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Condom use has increased among Brazilian youth, although condoms are not used in all sexual relations; in addition, their use varies over the course of an individual's affective and sexual history. This study focused on the prevalence and factors associated with condom use during sexual initiation and in the most recent sexual relations in young men and women (18-24 years of age). The data are from the GRAVAD Research Project, a cross-sectional study with a stratified probabilistic sample using household interviews in three Brazilian State capitals. The analysis used multinomial logistic regression with a hierarchical model. Prevalence of condom use in first sexual intercourse among individuals who used any contraceptive method was 80.7% for females and 88.6% for males. This proportion dropped to 38.8% and 56%, respectively, for the most recent intercourse. In both events, and for both genders, condom use was associated with social belonging and age at initiation. Condom use at sexual initiation was correlated with use in the most recent intercourse (OR = 2.42 for males and 1.89 for females). Increased condom use among youth does not mean continuing use. Women used condoms less than men in the events studied here.