Condoms are so effective at preventing pregnancy and diseasetransmission that they've take up permanent residence in bedside tablesand wallets across the world. They're easy to obtain and easy to puton. Keep in mind that most condoms don't break because they'redefective, but because they're used incorrectly. So whether you're newto condom use or have had a problem with breakage, brush up on thesetips for putting on a condom correctly, then hop on over to How toChoose a Condom.

1. Lookon the condom package for the expiration date. If the date has passed,use a fresh condom. Also, don't use condoms that are brittle or havebeen exposed to heat or sun.
2. Takecare opening the package, as fingernails and teeth can rip the condom. Tearopen the package from the corner with your fingers.
3. Wait till the penis is erect before putting on a condom.
4. Check to see whichway the condom unrolls, and put a couple of drops of lube on thesurface that will be touching the penis. Center it over the penis sothat it will unroll properly (think of how a carpet unrolls).
5. Pinch the small puckerin the middle of the disk of the rolled up condom. Squeeze it shut to preventair bubbles, and hang onto the top inch of the condom while you place thecondom on the head of the penis. If the penis is uncircumcised, pull theforeskin back.
6. Unroll the condom down the shaft, squeezing the air out as yougo. Air bubbles are a common cause of condom breakage. Be sure to cover thewhole length of the shaft to prevent semen from leaking out.
7. Often the condomwill turn out to be longer than the penis you are putting it on. That leaves aring of rolled up latex at the base of the penis that does not stretch aseasily as unrolled latex, and can constrict the penis. When guys say that allthe condoms they have tried are too small for them, many times this problem iswhat they are referring to. If you scoot the condom up along the shaft andunroll it completely at the base, you can then scootch it back down so it?smore like a scrunched-up sock than a hard rubber ring, and thus is lessrestrictive.
8. After intercourse, make sure to hold on to the base of the condom as you withdraw, to avoid spillage. Never re-use condoms!
Excerpted from Sex Toys 101: A Playfully Uninhibited Guide.