I Took Off the Condom and Used It Again

The condom (either external, also known equally a "male" safe, or a internal, also referred to as a "female" condom) breaks, and the panic begins. Afterward all, that thin sheath may exist the only thing protecting you and your partner from a sexually transmitted infection, a pregnancy, or both.

As scary every bit it can be, dealing with the state of affairs promptly may make it less likely that yous'll face a serious outcome. At the very least, it's a expert time to accept a look at how to choose and use external or internal condoms properly to avoid the problem in the future.

This article explains what to do if an external or internal condom breaks. It also offers some tips on how to forbid external or internal condoms from breaking in the first place.

Verywell / Theresa Chiechi

Firsthand Steps

If an external or internal condom breaks during sex, stop right then. You and your partner will demand to consider a few questions:

• Is the external rubber still on the penis or is it within the vagina or rectum?
• Were yous just starting to have sexual practice or were you most ejaculation?
• Did the breakage happen after ejaculation?

If the safe bankrupt after ejaculation, information technology'due south possible that there was an exchange of semen or other bodily fluids. Effort to remove as much semen from the vagina or rectum as possible. You lot could try squatting and pushing as if you're trying to have a bowel movement. Yous tin can also effort sitting on the toilet and begetting downwards.

Afterward, yous can gently wash the genital area with lather and water. Practise not douche, scrub, or utilise a harsh cleanser or disinfectant.

Douching tin strip away protective bacteria from the vagina. It can also harm the tissues. Using a disinfectant can besides harm cells. Harsh chemicals tin cause inflammation that may heighten your adventure of HIV infection.

Preventing HIV Infection

If you lot call up fluids might have been exchanged and you're not certain about your HIV status or your partner's, the best affair to do is go to the nearest clinic or emergency room (ER) with your partner. This step is even more important if yous know that one of you lot has HIV.

Explain to the ER doctor or nurse what has happened. You lot'll likely be given a rapid HIV test to encounter if yous or your partner have HIV.

Even if your initial tests are negative, your physician may get-go you on a 28-twenty-four hours form of antiretroviral medication. More than detailed HIV testing volition be sent that may take a few days to return. With or without a negative test, the medication is started to slow the potential spread of the virus in the body. When you take it to foreclose HIV infection, it'southward called HIV post-exposure prophylaxis therapy (PEP).

The treatment is usually a combination drug containing Truvada or Descovy (emtricitabine and tenofovir), plus Isentress (raltegravir) or Tivicay (dolutegravir).

Ideally, PEP should be started within 24 hours of possible exposure to HIV. It is often however constructive if prescribed within 48 (and maybe 72) hours of exposure.

Preventing Pregnancy

If an external or internal condom breaks and you're not using some other contraceptive, pregnancy is some other possibility. If you're in this situation, emergency contraception can prevent pregnancy.

There are two main options, including two "morning-after" pills and placement of a copper intrauterine device (IUD) within 5 days of the scare. An IUD is a T-shaped device placed in the uterus or womb to keep sperm from fertilizing an egg.

Plan B 1-Pace

Available over the counter, the Program B 1-Pace (levonorgestrel) pill is in a class of drugs called progestins. It works past preventing your body from releasing an egg or keeping an egg from being fertilized past sperm.

Information technology is a single-dose contraceptive to be taken within 72 hours. At that place are several generic versions of Plan B One-Step, including Side by side Choice One Dose, AfterPill, My Way, and Take Action.

Ella

Another one-dose contraceptive is Ella (ulipristal acetate). You'll need a prescription for this medication. It works by delaying or preventing the release of an egg, or past changing the lining of the uterus. It can exist taken within 5 days, but as shortly as possible is better.

ParaGard IUD

This birth control device is wrapped in copper. It slowly releases tiny amounts of the mineral into your body.

A copper IUD prevents pregnancy by making it harder for sperm to reach an egg. An IUD besides changes the lining of the uterus. If it is inserted by a doctor within five days of unprotected (or condomless) sexual practice, ParaGard tin can lower the risk of pregnancy by 99.9%.

How to Keep a Rubber from Breaking

Use these tips to reduce the adventure of a torn condom:

• Never use an expired external condom or one that has been stored in either hot or cold temperatures (such equally a wallet or the glove compartment of a auto).
• Don't double upward on external or internal condoms. Wearing two at once creates friction that tin cause i of them to break.
• Never use oil-based lubricants, such as Vaseline, and avert spermicides that contain nonoxynol-9. They can inflame vaginal and rectal tissues. Expect for an approved h2o- or silicone-based lubricant and apply lots of it.
• Utilize properly sized external condoms. An external condom that'southward too large could slip off. One that'southward too pocket-sized is more than likely to pause.
• Never reuse an external or internal rubber.

Summary

If an external or internal safe breaks while you're having sex activity, you can take steps to forestall a pregnancy and protect yourself from HIV. The get-go stride is to endeavour to remove any trunk fluids without using harsh chemicals or douches.

The adjacent step is to visit a clinic or the ER to go tested for HIV. If you've been exposed, your healthcare provider might give you medications to combat the virus.

To preclude pregnancy, you can use a one-dose contraceptive pill. Copper IUDs also prevent pregnancies in emergency situations. The about of import thing is to human activity quickly. Some medications just work if they're used in the hours or days right after an external or internal rubber breaks.

To protect yourself going forward, store your external or internal condoms in climate-controlled places, make sure yous employ the correct size, and avoid doubling up or using products that can damage the external or internal condoms.

Frequently Asked Questions

• What does a broken external condom look like?

  Information technology is easy to tell if there is an obvious rip, simply smaller tears may be harder to encounter. If you are concerned near a broken external condom, check to run into if there is whatever semen leaking out.

• How tin can yous remove a broken external safe from the vagina or rectum?

  If y'all can comfortably reach in with clean fingers and pull out the external prophylactic, it is prophylactic to do so. It volition exist easier if you first relax your muscles. If you can't reach information technology, a doctor can apply a narrow tool to find and remove it.

HIV Doctor Discussion Guide

Get our printable guide for your next doctor'southward engagement to help y'all inquire the right questions.

Download PDF

This Physician Discussion Guide has been sent to {{grade.email}}.

There was an error. Please try once more.

cassellweltand.blogspot.com

Source: https://www.verywellhealth.com/what-should-i-do-if-a-condom-breaks-49443

Share this post