Reproductive health, safe sex, responsible parenthood … all of these go hand-in-hand with correct condom use. Use this quiz to find out if you know it all.

February is Reproductive Health Month in South Africa. Reproductive health implies that people are able to have a responsible, satisfying and safe sex life and that they have the capability to reproduce and the freedom to decide if, when and how often to do so. Condoms play a major role in all of these choices. It is crucial that we have the necessary knowledge regarding condoms.

This is your chance to test your knowledge about correct condom use. Complete this quiz adapted from www.medicinenet.com, www.avert.org and www.thinkcontraception.ie to find out how much you know. The correct answers appear below.

1. You should use only latex condoms for the prevention of unexpected pregnancies and sexually transmitted infections.
True

False2. Which is most effective at preventing pregnancy, HIV and other sexually transmitted diseases?
Condoms and lubricants
Withdrawal method
Birth control pill

3. It is safe to use oil-based lubricants like baby oil and Vaseline with latex condoms.
True

False
4. Only the man should put the condom on his penis and not his partner.
True
False
5. You have to pinch the top of the condom to remove air bubbles.
True
False
6. How can you make sure the condom works properly?
Check the expiry date
Store it correctly
Put it on correctly
All of the above

7. After sex, a man should withdraw from his partner immediately, holding onto the base of the condom.
True

False

8. It is safe to use a condom more than once.
True

False

9. It is always a good idea to have a condom in your wallet should you need it.
True
False
10. At what point during sex should the condom be put on the penis?
When the penis is erect
Before the penis is erect
Just before the point of ejaculation
Answers

  1. True. Latex condoms are effective in preventing BOTH pregnancy and many sexually transmitted infections (STIs). The effectiveness of latex condoms ranges between 82 and 98%. Lambskin (or sheepskin) condoms, the second most available type of condom, have tiny pores that may be large enough to allow viruses to pass through and therefore cannot be used to prevent STIs.
  2. Using condoms and lubricants together is the best way to prevent pregnancy, HIV and STIs.
  3. False. Use only water-based lubricants, such as K-Y Jelly, with condoms. Oil-based lubricants will weaken the condom and cause it to break.
  4. False. It doesn’t matter which partner puts a condom on the penis as long as it is done correctly.
  5. True. Always pinch the tip of the condom before unrolling it. Condoms can break if the tip is not pinched to remove air bubbles.
  6. All of the above. For a condom to work properly, it must still be in date (check the packet), stored correctly and put on correctly.
  7. True. This will prevent the condom from slipping off and possibly leaking inside his partner.
  8. False. Condoms can be used only once.
  9. False. While you should be prepared, condoms kept in warm places, like a wallet or a car’s glove compartment, can weaken from the heat.
  10. The condom should be put on when the penis is erect, before any intimate contact. Pre-seminal fluid from the penis, even very early on in sex can transmit STIs, HIV or cause pregnancy.

Sources
http://www.medicinenet.com/script/main/art.asp?articlekey=42682
http://www.avert.org/learn-share/hiv-fact-sheets/condoms-lubricants
http://www.thinkcontraception.ie/Quizzes-Games-Events/Think-Quiz.146.1.aspx
http://www.avert.org/learn-share/quizzes