You may think that you are practicing safe sex, but if you are using expired condoms, you are putting yourself and your partner at risk for an unwanted pregnancy or a sexually transmitted disease. If you have expired condoms sitting around in your night table get rid of them and get yourself some new ones.

Expired condoms are more likely to break while you are having sex. Over time the latex breaks down resulting in a weaker product that will not protect you. The shelf life of condoms is quite long with a condom containing spermicide lasting unopened for three years, and a condom with out spermicide an average of five years unopened. With this type of longevity, there is no need for expired condoms. Be careful if you are shopping for condoms and find a large batch that is on clearance. Make sure that you check the expiry date on the packaging; the store may be trying to clear them out because they are approaching their expiry.

Using expired condoms does not mean that you will contract a disease or become pregnant; however it does increase the chance that the condom will break putting you at risk. Your best bet and safest choice is to use a condom that is well within its expiry date.