What to Do If a Condom Breaks

Discovering that a condom broke during or after sex can be a terrifying experience. The key to surviving if a condom breaks is not to panic. If a condom breaks, you need to immediately have a rational conversation with your partner about to do. If you have found yourself in this awkward situation, it is indispensable that you read on to find out what to do if a condom breaks.

If a condom breaks, get tested for STDs

If the condom broke while you were having sex you need to talk to your partner about their sexual history. When a condom breaks you are at a much higher risk of being infected with STD's, including HIV.

Even if both of you believe that you're not at risk for any STD's, if a condom breaks during intercourse it is still imperative that you get tested for common STD's, especially HIV. Testing can be obtained for free or at a low cost from Planned Parenthood and family clinics.

Time is crucial in this situation because if you have been infected with HIV, starting on a post-exposure HIV prophylaxis within 72 hours can prevent you from actually developing the virus.

If a condom breaks, take a morning after pill

If a condom breaks while you're having sex, obviously you were not planning on having a child, otherwise you would not have been using a condom in the first place.

Plan B pills can be obtained from health clinics in most cities. These will prevent an unwanted pregnancy. In case you have moral objections to this, remember that the Plan B pill is not an abortion pill: it will prevent you from getting pregnant, but it will not terminate a pregnancy if an egg has already been fertilized by sperm.

If a condom breaks, let it be a warning to be more careful next time!

If a condom breaks while you are having sex, it is a clear signal that you are doing something wrong. Read the instructions on the package and make sure that you are wearing the condom properly. Always remember to leave some space at the end of the condom in order to prevent it from splitting open and never use damage or expired condoms.

Also, for future reference, if a condom breaks while you're having sex, don't just keep going. Immediately stop and replace the broken condom with a new, undamaged one. Be sure however to also go through the rest of the steps outlined in this article on what to do if a condom breaks.