Broken Condom: What to Do Next (Pregnancy & STI Tips)
Medically reviewed by
Dr Zoe MillerLast reviewed: 14 Nov 2025
Condoms are a barrier method of contraception that protects against pregnancy and sexually transmitted infections (STIs) by creating a physical barrier between sexual partners.
Although they are 98% effective at preventing pregnancy and are the only way to protect yourself against STIs, they are not faultless, with estimates suggesting they can break in 1 to 12% of cases. Here, we explore what to do if a condom breaks during sex, what the risks are, and what you can do to prevent future failures.
What to do immediately after a condom breaks
A condom breaking during sex is an uncommon but possible event. Although it can be worrying, there is no need to panic. Together, you and your partner can deal with the situation quickly and calmly to reduce the chance of pregnancy and/or STIs by:
- Carefully disposing of the broken condom in a bin. Do not flush it down the toilet. If the condom has slipped off, rather than broken, in the vagina or anus, gently try to remove it.
- If you have had vaginal sex, the female partner should go and pee, allowing any fluid, including semen, to run out into the toilet. It is important that you avoid douching or washing inside the vagina, as this can disrupt the natural flora and increase the chance of bacterial vaginosis.
- If you have had anal sex, the partner receiving anal sex should go to the toilet and try to expel any semen or sperm by bearing down as if you were going for a poo.
- If you have been having oral sex, spit out any fluid, and rinse your mouth with water or mouthwash. Avoid brushing your teeth or flossing for an hour afterwards.
These steps will ensure you have properly cleaned up after a condom breakage or failure.
Risk of pregnancy and emergency contraception
If using a condom was the only method of contraception you and your partner were relying on to stop pregnancy, there is a chance that you could become pregnant if it breaks or fails.
If this happens, the effectiveness of condoms falls to 82%. Incorrect condom use can cause around 1 in 5 women to get pregnant every year, and this includes the condom failing, or putting it on after the penis has already touched the vagina (as pre-ejaculate still contains sperm).
However, the chances of pregnancy occurring depend on:
- whether or not the male partner ejaculated
- you and your partner’s fertility status
- where the female partner is in her menstrual cycle – you can still get pregnant on your period
If you think there is a chance of pregnancy following a condom failure or breakage, you should think about accessing emergency contraception. There are 2 main types available: the morning after pill and the copper intrauterine device (IUD).
Morning after pill
The morning after pill, also known as the emergency contraceptive pill, can protect against pregnancy if you have had unprotected sex or your current method of contraception has failed. There are 2 main types available:
- levonorgestrel (Levonelle or LoviOne), which contains 1.5mg of the active ingredient levonorgestrel, is up to 97% effective, and must be taken within 3 days of unprotected sex
- ellaOne is the most effective emergency contraceptive pill available (up to 98% effective) that contains the active ingredient, ulipristal acetate, and can be taken up to 5 days after unprotected sex
Copper IUD
The copper IUD (sometimes called ‘the coil’) is another form of emergency contraception that is more than 99% effective and should be fitted within 5 days of having unprotected sex. Unlike the morning after pill, the copper IUD must be fitted by a trained healthcare professional. It does not contain any hormones and instead works by releasing copper ions to prevent sperm from surviving and fertilising an egg.
Once fitted, the copper IUD can be left in and used as a usual contraception method as it can remain effective for 5 to 10 years, depending on which type is fitted.
STI and HIV risk: what to know
A condom breakage increases the chance of STIs, including HIV, because of the exposure to potentially infected bodily fluids. STIs can be passed on through oral, vaginal, and anal sex, as well as touching genitals, and sharing sex toys. Be aware that some STIs, like chlamydia and gonorrhoea, may not cause any symptoms, so it is important to get tested to rule out any infections.
Different STIs have different window periods for testing. For example:
- chlamydia and gonorrhoea can be detected 2 weeks after unprotected sex
- HIV takes 45 days to be detected, but varies depending on the type of test used
- syphilis should be tested for after 12 weeks
- genital herpes can take 12 days to show up after exposure
HIV and post-exposure prophylaxis
If you or your partner is HIV-positive, anyone who is not should get post-exposure prophylaxis, also known as PEP.
PEP can reduce the chance of getting HIV by more than 80%, but it could be higher if it’s taken perfectly. PEP must be started within 72 hours or 3 days of being potentially exposed to HIV and is available for free on the NHS via:
- sexual health clinics
- HIV clinics
- A&E
It’s not usually routinely prescribed by GPs, so if it is out of hours, the best place to access PEP is A&E – potential exposure to HIV is a medical emergency.
This is not the same thing as pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP), which is taken to lower your chances of getting HIV. If you or your partner already take PrEP and know that you have been taking it correctly (no missed doses), then PEP is usually not needed.
When to see a doctor
Sometimes, following a condom breakage or contraceptive failure, you may need to see a doctor, especially if you or your partner requires urgent care or if you have been the victim of sexual assault. You may also need to see a doctor if you:
- need emergency contraception, especially the copper IUD
- think you have been exposed to HIV and need PEP
- have any signs or symptoms of an STI (this will not be immediate)
If you think you may have been exposed to an STI or you have signs and symptoms, you can request a range of at-home STI test kits from Superdrug Online Doctor, without the need to physically see a doctor.
Why condoms break (and how to prevent it)
The effectiveness and integrity of condoms will largely depend on how you store and use them. If you use them incorrectly or do not store them properly, there is a chance they will break or fail.
Condoms can break for several reasons, including:
- being past their expiry date
- storing them at a high temperature or in direct sunlight
- opening the packet with your teeth or scissors
- wearing the wrong size
- using oil-based lubricants with latex condoms
- using them for too long
- placing 1 condom on top of another
- using certain topical medications at the same time, such as clotrimazole cream for thrush
How to store condoms
Condoms should be stored in their original wrapper in a cool, dry, and dark place, such as a bedside drawer, and away from direct sunlight, heat, and sharp objects.
Some tips for condom storage include:
✓ carrying them in a protective or solid container if you are carrying them on the go – not in your wallet
✓ rotating your condoms so you use the oldest ones first to stop them going past their expiry date before you use them
✓ always checking for damage or expiration before using a condom
How to correctly use a condom
A condom must be put on before you start having sex (before the penis touches the vagina, anus, or mouth). To put a condom on, you should:
- Make sure the penis is fully erect.
- Carefully open the packet so that the condom does not become damaged – avoid using your teeth, scissors, or any other sharp objects to open the packet.
- Hold the tip of the condom to squeeze out any air.
- Roll the condom down to the base of the penis – if it does not roll all the way down, it may be broken or the wrong size. Remove it and try again with a new condom.
- Do not remove the condom until you have finished having sex. When you have finished, hold the base of the condom as you pull out to stop it coming off the penis.
- Put used condoms in the bin. Do not flush them down the toilet.
If you use a lubricant, stick to water or silicone-based types, as oil-based lubricants can damage latex, leading to breakage. You should always check the lubricant packaging to make sure it is compatible for use with condoms.
Consider a regular contraceptive method
If you are worried about getting pregnant, you might consider a more regular method of contraception, such as the contraceptive pill.
This is available as a combined pill which contains artificial oestrogen and progesterone, such as:
Or you can get a progesterone-only pill, such as:
Other reliable methods of contraception include:
- contraceptive injection – a progesterone-only injection that can either be self-injected (Sayana Press) or by a doctor or nurse every 8 to 13 weeks (depending on the type)
- implant – a long-acting, reversible contraception method that looks like a small, flexible plastic rod and is inserted under the skin of your upper arm and steadily releases an artificial type of progesterone
- vaginal ring – examples include the NuvaRing, which works similarly to the combined pill but is inserted inside the vagina and is effective for 3 weeks
- contraceptive patch – like the combined pill, the Evra Patch steadily releases artificial oestrogen and progesterone, but instead of needing to be taken daily, it is changed weekly
The only method of contraception that protects against STIs is condoms.
Conclusion
Condoms rarely break, but when they do, it can be upsetting and frightening. However, there is no need to panic, it’s important to communicate openly with your partner and regularly test for STIs.
We can provide the morning after pill if you are concerned about getting pregnant after a condom breaks, or we can provide a regular method of contraception, such as the pill.
FAQs
What if the condom broke and I’m not sure if semen leaked out?
If a condom breaks, you should get emergency contraception, like the morning after pill, and if needed, you should consider getting an STI test.
Do condoms break easily?
No, condoms do not break easily if they are used correctly, with clinical trials showing a total breakage rate of 0.41%. However, they are more likely to break if they have been stored incorrectly, are the wrong size, are not applied properly, or you use oil-based lubricants with them.
Can you reuse a condom if it didn’t break?
No, you cannot reuse a condom once it has been used, even if it didn’t break. Condoms are designed to be used only once and can become weak if reused. Reusing condoms can also expose you and your partner to bacteria and viruses, which could lead to the transfer of STIs.
Can a condom break if you go too fast?
Yes, increased friction or “going too fast” can weaken the condom material and increase the chance of it breaking, especially if you have not used any lubrication.
Is a condom too small if it breaks?
Potentially. If a condom breaks during sex, it can be a sign that it was too small, although it can break because of other factors, such as incorrect usage or poor storage. A proper fitting condom should be snug but not uncomfortable or painful.
What is the biggest reason condoms fail?
The biggest reason for condoms to fail is incorrect use, including not leaving enough space at the tip for semen, not storing them correctly, wearing the wrong size, or using the wrong type of lubricant.
Sources
- Can condom users likely to experience condom failure be identified?, Family Planning Perspectives [accessed 08 October 2025]
- Condoms, NHS [accessed 08 October 2025]
- How well contraception works at preventing pregnancy, NHS [accessed 08 October 2025]
- PEP (post-exposure prophylaxis for HIV), Terrence Higgins Trust [accessed 08 October 2025]
- Latex condom breakage and slippage in a controlled clinical trial, Contraception [accessed 08 October 2025]
- Levonorgestrel 1.5mg Tablets, emc [accessed 08 October 2025]
- Post-Exposure Prophylaxis (PEP), NIH [accessed 08 October 2025]
- Ulipristal 30mg film-coated tablets, emc [accessed 08 October 2025]