Do Condoms Work? The Truth About Condom Effectiveness
All methods of contraception are used to prevent pregnancy, but
condoms have the added advantage of providing protection against
infection and the spread of sexually transmitted diseases
(STDs). How effective are condoms at doing these two things? Are
they really as effective as other contraceptive methods at
preventing pregnancy? And since one of the most common reasons
for using a condom is to provide protection against infection, are they
really an effective barrier against being infected by STDs?
In this article we look at some of these questions.
Does using a condom prevent pregnancy?
Condoms are an extremely effective means of preventing
pregnancy. Of course, no method of contraception is 100%
effective because there will always be instances of incorrect or
inconsistent use. This is as true of "the pill" or any other
form of contraception as it is of condoms. However clinical
studies have shown that high quality condoms, when used
consistently and correctly, provide an excellent barrier against
pregnancy. These trials have shown that correct and consistent
use of condoms can have between 95% and 98% contraceptive
efficacy rate.
How often do condoms fail?
The main reason that condoms "fail" to prevent pregnancy or
infection is not because the condom itself has "failed", but
because of incorrect or inconsistent use. Latex condoms can be
weakened by oil-based lubricants like petroleum jelly. They can
also be weakened by exposure to sunlight or by age. Sometimes
they are torn by teeth or fingernails. But putting these
incorrect uses aside, condoms almost ever "fail".
How often do condoms break or slip off?
In the United States, most studies of breakage caused by fault
in the condom itself have shown breakage rate is less than 2
condoms out of every 100. Studies also indicate that condoms
slip off the penis in about 1-5% of acts of vaginal intercourse
and slip down (but not off) about 3-13% of the time. Again,
these rates are influenced by the care one takes when using a
condom.
Are condoms effective at preventing infection from HIV or
STDs?
Studies have shown that if a latex condom is used correctly and
consistently (every time you have sex), they are a highly
effective barrier against infection. This has been demonstrated
most clearly by studies of "discordant" couples in Europe. A
"discordant" couple is one in which one partner in infected with
HIV and the other one is not. In a study of 123 couples in which
condoms were used consistently, none of the infected partners
became infected.
Do thinner condoms give less protection against pregnancy and
STDs?
Thinner condoms are equally effective as a protection against
both pregnancy and infection by STDs. However they may be more
easily damaged by fingernails, teeth, jewelry and other
incorrect uses, so extra care should be taken when using a
thinner condom.
Are all condoms thoroughly tested before being sold?
All brand name condoms are subjected to rigorous quality control
tests at every stage of the manufacturing process. In the US,
each condom is electronically tested for holes and defects.
Samples are taken from each lot and visually examined using a
water leak test. In this test the samples are filled with 300 ml
of water and suspended for 3 minutes.
Samples from each lot are also subjected to an Air Inflation
Test. This involves filling the test condoms with air until they
reach the bursting point. They typically will hold about 40
liters of air -- the equivalent of 9 gallons of water!
Other samples are checked for size and thickness, some are
tested to destruction for physical strength, and still others
are prematurely aged by applying high temperatures to ensure
that they will retain their quality well beyond their 5 year
product life.
In all regards, condoms have been shown to be an effective way
to prevent pregnancy as well as being a highly effective way of
guarding oneself against HIV or STD infection.
For more information about condoms and convenient ordering of
all brand name condoms visit the No.1 UK online source of
condoms at
http://www.14-condoms.co.uk