Condom Expiry and Storage: Retire the One in Your Wallet

Finding a condom at the bottom of your bag can feel like excellent planning. Finding it beside a melted lip balm and a receipt from three summers ago is less reassuring.

Condoms need to be in date, intact and properly stored. The printed date matters, but it can't undo months of heat, crushing or friction. Sort the supply before you're naked and trying to convince yourself the packet looks fine.

Use the expiry date on the wrapper

Don't guess from when you bought the box. Shelf life varies, and a recently purchased condom isn't automatically fresh for a fixed number of years.

If it's expired or the date can't be read, replace it. There is no useful “probably close enough” calculation to do in the bedroom.

While you're sorting supplies, the condom size guide can help with fit. The right size and a usable condom are two separate requirements.

Keep condoms cool, dry and away from sharp objects

A drawer away from sunlight and heat is more suitable than a hot car or a wallet carried against your body. Heat and friction can damage condoms before the expiry date.

If you're taking condoms out, keep the sealed packets protected from keys, coins and crushing. Don't leave them permanently rattling around in a bag and assume the packaging makes them indestructible.

A small, well-stored supply is useful. One battered emergency condom that has attended every night out since your last haircut is optimism.

Open the packet carefully

Look for tears, punctures or other damage before opening. Use your fingers, with care around nails. Teeth and scissors can damage the condom while making you look unnecessarily dramatic.

If the condom is brittle, unusually sticky, torn or otherwise questionable, discard it. Don't fill it with water to test it and then use it for sex.

Use compatible lube too. Our condom and lube guide explains why oil can be a problem for some materials.

Replace a doubtful condom instead of doubling up

Two condoms together aren't extra protection and can increase friction and breakage. Use one suitable, intact condom correctly.

If you haven't got one, choose sex that doesn't require it in your protection plan. Our non-penetrative sex guide has alternatives, with barriers still relevant to some activities.

If a condom breaks or slips, stop and seek prompt advice about emergency contraception and STI exposure where relevant. A pharmacist or sexual health clinic can help with the next step.

Restock through our condom collection, then give the packets a sensible home. It's a small job that saves a very annoying interruption to a promising shag.