What should I do if a condom breaks or comes off?
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Condoms, when used correctly, are very good at stopping STIs from getting passed on when having vaginal, anal or oral sex. They also do a brilliant job at preventing unwanted pregnancy. But it’s an unfortunate fact that condoms can rip, break or come off completely, without you noticing. If this happens, here’s what you should do to protect yourself and your partner.
Prevent pregnancy
If condoms are your only type of contraception, and you’re not using another method like the pill, then emergency contraception can prevent pregnancy after sex. You need to get emergency contraception within 5 days (120 hours) of having sex for it to work effectively.
You can take emergency contraception pills (also known as morning-after pills) or have a non-hormonal coil fitted.
To get the morning-after pill, you can
- order online
- go to your local sexual health clinic, your GP, an NHS walk-in clinic or some pharmacies
Prevent STIs
Even a small tear in a condom can mean there’s a chance of getting an...
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