As far as storage goes, store condoms in a cool, dry place where they're protected (NOT in a glove compartment of a car in the summer, NOT in a back pocket or a wallet where there's lots of rubbing/pressure).

 

To use condoms, follow these steps:

• Check the expiry date on the package.
• Squeeze the package to feel for air. If it feels like a ketchup package from a fast food restaurant, there's air in there, so it's safe to use.
• Carefully open the condom (don't use your teeth!). You can push the condom down to the bottom of the package to get it out of the way so you don't rip it.
• Feel with your fingers to make sure that the condom is facing the right way. If you start to roll the condom down the wrong way, throw it out and get a new one, don't flip it over and try again (because there might now be some fluid containing sperm from the penis on the right side of the condom).
• Pinch the tip to get the air out and roll the condom on the erect/hard penis. Make sure that there is about 1/2" space at the tip of the condom so that there is a place for the semen/cum to go. Smooth out any air bubbles.
• After intercourse and ejaculation (cumming), hold onto the elastic base to prevent the condom from slipping off while pulling the penis out. Pull the penis out of your partner while it is still hard. Don't let your penis go soft inside your partner because the condom can leak or it may come off inside your partner – it’s unsafe. Roll up the condom a little and then slide it off. Tie a knot in the end to keep the semen inside.

TIP: Keep oil-based products away from latex condoms because the oil will eat holes in the latex. DON'T use vaseline, hand cream, baby oil, etc. with latex condoms. Used water-based lubricants like KY jelly or Astroglide

TIP: Throw condoms in the garbage, don't flush them down the toilet.

 

• Lubricated condoms are safer condoms. They roll onto the penis easier, slide into the partner easier and there's less friction so they're less likely to break. Lubricated condoms also feel better because they increase the sensation to the penis.
• Condoms help make erections last longer which can be pleasurable for both partners.
• Stick to brand name condoms: avoid gimmicky or joke condoms (e.g. glow in the dark) because they are not safe. Sometimes these products say "novelty item only" and sometimes they don't. Read the condom package to make sure that it says "protects against pregnancy, HIV and other sexually transmitted infections".
• If you have a sensitivity to latex you can double up and use natural or lambskin condoms along with latex condoms, keeping the latex condom away from the partner with the latex allergy (first make sure that it's not the spermicide that you're allergic to - see next section). There are also safe non-latex options such as the female condom and plastic male condoms (polyurethane).

• Using condoms doesn't mean that you don't trust your partner; it means that you care about them and about yourself. Using condoms can be safer and fun. If you and your partner decide that you want to have sex without condoms, here are some guidelines to follow:
• Talk about why you don't want to use condoms - both partners have to be comfortable with this decision. You should also agree that either partner has the right to change their mind and insist on going back to using condoms at any time.
• Both partners should be tested for sexually transmitted infections (STIs). Wait to get back your negative test results before having condomless sex. (Note: it takes about 3 months from your last possible risk contact to get accurate HIV test results because it takes about that long for HIV antibodies to develop in your blood and when they test for HIV, they test for the presence of antibodies. This means you might be waiting 3 months before having condomless sex).
  If one or both partners test positive for an STI:
• many STIs are curable. If the STI that you or your partner has is curable, get treated and wait to have condomless sex until the infection has been cleared up.
• if the STI that you or your partner has cannot be cured (e.g. HIV, Hepatitis B), you can get the symptoms treated, but you will need to continue to use condoms to be safer.
• After getting back your negative test results, you can practice condomless sex. But you need to make sure that both partners stay infection free, by agreeing on the following conditions:
• you will be honest with each other
• you will only have sex with each other and no one else
• if one or both of you does have sex with someone else, you will practice safer sex and use condoms with that other person
• you will tell each other if one or both of you has had sex outside your relationship. You can start the process again, going back to using condoms, getting tested and renegotiating condomless sex
• you will not punish each other for being honest about having had sex outside the relationship