How effective are condoms

Everyone knows that condoms save from unwanted pregnancy and STD’s, but the question that a lot of people still ask is “How effective are condoms actually”? I did some research and today we’ll discuss condom effectiveness in more detail.

Condom effectiveness in preventing pregnancy

When it comes to unwanted pregnancy, studies confirmed that condom can be ineffective only 2% if people read and follow the steps that are written on condom packages describing the proper use of condoms. Looking at it statistically, if you take a hundred women that are having sexual intercourses and their partners use condoms in the right way, then two of these women would get pregnant in a year.

It’s really important to use them consistently and properly (and also to use the right condom size, remember?).
If you don’t use condom in a proper way, then its effectiveness drops significantly – with improper use it’s 88% effective. In other words, from a hundred women, twelve of them would get pregnant during one year.

If you’re not sure if you’re using them correctly, be sure to check my other posts where I talk more about this in greater detail:
- How to put on a condom
- How to choose the right condom size

Condom effectiveness in preventing sexually transmitted diseases

The function of a latex condom, except preventing pregnancy, is the prevention of diseases transmitted sexually. Condom is actually the only contraceptive that will save you from most sexually diseases. Most condoms today are made of latex, but there are also condoms made of polyurethane and condoms made of natural material, for example lambskin. You should keep in mind that natural condoms aren’t effective at all when it comes to protecting you from diseases.

When talking about sexually transmitted diseases it is important to know that there are some of these diseases that not even latex condoms can prevent. STD’s that condoms are able to prevent are those that are transmitted by fluids, meaning semen and blood. These diseases are AIDS, Chlamydia and other that are very well known. Diseases can also be transmitted by other ways, like through organisms that are in skin ulcers, one of those diseases is syphilis. In this case, the condom is not very helpful. Such is also the case with Human Papillomavirus (HPV) and herpes.
But even though condoms cannot completely save you from HPV, if the condom is used just the way it is supposed to be used, then the chance of a disease decreases.

If you want to be completely safe, then abstinence is your only option. If you however want to enjoy in sex, than be sure to use condoms, use them properly, and don’t change partners too often.

ps. Did you know that today is World AIDS day (December 1st)?

Tagged as: condom effectiveness, condoms, condoms and std, proper condom use