Contraceptive mishap: what to do if it happened?

Condom mishaps are among the classics among contraceptive mishaps and are more than annoying – especially when they happen not before sex, but in the middle of it. Here are some of the more common contraceptive mishaps involving condoms.

Condom already torn when unpacking

The packaging of a condom seems quite sturdy, but that’s exactly why you should take your time and tear it open slowly and carefully from the side.

If you have long or pointed fingernails, it is better to leave the opening to your partner. And tearing the package open with your teeth may look sexy, but it’s also quite risky: if you tug on it too exuberantly or catch the package unhappily with your teeth, the condom will be torn.

Condom damaged by lubricant

Condoms and lubricants are not always the best of friends. Lubricants containing oil can damage the latex, causing the condom to tear easily. Whether a lubricant is suitable for condoms, however, is usually written on the packaging.

Condom bursts during sex

If the condom has burst during sex, the first thing to do is to keep a cool head. If you noticed the mishap right away and your boyfriend hasn’t come yet, you might be lucky and no sperm have escaped yet.

However, unfortunately, broken condoms are not always noticed immediately. If you only notice that the condom has broken after sex and you don’t want to get pregnant, the morning-after pill can help. It postpones your ovulation so that fertilization of an egg becomes very unlikely.

Condom slipped

It happens more often than you think: the condom fits poorly and slips off during sex as a result. Put the condom on properly and make sure it is the right size and shape. There is a particular risk of the condom slipping if it is too loose. Here false shame is absolutely not appropriate: It’s best to find out together what sizes and shapes are available and try out which condom fits best.

Condom broken due to wrong storage

Did you know that extreme heat and cold can attack the material and make it porous? It is best to always store condoms at room temperature and in a protective box. Condoms that you accidentally left in the glove compartment of the car in summer heat are better thrown away. They could be damaged and break during sex.

The pill is considered a safe contraceptive. Nevertheless, contraceptive mishaps can occur here, too. There are a number of factors that can impair its effectiveness: Mistakes in taking the pill, illnesses, interactions – we tell you when and how your contraceptive protection is affected and what you can do if you are no longer adequately protected despite taking the pill.

Pill forgotten or taken too late

It happens so easily: You’re on the road, you’re busy – you’ve already forgotten your pill. Calm down and take a deep breath! There are different types of birth control pills and each pill is different. Therefore, please check the package insert of your birth control pill to find out how to proceed if you forget to take it. If the contraceptive protection no longer exists, speak to your doctor for advice on the morning-after pill.

Pill and other drugs: contraceptive mishap interaction

Certain medications, such as antibiotics or herbal remedies like St. John’s wort, can interfere with the effect of your birth control pill. Read the package insert of your pill – and if in doubt, don’t be afraid to ask your doctor.

Diarrhea and vomiting after taking the pill

Abdominal pain, diarrhea and vomiting are bad enough. However, the unpleasant symptoms of a gastrointestinal illness or excessive alcohol also affect the effect of the pill. They can lead to the active ingredients of the pill not being absorbed properly or being excreted too early. This is because the pill only starts to work about three to four hours after you take it. If you vomit earlier or suffer from diarrhea, the pill is no longer reliably effective.

This can even lead to a contraceptive breakdown afterwards, because sperm can survive and fertilize in the woman’s body for up to five days after sex. Yesterday’s protected sex can thus suddenly turn into unprotected intercourse if the effect of your pill is subsequently impaired.

The desire is just great and no contraceptive at hand? However, unprotected intercourse should not be an option. Unprotected intercourse can happen in the heat of the moment, but you should not underestimate the consequences. An unwanted pregnancy is only one of the possible consequences of unprotected sex.

Unprotected traffic – no, thanks!

During sexual intercourse, sperm enter the woman’s vagina through ejaculation. But even if fertilization does not take place immediately, you can still get pregnant. Sperm can survive for several days in the female body. Unprotected intercourse is therefore always risky.

Coitus Interruptus: Unsafe and Unsexy

What is Coitus Interruptus? To briefly explain it is shortly before ejaculation, the man withdraws his penis from the woman.

If no sperm enter the vagina, fertilization should not be able to take place. Unwanted pregnancy impossible? Only in theory. In practice, unfortunately, it does not work so easily. Sperm cells are more vital than you might think.

Why is coitus interruptus so unsafe?

Unfortunately, pulling out in time before ejaculation is not enough. Indeed, semen on your external genitals and on your fingers also poses a risk. Don’t forget that sperm are quite lively: They can survive in the air for several hours, and once inside the uterus they are active for up to five days.

And there’s a second problem: You’ve probably heard of what’s called “”desire dribble”” – long before you actually ejaculate, your partner can lose tiny amounts of sperm. The risk of you getting pregnant is not quite as high, but it is not impossible.

It happened – what now? A contraceptive breakdown is annoying, but fortunately there is quick help. The morning-after pill can protect you from an unwanted pregnancy.

It is important that you take the morning-after pill as soon as possible. You have to take it before you ovulate for it to be effective: The morning-after pill postpones ovulation. Sperm can fertilize in the female body for up to 5 days. However, if ovulation is delayed, the sperm die before they can fertilize an egg. In this way, an unwanted pregnancy can be prevented.