Health experts caution that a tiny tear caused while opening a condom can compromise protection against unintended pregnancy, HIV and other sexually transmitted infections.

Health experts have warned sexually active people against opening condom packets with their teeth, saying the seemingly harmless habit could accidentally damage the condom and undermine its protective purpose.

According to the experts, a condom can be compromised before sexual intercourse even begins if it is torn, punctured or otherwise damaged while being removed from its wrapper.

Condoms are widely recognised as an important tool for preventing unintended pregnancies, HIV and other sexually transmitted infections (STIs), but health professionals stress that their effectiveness depends on proper and consistent use.

Speaking on safe condom practices, Senior Prevention Programme Manager at the AIDS Healthcare Foundation (AHF), Adeleye Taofeek, said condoms can provide effective protection against HIV, other STIs and unintended pregnancy when used correctly.

Taofeek explained that condom wrappers are designed with specific edges for easy opening. However, he noted that some people who struggle to locate the opening may resort to using their teeth, scissors or blades.

He warned that doing so could damage the condom.

“This is not correct, as this act is capable of damaging or compromising the quality and integrity of the condom. The teeth may cut or create an opening on the condom, thereby making it unfit for use,” he said.

He advised users to check the expiry date before putting on a condom, noting that condoms generally have a shelf life of about four years from the date of manufacture.

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Using an expired condom, he said, could increase the risk of failure because the material may have deteriorated over time.

Taofeek also urged users to select the correct condom size and use a lubricant that is compatible with the condom material.

The World Health Organisation (WHO) recommends water-based or silicone-based lubricants because they can help reduce the chances of condoms breaking, slipping or falling off during sex.

Oil-based products, including palm oil and vegetable oils, should not be used with latex condoms because they can weaken the material and increase the likelihood of breakage.

‘Open Condoms With Your Hands’

The warning was echoed by the Head of Project at the Lagos State AIDS Control Agency, Dr Oladipupo Fisher.

Fisher said the primary purpose of a condom is to create a physical barrier against sperm, HIV and other sexually transmitted infections, making any damage to the condom potentially serious.

He specifically advised users to open condom packets with their hands rather than their teeth or sharp objects.

“People should learn how to use their hands to open condoms. The manufacturer has made it to be opened with your hands. There is a line there that you need to position your hands and open it,” Fisher said.

He added that using the teeth could accidentally perforate the condom without the user noticing.

“When you use your teeth to open the condom, you could perforate the condom and render it ineffective,” he warned.

Why Correct Use Matters

The WHO describes condoms as a safe, affordable and widely available method of preventing most STIs, including HIV, as well as unintended pregnancy.

The organisation says male condoms can be highly effective when they are used correctly and consistently every time sex occurs. However, their effectiveness in everyday life can be lower when people use them incorrectly, inconsistently or fail to use them at all.

According to WHO data, consistent and correct use of male condoms provides about 98 per cent protection against unintended pregnancy among women whose partners use them correctly.

Condoms also significantly reduce the risk of many STIs when used consistently and correctly during vaginal, oral and anal sex.

In Nigeria, the National Agency for the Control of AIDS (NACA) similarly promotes condom use as an important part of HIV and STI prevention, as well as efforts to prevent unintended pregnancies.

Health professionals therefore urged condom users to treat the contraceptive as a protective medical device rather than simply a packet to be opened quickly.

They advised users to inspect the wrapper before opening it, check the expiry date, ensure the package is intact, carefully tear it open along the designated edge, avoid teeth and sharp objects, and use a suitable lubricant where necessary.

A condom that appears torn, damaged or defective should not be used.

The experts stressed that taking a few extra seconds to open and handle a condom properly can make the difference between effective protection and protection that has already been compromised.