| Condoms . . . |
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have an expiration date. |
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don't have an expiration date. |
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Old condoms can be dry, brittle or weakened and can break more easily. Don't use a condom if the expiration date has passed. |
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| You should keep condoms . . . |
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anywhere you want (like in a wallet or glove compartment). |
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somewhere where they will stay cool and dry (like in a drawer). |
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Don't leave condoms in hot places like your wallet or in your car. Condoms should be treated gently and kept in a cool, dry place. Women can use a condom keeper to protect them in a purse. |
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| It is better to open a condom package . . . |
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with your fingers. |
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with scissors. |
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Open a condom carefully using your fingers. It's very easy to tear the condom inside. If you do tear a condom while opening the wrapper, throw that condom away and get a new one. |
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| For complete protection, condoms should be put on the penis . . . |
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before it is erect. |
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after it is erect. |
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A condom should be put on an erect (hard) penis before there is any contact with a partner's genital area. |
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| When putting on a condom, you should . . . |
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put the rolled-up condom on the tip of the penis, and if it doesn't unroll, flip it over. |
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test the condom to see which side unrolls ( without touching the penis) then put it on. |
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Don't flip a condom over after it has touched the penis. Make sure you understand how the condom unrolls before putting it on the tip of the erect penis. |
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| It is best to use . . . |
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only oil-based products (like hand lotion) to add lubrication to condoms. |
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only water-based products (like K-Y® jelly) to add lubrication to condoms. |
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Don't use oil-based products, like baby or cooking oils, hand lotion or petroleum jelly (like Vaseline®) as lubricants with latex condoms. The oil quickly weakens latex and can cause condoms to break. |
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| After one use, condoms . . . |
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can be washed and reused. |
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cannot be reused and should be carefully deposited in the trash. |
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Never reuse a condom. Always use a new condom for each kind of sex you have. |
