How to Safely Store Condoms

If you have purchased condoms for use during your sexual encounters, chances are that you have purchased more condoms that you will use at any one time.  Indeed, in this day and age, many people are buying in boxes that contain a number of individual condoms.  Because you likely are purchasing a number of condoms at one time.  Therefore, it is important for you to understand how to store properly your condoms.

First of all, you need to make certain that you store the condoms in their original package until you are ready to use them.  While this may seem like commonsense, a surprising number of people do not follow this very simple and obvious direction.

Second, you need to store your condoms in a dry and cool place.  Condoms need to be stored out of direct sunlight.  Condoms can degrade and become damaged very easily if they are not stored in this manner.  Condoms should last through their expiration date when the properly are stored in this manner.

Third, do not store condoms in the glove compartment of your automobile or in any other place in which the heat can rise. Heat significantly increases the chance that condoms will be damaged or will break when being used.  You need to understand that it takes very, very little time for condoms to degrade when kept in conditions such as those described in this paragraph.

Fourth, do not store condoms in wallets or billfolds.  This type of storage regularly results in the condoms being damaged even before they are used.  Moreover, storing condoms in this manner also weakens condoms rendering them more likely to break during use.  Men continually carry condoms in their wallets and billfolds.  While it is commendable to work to have condoms readily available.  However, and again, it is important to make sure that the interim storage is appropriate to ensure that the condoms actually will be effective when it comes time to use them.

Fifth,  do not use condoms that are in packages that look damaged.  A damaged package is an indication that the condom itself has been damaged. 

Sixth, do not use condoms that have past their expiration date.  Keeping in mind that condoms do not last forever, you do not want to over buy when you go to the store.  In other words, you need to pay attention to the expiration date when you purchase condoms and not purchase a number of condoms that you will not reasonably be able to use prior to the expiration date.

Seventh, do not use condoms that:

- show obvious signs of deterioration

- appear brittle

- are sticky

- are discolored

By following these tips, pointers and recommendations, you will be working to ensure that your sexual encounters are safe.  Moreover, if preventing pregnancy is also one of your goals, these pointers will also be helpful in ensuring that condoms that you do end up using are in the best position to prevent an unwanted pregnancy when you are involved in a sexual encounter.