Internal condoms

Condoms are a barrier that stops sperm, and infections, from passing between people when they have sex.  
 
Internal condoms are larger than regular condoms. They are tubes with flexible rings at each end — one end is closed, and the other end is open.  

You can put an internal condom in your vagina or anus. It covers the inside of your vagina, or anus, and collects cum. This stops sperm from entering your vagina or anus. 

How to use an internal condom

Internal condoms are made of nitrile polymer — the same material that medical gloves are made from. 
 
Internal condoms are latex free. They can be used by people who are allergic to latex. You can use oil-based or water-based lubes with internal condoms. 

Condoms — both internal and external — are less effective than other types of contraception.  

Typically, condoms are 85% effective at preventing pregnancy. That means 15 out of every 100 people that use condoms — and no other type of contraception — will get pregnant every year. Most of those pregnancies will happen because condoms haven’t been used correctly.  

When condoms are used correctly, they are 98% effective at preventing pregnancy. That means 2 out of every 100 people that use condoms perfectly will get pregnant every year.

A really good way to protect yourself from pregnancy is: use a condom plus another type of contraception. 

Condoms are the best protection you can use against sexually transmissible infections (STIs) — for example:

• Viruses like HIV — which can lead to AIDS — won’t pass through an unbroken condom
• Condoms will reduce your risk of getting STIs — like chlamydia or gonorrhoea
• Condoms will reduce your risk of getting syphilis, herpes, and HPV — remember: skin that isn’t covered by a condom can still get infected

• You can only use an internal condom once. You need to use a new condom every time you have sex.  
• You need to use a new condom each time you switch from anal to vaginal, or oral, sex.
• Condoms should have a use by date on the packet. Don’t use expired condoms or condoms without a use by date.
• Heat can damage condoms — it’s a good idea to store them somewhere cool and dry. 

Advantages:

• Easy to use, with a little practice
• You only use condoms when you need them
• Protection against STIs
• Latex free – you can use them if you are allergic to latex
• You can use them with oil-based and water-based lubricants
• Gives you another choice
• Has no side effects
• Available to buy from our online shop

Disadvantages:

• They aren’t the most effective type of contraception
• You can only buy them online
• You need to insert them every time you have sex  

This is a checklist of things that are really good to do, or know, before you start using internal condoms:

• Practise putting internal condoms in
• Always check the use by date of your condoms — expired condoms are no good
• Check the condom’s packet for damage — if the packet is damaged, use a different condom
• Learn how to use internal condoms correctly 
• Use a water-based, or oil-based, lube when you use an internal condom — it’ll be less likely to break
• Don’t re-use a condom — throw it away after one use
• It’s not a good idea to use novelty condoms
• Don’t use an internal condom at the same time as an external condom

1. Check the expiry date on the condom. Expired condoms are no good
2. Open the package carefully — you don’t want to damage the condom
3. The condom has a thick inner ring at the closed end, and a thin outer ring at the open end
4. Get into a comfy position. Squeeze the inner ring together with your thumb and forefinger. Put the inner ring inside your vagina or anus
5. Use your finger to push the inner ring as far inside as it will go comfortably. Don’t let it get twisted
6. The thin outer ring needs to stay outside of your vagina or anus
7. The penis, sex toy, or strap, should go through the outer ring into the condom, inside of you
8. When you’re finished, gently twist the outer ring of the condom, and pull it out
9. Throw the condom away after a single use. Don’t reuse condoms

Watch the following video to find out how to use an internal condom correctly:

These are some of the most common reasons that your internal condoms break or slip out:

• The condom isn’t put in correctly
• The condom is the wrong size  
• The condom has been torn by fingernails, jewellery, or teeth
• You aren’t using enough lube
• You have very hard and fast sex, or you have sex for a very long time
• The condom comes out when you’re pulling out  
• The condom has been stored in a warm place and has become weak
• The condom is too old — past its use by date
• Some thrush treatments can damage condoms — clotrimazole is the least likely thrush treatment to damage condoms 

If you often have problems when you use internal condoms, talk to us about it. We may be able to help. 

If an internal condom breaks or slips out, visit one of our clinics, a doctor, or a pharmacy for emergency contraception within 72 hours.  
 
You probably won’t get pregnant if you are on the pill, or if you are using long-acting contraception. If you had sex without a condom, and you aren’t using contraception, it’s a good idea to get a pregnancy test. 
 
It’s also a good idea to get an STI test. It doesn’t matter whether the condom was in a vagina or anus — if the condom breaks or slips out, it’s best to get an STI test. 
 
You can get an STI test, or a pregnancy test, at any of our clinics. 

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You’re legally allowed to buy condoms at any age.

You can buy internal condoms from our web shop, Glyde Healthcare, and some other shops.

We can help you decide if the external or the internal condom is best for you. We can help you with other contraception types too. 
  
We are sexual wellness experts. You might find it scary or embarrassing to talk about this stuff, but we have seen and heard it all before. 
  
Anyone can visit our clinics. If you want to talk to us, we want to talk to you.

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