [urinary tract infections (UTIs)](/health-library/conditions/urinary-tract-infection-adults) in women, but there’s little evidence that they cause them in men.

![Woman in pain with UTI](//images.ctfassets.net/iqo3fk8od6t9/60RfYdIQspX2creSc9lv8f/f7e32a3d8f5acf17ccd256f8967521a3/image2-3-2.jpeg)

### Can males be allergic to condoms?

In short, yes. Here’s what you need to know:

- both men and women can have an [allergy](/health-library/conditions/allergies) to latex, which can cause genital irritation or allergic symptoms after using a latex condom 
- alternatives to latex condoms include synthetic condoms made of polyurethane, natural membrane condoms and deproteinized male latex condoms
- reactions to spermicides are more common than reactions to latex, so check if the type of condom you’re using is pre-lubricated with spermicide (as mentioned, these should be avoided anyway)


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## Where can you get condoms? 

- __in the US__, affordable or free condoms are often available at [Planned Parenthood health centers](https://www.plannedparenthood.org/health-center?), family planning clinics, local health departments, community centers or your doctor’s office
- you can also buy them from drug stores, supermarkets and vending machines – you don’t need a prescription and there are no age restrictions
- __in the UK__, you can pick up free condoms from many health centers – find one near you with the [NHS Find Free condoms service](https://www.nhs.uk/service-search/other-services/Free-condoms/LocationSearch/732)
- you can also buy them from supermarkets, pharmacies, online and from vending machines, without a prescription or age restrictions

Not sure if condoms are the best choice for you? Read more about other [types of contraceptives](/sexual-health/15-different-types-of-contraception).

## Your health questions answered 

### What should I do if a condom splits during sex?

“Go to a doctor or sexual health center, or speak to a pharmacist right away. You may need emergency contraception (such as the [morning-after pill](/self-care/emergency-contraceptive-pill)) to prevent pregnancy. And if there’s a possibility that you were exposed to HIV, you might need medicine called post-exposure prophylaxis (PEP)."


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References

Dr Roger Henderson

Susie Parker

Dr Rebecca Thomas

Dr Adiele Hoffman

Article information

All of Healthily's articles undergo medical safety checks to verify that the information is medically safe. View more details in our <a href="/safety" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">safety page</a>, or read our <a href="/legal/editorial-policy-principles" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">editorial policy</a>.

Get the lowdown on male condoms, including how these male contraceptives work, their advantages and disadvantages, and where you can get them. 


Want to know about male condoms and whether they’re the right choice for you? Read our article to learn how they work, their pros and cons, and what can make them less effective.


Male condom on a banana

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