How can I tell when a condom was made? Do condoms expire?

by RipNRoll Condoms August 27, 2018

Is he cheating? He claims the condoms I found are several years old!

 

 

One of the most frequently asked questions here at Rip n Roll is "How can I tell when a condom was made?"

This question is usually prefaced by "I found a condom in my husband or boyfriends car or pants and he swears it is an old condom that was just laying around, but how can I tell when it was made"? 

The truth is easy to find out by just looking at the expiration date on the condom. Most all condoms have a 5 year expiration date from the time of manufacture but condoms that contain spermicide will only have a 3 year expiration date.

 

So looking at the expiration date in the image above you can see this condom expires on January 31, 2023 which means this condom was manufactured 5 years ago on January 31, 2018. (this condom does not contain spermicide)

So to put this into perspective, if your boyfriend or husband says that this condom you found is several years old (today's date is August 27 of 2018) this would not be accurate as the condom was only manufactured 8 months ago.

Another consideration to take into account is that when condoms are manufactured, it usually takes several months for the condoms to make it to the store shelves. The reason for this is after a condom is manufactured, there is transit time from the overseas manufacturing plant in Thailand, Malaysia, Indonesia, Japan etc..

There is also a wait time for condoms to be tested once they reach the US. When condoms arrive in the US, they are inspected by the FDA before being released to the Public.

So long story short, it can take several months after the manufacturing date for a condom to even reach the point of sale. Even if you think they are cheating or there's a good chance they are, if you find a condom, take into consideration the above factors before you decide if your partner is a dog or not. 

On the bright side, if they are cheating, at least the dog is practicing safe sex.

 

Does the type of condom affect expiration dates?

Even if a condom is stored safely, its rate of expiration is still influenced by the material it’s made from and whether it’s been manufactured with any additives that shorten its life span.

Latex and polyurethane

Natural latex and polyurethane condoms have the longest shelf lives. They can last up to five years, and they’re more resilient than some other condoms in the face of wear and tear.

These condoms have a slightly shorter shelf life — just three years — when packaged with spermicide. Spermicide causes latex and polyurethane to degrader faster. (Rip N Roll does not sell ANY condoms with Spermicide, here's why)

Polyisoprene

Polyisoprene condoms are just behind latex condoms. Condoms made with this type of artificial rubber can last up to three years with proper storage. Additives like spermicide can also shorten this condom’s lifespan.

Natural and non-latex

Non-latex, natural condoms — such as lambskin or sheepskin — have the shortest shelf life. They only last one year from the date they’re manufactured. It’s unclear whether spermicide or other additives have an effect on expiration. It’s also important to note that these condoms don’t protect against STIs.

Hope this helps - Rip N Roll

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