As a general rule, male latex condoms should be kept away from extreme temperatures (above 40°C or 104°F) and away from moisture and humidity. Even ozone, emitted from fluorescent (ultraviolet) lighting can destroy condoms within just a few hours.
Condoms and Extreme Temperatures
Extreme temperatures can make the material of the condom brittle and easy to break.
Avoid storing your condoms in your vehicle.
The temperature inside your vehicle is unstable, so the condoms could get damaged. Even if the weather outside is nice, keep in mind that your car can reach more extreme temperatures than outdoors. You can leave a condom in your car for a very short period of time.
Ten Things You Should Never Leave In A Hot Car: Condoms
Heat weakens a condom, making it prone to failure, which in turn exposes the wearer and their partner to STDs and pregnancies.
It's best to keep condoms in a cool dark place, like your bedside table or in your wallet or purse. Condoms don't like extreme cold or heat. So, don't put them in the fridge, and keep them out of the sun. Don't keep them with your keys either.
Using two condoms can cause friction between them, weakening the material and increasing the chance that the condoms might break. No other method of birth control is as successful at protecting people against sexually transmitted diseases (STDs) as a condom.
"Really, as long as both partners are committed to an exclusive relationship, have both been tested for STIs, and are using another method of contraception, then discontinuing condom use has little risk," Stacey says.
Once you have removed the condom, tie a simple knot around the centre of the condom - this will prevent any mess from occurring when it comes to later steps in the process and prevents any odours from escaping when it has been disposed of.
Extreme heat — around 104°F (40°C) — can make latex weak or sticky. As a rule of thumb, avoid storing condoms in places where the temperature can vary. This includes near a window, furnace, and in your car. Exposure to ultraviolet light can ruin condoms in only a few hours.
DON'T store condoms in your glove compartment or any other place that gets extremely cold or hot. This can damage or degrade the condom (e.g., freezing from cold or wearing down from heat).
So what's the best way to carry condoms? Start by keeping a supply at home in a bedside drawer or somewhere they won't be affected by temperature changes and humidity. Then, before you go out, put a few in your purse or jacket pocket. (You can put any unopened condoms back with your supply after you get home.)
The condoms in your car are probably okay to use considering the brief period of time (30 minutes) they were out in the freezing cold. If they had been in freezing temperatures longer, you may want to refrain from using them. For longer-term condom storage, keep condoms in a regulated and constant environment.
Keep condoms in a dry, dark place at room temperature. Extreme heat or cold can weaken the condom. Do not store condoms in your wallet for a long time or put them in your car glove compartment. Keep condoms out of direct sunlight.
No, you should never use more than one condom at a time. Using two condoms actually offers less protection than using just one. Why? Using two condoms can cause friction between them, weakening the material and increasing the chance that the condoms might break.
Cool, dry spaces are the best place to store your rubbers. The best bet is a space that is at or below room temperature, but condoms should absolutely not be stored anywhere warmer than 100 degrees or cooler than 32 degrees Fahrenheit. Condoms should also be kept out of direct sunlight.
Store them in a sock within your sock drawer. This will keep your condoms hidden and cool. A classic: In your nightstand, so they are easily accessible. If you're worried about your partner, roommate or parent being nosy, then put them in a piece of clothing that can disguise them.
If you're trying to figure out when a condom was made (or purchased), subtract 5 years (or 3 if it's spermicidal or natural) from the expiration date on the package to get a good idea. Those condoms you found in the bathroom? Yes, you can figure out if they're a recent purchase by looking at the expiration date.
It is not likely that short periods at high temperatures or near freezing will compensate the integrity of the condoms. If the condoms are exposed to near freezing temperatures and allowed to return to room temperature prior to use, their integrity should not be compromised.
The typical condom should ideally be kept for less than an hour in your wallet, pocket, or purse. Condoms that are constantly moved or rubbed against each other can cause wear and tear, making them less effective. Extreme heat (around 104°F/40°C) can cause latex to become weak and sticky.
Condoms interpose a mechanical barrier between sex partners, limit physical contact, reduce tactile sensation, and attenuate heat transduction, all of which reduce sexual pleasure.
Prophylactics, or condoms, are another common item many people flush down their toilets because it seems like the most convenient option for disposal.
Go to a convenience store.
If you purchase from a convenience store, you may have to talk to the cashier and let him or her know that you need to buy condoms, as most times they are located behind the counter.
When you think about it, wearing two external condoms at the same time (also known as double bagging condoms) may seem like a good idea. But, this practice is really not recommended.
You only need to wear one condom at a time. Wearing two doesn't add extra protection, just extra hassle. That said, it's a good idea to have more than one condom on hand so that if one breaks or comes off during sex, you have another one to put on.
1 condom at a time
Never use 2 condoms together, whether that's 2 male condoms or a female and a male condom. They'll rub against each other, and this friction can weaken them and make them more likely to break or fail.