1. Before you start, check the expiry date. Open with your fingers, not your teeth!

2. A condom should have the rim facing out. Pinch the tip and squeeze out any air.

3. Roll it down: all the way to the base.

4. Add lube: water or silicone-based on the outside. Never use oil-based!

5. After sex, hold the base, withdraw carefully, twist to seal & bin it!

Did you know? External condoms are 98% effective when used correctly. Most failures happen from incorrect use, not product failure, so knowing this stuff genuinely matters.

1. Before you start, check the expiry date. Ensure no tears, holes, or damage to the condom.

2. Squeeze the sides of the insertion ring together at the closed end of the condom.

3. Find a comfortable position to insert the condom. Gently insert the condom into the vagina like a tampon.

4. Push the condom as far as it will go. Make sure it is not twisted. The outer ring remains outside the vagina.

5. The condom is now in place. When you are ready, guide your partner into the opening of the condom with your hand so it enters correctly.

6. After sex, remove the condom by twisting the outer ring. Gently pull the condom out of the vagina and put it in the bin.

Internal condoms are made from nitrile, not latex, making them a great option for people with latex allergies

1. Before you start, check the expiry date. Ensure no tears, holes, or damage to the dam.

2. Place the dam over the preferred area (eg, vulva or anus).

3. Add lube: water or silicone-based to the side facing the body. Never use oil-based!

4. Remove the dental dam from the area and put it in the bin!

Dental dams are among the most underused forms of protection. Including them in your routine is a genuine act of care for yourself and your partners.

• Reduces friction, which reduces condom breakage

• Helps prevent microtears in sensitive tissues, which lowers infection risk

• Water-based lube is safe with all latex condoms and most toys

• Never use oil-based products with latex! Coconut oil, vaseline, and lotion all destroy latex condoms

• More lube is almost always better

If you’re having trouble finding a dental dam or they don’t fit into your budget, try this:

For each dam, you will need:

• 1 x condom (make sure it’s in date and it hasn’t been opened)

• 1 x scissors (literally the only time we will ever encourage scissors near a condom)

Now, follow these simple steps

1. Grab an external condom and check to make sure it’s in date and sealed 

2. Gently open the packet and remove the condom

3. Using your fingers, carefully unroll the condom until fully extended

4. Using your scissors, cut approximately 1-2cm off the head/top of the condom (sealed end), then cut along the bottom edge (part that’s harder and thicker than the rest of the condom). You should have a condom ‘tube’ at this stage.

5. Finally, cut along the long side of the condom (from one opening of the tube to the other).

6. Voila! You should now have a flat square/rectangle that can safely be used as a dental dam!

Silicone-based lubricant acts as a plasticiser and whenmabsorbed into the item causes swelling.

Further exposure may result in the item being very tacky/sticky to the touch. In extreme circumstances, the item might loose cohesive strength and start to fall apart.

Plasticisers work by interfering with the weak bonding between polymer chains. Factors affecting effect will be length of exposure & how good a solvent the plasticiser is for the polymer.

You should only ever use water-based lubricants, not only to ensure item longevity, but also to prevent personal exposure to plasticisers.