You just had an amazing night of dinner and drinking. You and your partner decide that it’s time for a little fun in the bedroom. You get some action and everything is awesome as usual but you notice something unusual mid-shag. It’s one of the scariest things that can happen to a regular guy who’s just having fun: You realize that your condom broke.
Okay, this is something bad but it’s not the worst thing in the world. Condom breakage and slippage probably happens more often than you think. While perfect condom use can help prevent pregnancy by a much as 98% wrong condom usage can lead to loads of problems.
Prevention is better than cure
First, let’s talk about prevention. Getting the right condom is the best way to prevent it from breaking while you’re in the middle of all the action.
Do you even realize just how many different sizes, kinds, and flavors of condom are out there? Just as you are picky with your craft beer, you should be picky with your condoms, too. Don’t settle for the first one you see when you walk in the drug store. And please don’t pick the biggest size just to boost your ego. Finding the right size won’t just make the sex safer, it will also make it so much better.
Dotted, ribbed, ridged, “invisible”… in this day and age, manufacturers come up with so many ideas on how to make condoms interesting and it will be such a shame if you don’t give them a try. Exploring and experimenting can help minimize accidents in the bedroom!
It’s also important to know how to handle condoms properly to keep them intact. Don’t use your teeth to open them. Don’t use petroleum jelly or other oil-based lubricants. Don’t use expired condoms. And it’s probably not a good idea to keep condoms in your wallet because they will deteriorate in quality.
But to be perfectly honest, accidents can’t be avoided 100%. You might be acting as responsible as you can but something unexpected can still happen. Not a lot of condoms break and it’s still a reliable way to prevent more than twenty-one years of headache. But it’s still very important to know what to do on those nights when accidents happen.
Don’t panic, bro. Here’s a step-by-step guide that can save you from your condom horror story. Here’s what you should do in case you condom breaks.
Find the broken piece
If you noticed the condom break while you’re in the middle of the action, then you’re in luck. Most guys don’t even notice it when it happens. Don’t panic but take the situation seriously. Knowing what to do can help prevent pregnancy, STI’s, and other problems.
So, here’s what you have to do.
First things first. You have to make sure that there is no broken piece stuck inside. To be perfectly clear, no part of the condom, no matter how small, should remain inside the vagina. Even a tiny, tiny piece can cause an irritation. There is really no other way to do it. Check the condoms for missing parts. If it looks incomplete, just gently stick your finger in her vagina and pull it out. Using a lube can make things a lot easier and a lot more comfortable. If you really can’t find the missing piece, you might want to visit the clinic to make sure that everything is okay.
Get your hands on emergency contraception
The next step is to just calm yourself down and make your partner does not get pregnant if it’s not your plan. Even if you think you didn’t actually ejaculalte inside her, it’s still a good idea to take the extra step that will help prevent this from happening.
The “morning after” pill helps prevent unwanted pregnancy but it needs to be taken the right way. It’s specifically developed for emergencies just like what happened to you. Since it contains a higher dose of hormones, it should not be taken regularly like normal birth control pills.
There are many different kinds of pills that your partner can take but keep in mind that this needs to be done within the next 72 hours. They are affordable and easy to get in pharmacies and groceries. If your partner prefers, she can also get an IUD instead. It is best to consult a medical professional on how to handle the situation.
Prevent STD
Pregnancy is not the only thing that you should be concerned about. It can be awkward and nerve wracking but you should go visit a doctor and try to get a Post Exposure Prophylaxis (PEP) in case you are unsure about your partner’s status. It’s an antiretroviral treatment that helps prevent HIV in case of possible exposure. You must also try to get it within 72 hours. The sooner you get it, the better. Also try and get tested for STI a week after the incident and get one again six months later to make sure that you are safe.
Learn more about your condom options
You don’t really have to do this but sitting down and analyzing what went wrong can help prevent a similar incident from happening in the future. Try to figure it out. Did you use a small condom? Was it expired? Did you put it on in the wrong way?
Condom accidents can really happen to anyone! Don’t beat yourself up and just make better decisions next time. Check out what are your options and find out what condoms works best for you. It might also be good to have a plan B pill prepared that you can easily offer your partner in case something goes wrong. Have fun and good luck!