So you order your free condoms thru our FreeC2U program but you’re unsure if the very high or low temps outside might cause problems or maybe break the condoms. It’s important to know that condoms are tested for as part of the approval process by the US Food and Drug Administration. When it comes to what happens in extreme temperatures, like high heat or sever cold, the information isn’t complete.
One key takeaway is that long term exposure is bad for condoms, whether it’s high heat or low cold temps.
Studies have been done to show that condoms exposed to high heat [over 100 degrees Fahrenheit / 37 degrees Celsius] break down quicker and tear easily. They won’t melt necessarily at 100°F, but they become less safe to use – letting HIV and STIs transmission occur as well as potential pregnancy
Now when it comes to condoms exposed to very cold temps [under 33 degrees Fahrenheit / 91 degrees Celsius], the data is much less known. Studies have mostly focused on ‘tropical’ temperature zones due to there being more people in those climates. For us up here in Erie County Pennsylvania, we have winters and snow. Because there is limited information on the safety and usage of condoms under freezing temps, we recommend throwing them away if they’ve been exposed to cold temps where the condom materials can freeze. Latex can become leathery feeling with a cold temperature exposure – length of time varies.
But if you’re not sure if the condom has been exposed to extreme temperatures, you can perform a home test like the following.
- Do a visual check. Is the lube frozen, slimy [not slippery], grainy? Does the condom and its contents have the same texture and color you usually see when using this type of condom? Is there any visible damage to the packaging? If the answer is yes to any of these questions, throw it away and get new condoms. If there was a group of condoms together that were in an extreme temperature, consider them all the same and place a new order with our FreeC2U program.
- If the visual check seems okay all around, now let’s try a water holding test. Open a condom that may have been exposed to extreme temps and unroll it. Fill the condom with water in a sink or bathtub to see if any leaks appear. DO NOT use this condom for sex. This is a test to see if there are any indications the exposure has made the condom(s) ineffective. This will help if you have a group of condoms that were exposed together to extreme temperatures. If the water test fails, treat the group of condoms together that were in an extreme temperature as if they are all the same – throw them out and place a new order with our FreeC2U program.
Lastly, the FreeC2U program may suspend order fulfillment during extreme temperature seasons. Because weather can be unpredictable, we may find it necessary to not complete orders during the winter and summer seasons if the local average temperature is around or below freezing. This may also come into play if the summer weather gets around 100°F as well. Keep an eye out for announcements on our website if we think its necessary to suspend or delay shipments due to extreme temps.
You can also call our community based partners with the Erie County HIV Task Force to get free condoms in-person if we are unable to fulfill your shipment order.