What Happens If You Use An Expired Condom? - Refinery29

Skip navigation!ADVERTISEMENTStory from SexADVERTISEMENTWhat Happens If You Use An Expired Condom?Cory StiegLast Updated August 26, 2020, 5:51 PM modeled by Lavonda Manning; photographed by Megan Madden; produced by Sam Nodelman.You're about to have sex. But suddenly, you remember you forgot to pick up that new box of condoms at the pharmacy. You dig through some drawers and find a loose rubber floating around in your beside table. You feel triumph — until you realize the package claims this contraceptive expired sometime last year. Should you take your chances, like it's a (probably harmless but sketchy) jar of expired salsa? Or do you have to throw your expired condoms in the trash along with your hopes of penetrative sex tonight?Here's the thing: Condoms have expiration dates for a reason.AdvertisementADVERTISEMENT

Are expired condoms safe to use?

Over time, condom materials (including latex, polyurethane, and lambskin) will degrade and become brittle, says Nerys Benfield, MD, MPH, a gynecologist from Albert Einstein College of Medicine, Montefiore Medical Center. When condoms are less flexible, they break or tear more easily. So, using an expired condom leaves you at greater risk of contracting a sexually transmitted infection or getting pregnant, Dr. Benfield says.

What happens if you use an expired condom?

But what if you don't have any other condoms in your house, and you go for the expired one anyway? (Or maybe you only noticed the packet's expiration date post-coitus, as you were cleaning up.) "Despite all the risks, both partners will benefit from using an expired condom versus no condom at all," Dr. Banfield says. If the expired condom was stored in a cool, dry place, it may work better than nothing, she says. But you're taking on a risk: It may not protect against all STIs. Planned Parenthood adds that if you're using a condom you know is expired and you're having P-in-V sex, it can't hurt to invoke the pull out method as an additional precaution against pregnancy.That said, if you can get new condoms, that's your best bet. (You can even order them ASAP on TaskRabbit or Postmates if you don't want to leave the house!)AdvertisementADVERTISEMENT

How long does it take condoms to expire?

In general, most latex and polyurethane condoms will have an expiration date of about five years past the manufacture date, says Deborah Arrindell, vice president of health policy for the American Sexual Health Association. Polyisoprene condoms tend to have a shorter shelf life, but are still good for about three years, she says. And if you use non-latex natural condoms, like ones made out of sheepskin, keep in mind that they tend to have the shortest lifespan (and won't protect against STIs), Dr. Benfield says.

How do you know if a condom is expired?

The best way to check the expiration date is to just read what's printed on the wrapper of the condom you're using. Besides double-checking the date, be sure to inspect the wrapper for any holes or tears, Dr. Banfield says. (One easy way you can check is by pressing down on the wrapper; if you feel an air cushion, it means it hasn't been damaged.) "Once you open the condom, if it feels dry, has a foul odor, or you see any holes, you should throw it out and get a new one," she says. And if you don't see an expiration date on the packaging, or if it's illegible, follow the adage, "When in doubt, toss it out," Arrindell says.Discovering a condom past its prime might be one small roadblock in your hookup, but there are so many other pleasurable sexual activities that don't involve penetrative intercourse or oral sex, like touching or mutual masturbation, Arrindell says. And hey, the next time you get busy with this person, you'll be sure to be, you know, covered.AdvertisementADVERTISEMENT RelationshipsI Use Romantasy Books As “Masturbation Material” — Is That Healthy?It’s 2 a.m. and the enemies in my new romantasy book have just turned into lovers — and it’s turning me on more than I expected. This is part of a faby Rebecca FearnOnline DatingReddit’s Dirtiest Pick-Up Lines Will Make You BlushWe’re all familiar with “Hey baby, what’s your sign?” and “If I could rearrange the alphabet, I’d put U and I together.” But what about… diby Erika W. SmithWellness6 Signs You Just Had An OrgasmYou might have heard an orgasm described as a vaginal sneeze or called “la petite mort” — French for “the little death.” Others might describe orby Erika W. SmithAdvertisementADVERTISEMENTRelationshipsDating Is So Bleak, Even The Anxious Girlies Are Becoming AvoidantAre you anxious, avoidant or secure? What’s rarely discussed is whether people can switch from one camp to another. People wear their “anxious” labelby Tanyel MustafaSexThe Sexual Hygiene Habit You Should Never SkipThere are two rules that anyone having anal sex has hopefully heard before: First, always use lube; second, don’t go straight from anal sex to vaginaby Cory StiegBodyIf Your Vulva Is Tingling, This Might Be WhyDepending on the situation, your vulva can sometimes feel wet, itchy, burning, or swollen. Sometimes a new feeling in your vagina is the result of a healthby Erika W. SmithSex17 Steamy & Free Erotic Literature Sitesby Kasandra BrabawSexThe Kama Sutra Sex Positions You Didn’t Know Existedby Lux AlptraumSexWhat To Do When Doggy Style Sex Gets UncomfortableDoggy style is one of the most universally popular sex positions, at least according to both online surveys and Google search data. It requires no flexibilby Cory StiegRelationshipsWhat To Say If You Get Tongue-Tied During Phone Sexby Cory StiegSexOut Of Sexting Ideas? Try Theseby Kimberly TruongSex21 Steamy Erotic Stories Written By Women — & Why They’re Importantby Rachel Kramer BusselAdvertisementADVERTISEMENTADVERTISEMENTADVERTISEMENT