Is there anything more nerve-wrecking and post-coital-glow-removing than finding that the condom gave up the ghost in the middle of proceedings? We think not. The worst part of it all is that you normally only notice that your sentry took a beating well after the final bell has rung. In short – it sucks but it happens. So what now?

Here are 3 important steps you should take as soon as you realise that the condom broke during intercourse:

1. Clean up properly. Sometimes a condom will only have a tear, in which case you can simply remove and dispose of it as you normally would. However, there is always the chance that it broke apart a bit more spectacularly than that, in which case you have to be careful to remove any debris (for lack of a better word), as to prevent infection and/or irritation.
2. Secure emergency birth control. If you were not planning a pregnancy, it is highly recommended that you seek emergency birth control from your nearest pharmacy. You can take it up to 72 hours after sex, so there is no need to run around like a headless chicken if it’s the middle of the night – the next morning is fine.
3. Get tested. If you are in any way unsure of your partner’s sexual health status, the prudent thing to do is to go to your local reproductive health clinic to have yourself checked out for AIDS and other STDs as soon as possible. You can also ask for a post-exposure prophylaxis.

Most importantly – don’t beat yourself up. It happens to the best of us and as long as you take the proper steps to safeguard your health and wellbeing everything will be just fine. Keep your eye on the Under the Covers blog for more helpful information to stay safe and healthy while you play.