Q: It occurred to me, standing on Pleasant, waiting for my bus: You're not supposed to carry condoms in a pocket or wallet because of prolonged exposure to body heat, right? What about the freezing cold? Google tells me that they shouldn't be exposed to temperatures below 32 degrees, either. I carry one or two on a just-in-case basis, which means they may be in my bag for ... let's say more than a week. So, that's multiple hot and cold cycles, not just "is it safe to carry them home from the drugstore." So are Minnesotans just ... screwed? How can I safely carry them with me?
A: Great question! It's odd that I've never fielded it before, considering you're not the only Minnesotan to have protected sex during the winter months. A quick and dirty poll of eight of my sexually active guy friends revealed that six carry at least one condom in their wallet or messenger bag, and four keep condoms in their cars. Their cars! If there's one place where condoms would undergo prolonged exposure to the extreme heat of summer and freezing cold of winter, it's a parked car. Gentlemen, stop storing condoms in your vehicles, please.
I reached out to the PR firms for both Trojan and Durex, the bestselling condom brands in the United States and the world, respectively. Sadly, I was handed off multiple times over the course of two weeks before being expelled to e-mail purgatory in a flutter of holiday out-of-office replies. Planned Parenthood to the rescue! Laura, an advanced practice nurse and physician's assistant with the Moorhead clinic, had this to say about condoms and extreme temperatures:
"It's definitely true that condoms should be stored for longer periods of time in a cool, dry place out of direct sunlight. And it's best to avoid prolonged exposure to temperatures above 100 degrees or below 32 degrees. But short periods of time in these temperatures will not likely damage the condom."
Great! Now we know for sure that a little time spent waiting at the bus stop in below-freezing weather won't affect the structural integrity of a condom. Except there's that whole prolonged exposure thing. What's a guy or girl to do when it comes to being prepared? You never know when or where the mood may strike. "It is a great idea to have to have condoms on hand 'just in case,' so I would suggest replacing any unused condoms that are stored somewhere like a purse or wallet at least monthly," Laura says. Easy enough, especially considering how inexpensive condoms are. A 144-count of assorted Durex brand condoms will run you just $35 (that's 24 cents a pop) on Target.com, and CondomDepot.com has the porn-star-favorite Crown brand for just pennies each when you order in bulk.
Nurse Laura also recommends always inspecting a condom before you use it, and to never use a condom "that is brittle, dry or appears damaged in any way." I'll add the common-sense caution that a condom should never be used if the wrapper is torn or looks too worn. There are tons of condom carrying cases out there in various sizes, shapes and colors to help preserve the integrity of condom packaging. Some of them look like little clamshell mirrors or even makeup compacts, for those who like to be discreet about what's in the bottom of their messenger bag. These carrying cases only protect against wear and tear, not cold and heat, so remember to heed Laura's advice about regularly replacing condoms that get exposed to the elements.
