How Easy is It to Rip a Condom

Key takeaways:

Condoms are a great way to protect yourself during anal, oral, and vaginal sex.
Even when you use them correctly, condoms can break.
If a condom breaks, don't panic. There are medications you can take to prevent pregnancy and to protect you from getting HIV (human immunodeficiency virus).

Couple making out on the edge of the bed with their pjs on. They look like they are about to have sex. — Antonio_Diaz/iStock via Getty Image

You've probably heard about condoms — thin, tube-shaped pieces of latex or plastic that protect your body during sex. When used correctly, condoms prevent pregnancy for almost 100% of people.

There are two different types of condoms:

Condoms that cover the penis (called an external or "male" condom)
Condoms that are inserted into the vagina or anus (called an internal or "female" condom)

Both types of condoms create a physical barrier between you and your partner. This can protect you from getting pregnant. It can also protect you from some — but not all — STDs (sexually transmitted diseases), including chlamydia, gonorrhea, trichomoniasis, and HIV (human immunodeficiency virus).

Though condoms are an easy and inexpensive way to protect yourself, they're not perfect. Sometimes condoms break — even when you do everything right.

So what should you do if a condom breaks? Continue reading for information on how to know when a condom breaks, what to do if you're worried about pregnancy or HIV, and how to protect yourself in the future.

How can I tell when a condom breaks?

Let's be honest: It can sometimes be hard to tell when a condom breaks, especially if it happens during sex. If you're the person wearing the condom, you might be more likely to feel it break.

Here are some things you might see if it breaks:

A hole or tear in the condom
Semen (cum) leaking out of the condom
Parts of the condom missing

What are the risks?

When a condom breaks, it means you may suddenly have more contact with your partner's skin and body fluids than you expected. This can put you at risk for STDs and/or unwanted pregnancy.

Pregnancy

A condom breaking during vaginal sex (penis-in-vagina) creates the risk of unwanted pregnancy, especially if the partner wearing the condom has already ejaculated. There's still a risk if the partner hasn't ejaculated, but it's low.

HIV and other STDs

If a condom breaks during oral, vaginal, or anal sex, it increases the risk of exposure to STDs.

Should I be worried if the condom broke?

If the condom broke, don't panic. If you're still in the middle of having sex, the first thing to do is replace the condom with a new, unbroken one.

After that, how much you should worry depends on whether or not you're concerned about pregnancy and how likely it is that you or your partner have HIV or other STDs.

What to do if you're worried about getting pregnant

If you're worried about getting pregnant, you have three emergency contraception options.

Levonorgestrel pill

A levonorgestrel pill, also known as a morning-after pill, can keep you from getting pregnant after a condom breaks. The most well-known brand is called Plan B, but there are many different brands.

This pill is available without a prescription, which means you can walk into a drugstore or supermarket and buy it without having to see a provider first. This is true even if you're under age 18 and/or do not have an ID card.

Keep in mind: This pill needs to be taken within 3 days after unprotected sex. And it works best if taken as soon as possible. It also might not work as well if you have overweight or obesity (meaning your BMI is over 25).

Ella pill

Ella (ulipristal) is another type of morning-after pill. It is more effective than levonorgestrel and can be taken up to 5 days after having unprotected sex.

Ella is only available with a prescription. This means you will need to see a doctor before you are able to take it. Ella might not work as well in people who have obesity (BMI over 30).

Copper IUD

A copper IUD (intrauterine device) is a small device that is placed in your uterus to prevent pregnancy. It's almost 100% effective at preventing pregnancy — as long as it's put in place within the first 5 days after having unprotected sex. You will have to see a doctor to have an IUD inserted.

More on emergency contraception

Confused? Planned Parenthood has a quick online quiz that can help you decide which emergency contraceptive is right for you.

It's also important to know that emergency contraceptives can prevent pregnancy, but they do not protect you against STDs.

And, finally, emergency contraception is not the same as abortion. Emergency contraception prevents pregnancy before it happens. Abortion stops a pregnancy that is already in progress.

How soon should I take a pregnancy test after the condom broke?

According to Planned Parenthood, a safe bet is to take a pregnancy test 3 weeks after having unprotected sex, or if your regular period is late, as soon as you realize.

What to do if you're worried about HIV

If you think you've been exposed to HIV, you can take PEP (post-exposure prophylaxis). PEP is an emergency medication that's taken after sex, to protect you from getting HIV.

Keep in mind that PEP has to be started within 3 days after having unprotected sex to work. It's also only available with a prescription. This means you'll need to talk to a provider or go to urgent care before you can take this medication.

How soon can I get tested for STDs after the condom broke?

Most STDs will show up on tests 2 to 3 weeks after you're exposed. With some types of HIV tests, it takes up to 3 months for detection.

Remember that STDs often don't have any symptoms. So testing is the only way to be sure you don't have one.

Condoms, even unbroken ones, don't do a good job at protecting you from STDs like HPV, herpes, and syphilis. If you're having oral, anal, or vaginal sex, you should consider getting tested regularly — even if you never have a condom break.

How can I protect myself in the future?

Condoms are great at preventing pregnancy and many STDs, but they don't work all of the time. That's why it's a good idea to use more than one approach to safer sex.

Here are some ideas to consider:

Double up on birth control. If you do not want to get pregnant, consider using condoms combined with another type of backup contraception, like birth control pills or an IUD.
Be ready for an emergency. Get a pack of a morning-after pill ahead of time, to have on hand in case a condom breaks.
Protect yourself against HIV. If you're concerned about HIV, consider taking PrEP (pre-exposure prophylaxis). PrEP is a medication that can prevent the spread of HIV. It's used to protect people who don't have HIV but are at risk of getting it — including men, women, and nonbinary people.

Is it OK to wear two condoms?

No, you should not use two condoms at the same time. That includes not using an internal condom and an external condom at the same time.

Using more than one condom can actually increase friction and make condoms more likely to break.

Which brand of condoms is the least likely to break?

How your condom fits — and whether or not you're using it correctly — actually matters more than brand. Condoms usually break because they're not used correctly, rather than because of a problem with the condom itself.

If you use condoms, here are some tips that can make them less likely to break:

Don't carry your condoms in your wallet or pocket.
Don't store condoms in your car.
Don't open the condom package with scissors or your teeth.
Don't use oil-based lotions or lubricants.
Don't use expired condoms.
Make sure to use a condom that fits correctly.
Learn how to put on and take off a condom correctly.
If you have sex for longer than 30 minutes, change to a new condom.
Use a new condom every time you have sex.

One more tip: Latex condoms break less often than plastic condoms.

The bottom line

Condoms are a simple and cheap — or even free — way to protect yourself from an unwanted pregnancy and many STDs. But, even though they're great, they don't work 100% of the time.

If you're sexually active, think about adding a second type of contraception. And if you do have a condom break, don't panic. Remember, even after the condom breaks, there are steps you can take to lower your chance of having an unwanted pregnancy or getting HIV.

GoodRx Health has strict sourcing policies and relies on primary sources such as medical organizations, governmental agencies, academic institutions, and peer-reviewed scientific journals. Learn more about how we ensure our content is accurate, thorough, and unbiased by reading our editorial guidelines.

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Source: https://www.goodrx.com/health-topic/sexual-health/what-to-do-if-a-condom-breaks