The Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) announced the recall yesterday (July 30) for 10 batches of Durex Real Feel condoms and Durex Latex Free condoms due to a “risk that the condom might tear or leak, reducing its protection from sexually-transmitted diseases and pregnancy”.

Manufacturer Reckitt Benckiser said its safety tests had shown that a “limited number” of condoms “do not pass the requirements for burst pressure towards the end of [their] shelf life”, which means “there could be an increase in the number of condoms that burst during application or use”.

The affected batches each have expiry dates between December 2020 and February 2021, Reckitt Benckiser added.

The MHRA advised pharmacists to “immediately remove all product from store shelves and return all stock to their wholesaler”.

“The manufacturer will contact wholesalers to organise collection of all stock,” it added.

Patients have been advised to return the affected products to the store they purchased from for a full refund.

For further information on the affected batches and advice to give to patients, see the frequently asked questions on the Durex website.

Affected batches