Using a condom is known to be one of the best ways to prevent sex-related issues such as unwanted pregnancy and contracting sexually-transmitted infections.
While many of you may think yourselves experts in the act of condom usage, a study may have dispelled the notion.
According to the results of a cross-examination of 50 studies conducted on condom usage, researchers at the Indiana University have found data to support the various ways you may be making mistakes in your condom use.
Here they are…
  1. Late Application
The researchers found that between 17 percent and 51.1 percent of people reported using a condom after they had already commenced intercourse. Did I hear you say the damage is already done?
  1. Early Removal
Of the respondents of the various students, between 13.6 and 44.7 percent said that removed the condom before intercourse was complete. This is worse than the first, you said?
  1. Completely unrolling the condom prior to application
Also among the guilty are about 2.1 and 25.3 percent of the respondents who said they completely unrolled the condom before putting it on. Can you believe it?
  1. No space at the tip
And there are about 24.3 and 45.7 percent who admitted not leaving space at the tip of the condom for semen. This is a prelude to disaster, if you know what I mean.
  1. Failure to remove air
And there is the tortuous issue of not removing air from the tip of the condom before intercourse. This is a major reason condoms break during intercourse.
Of the respondents, 48.1 percent of women and 41.6 men admitted not squeezing air out of the tip before use in their last sexual encounter.
  1. Inside-out condoms
While this may seem a bit ludicrous, between 4 percent and 30.4 percent of participants said they started rolling the condoms on inside out, but flipped it over and continued to use it. This is known to expose the women to an outside chance of getting pregnant from the pre-ejaculatory fluids that make have accrued during fore play. Yes, it is possible.
  1. Failure to completely unroll the condom before use
As they couldn’t wait, 11.2 percent of women and 8.8 percent of men admitted to commencing sexual intercourse before the condom was fully unrolled over the shaft of the penis, where it normally should be during intercourse.
  1. Exposure to sharp object
Opening a condom packet with a sharp object is believed to be a bad habit, but some do it anyway. Of the respondents of the numerous studies,between 2.1 percent and 11.2 percent said they had opened a condom packet with a sharp object. Here is why it is wrong: if it is sharp enough to cut the wrapper, it sure is sharp enough to puncture the condom inside it.
  1. Failure to check for damage
Contrary to what you think, the condom-making process is not a perfect one. Therefore, if you are using it, it is your responsibility to check if it is damaged.
Of the respondents, 82.7 percent of women and 74.5 percent of men reported failing to check the condom for damage while removing it from its packet.
  1. No Lubrication
Not using lubricants may cause condoms to deteriorate and break, especially when you are using it over a lengthy period. Between 16 percent and25.8 percent of respondents reported using condoms without lubricants. However, care must be taken to ensure the right lubricant is used for the right kind of condom material. N.B: Oil-based lubricants are bad for latex condoms.
  1. Lubrication complications
While this has been explained above, the studies found that around 3.2 percent of women and 4.7 percent of men reported using an oil-based lube with a latex condom. That weakens the latex, which can make it prone to breakage.
  1. Incorrect withdrawal
Of the respondents, between 31 percent of men and 27 percent of women reported failing to quickly and correctly withdraw their ejaculation, even after sex had been concluded.
  1. Reusing a condom
Now this one is obvious. One shouldn’t use a condom twice, right? Well, some do. Between 1.4 percent and 3.3 percent of respondents said they used a condom at least twice for during a sexual encounter.
  1. Incorrect storage
While a condom isn’t a drug or food, it also needs to be adequately stored to prevent damage. That is why condom packets always come with recommendations about the right storage condition. Between 3.3 percent and 19.1 percent of respondents admitted not complying with the recommendations on the package while storing their condoms. It is recommended, for example, not to store condom under direct sunlight or in your wallet. Doing so degrades the quality of the latex used in making the condoms, which may damage it during intercourse.