How efficient are condoms?

Answer 1

It is important to understand that condoms are effective tools in two principal areas: contraception (Birth Control) and the prevention of sexually transmitted diseases (STDs).

As far as efficacy of condoms go, I am going to rate them as they would be rated when used properly and consistently. Otherwise, the statistics are just not viable.

Rating a condom's effectiveness against HIV/AIDS transmission, according to a published study by the NIH and the WHO, a condom reduces the risk of disease transmission by 80-95%.

Rating a condom's effectiveness against unwanted pregnancies (contraceptive use) varies a bit. If a man is properly using a perfect condom under perfect conditions, the efficacy rate can be as high as 98%. However, conditions that are more realistic have given way to studies that target the "typical" use of condoms. These studies have dropped the efficacy rate to anywhere between 90% and 93%. For purposes of contraception, condoms can be combined with spermicides for enhanced protection, increasing efficacy under ideal conditions to 98% to 99% rate of successful prevention. Thankfully, most condoms are pretreated with a spermicide. You actually have to look for condoms that are not pretreated these days.

I feel impelled to mention that a condom is only as effective as the person using it wants it to be, and sadly, they are not foolproof. Condoms can break, tear, and slip off, but the chances are not high, so be smart and remember a few things. Some tips to keep you safe:

1. DO NOT use a condom after the expiration date has passed. Think of a condom as you would think of milk in the refrigerator. If you have a carton of milk that expires on 11-05-10, would you pour yourself a glass and drink it on 11-20-10? Of course not! Not unless you want to make yourself sick. The same goes for condoms. Do not use them if they are expired.

2. DO NOT store your condoms in your car, in your wallet, in a place where temperatures are going to be high or low, in direct sunlight, in the refrigerator or freezer, or in your pockets. The best place to store condoms is in their box in a cool and dry place that does not see a lot of light. You should treat your condoms as you would treat any medications you are taking.

3. DO NOT expose your condoms to ANY sort of oil-based lubricant. Oil eats through the condom like a hot knife through butter. If you are going to use lubrication with your condom, you must make sure that the lubrication you are using is WATER-BASED and free from any sorts of oil. Many types of lubrication you can buy are oil-based, so you must be sure to purchase and use water-based lubrication or you will render your condom useless.

4. DO NOT "double-bag" your condom. This means putting one condom on and then putting another condom onto the condom you already have on. The friction caused by rubbing two condoms together will render your condom useless. You are not increasing your protection by doubling up. You are essentially ruining not one condom, but two, and if you are going to double up, you might as well not ever bother using them.

5. Condoms are made to fit most men. In some cases, men that are larger become concerned when they use regular condoms. That is why some companies make larger condoms for larger men. If you believe that your endowment is of a size that warrants the use of these larger condoms, then you should use them. If you are normal-sized, use regular condoms. There is nothing worse than putting on a condom and finding out it does not fit right in the middle of trying to have sex. So do not be a braggart or a punk. Some men have endowments that regular condoms are too big for, a cause for condoms slipping off. The condom should be worn comfortably and should fit. Many condom manufacturers make condoms to accommodate size differences. If your unit is smaller than average, find a company that caters to men with smaller units. If your unit is larger than average, find a company that caters to men with bigger units. The last thing you want is for your condom to slip off during intercourse or to break because the condom you are wearing cannot accommodate the size of your unit. You need to be aware that these things do happen.

In conclusion, do not ever chance it when having sex. I understand there are religious objections to using condoms. I understand that some men do not enjoy sex as much when they are wearing a condom. You know what I do not enjoy? I do not enjoy the idea of unwanted pregnancies because a dude was too lazy to put on a condom before he had sex. Nor do I enjoy the idea of a dude getting HIV or some other STD because he did not like the way it feels when he is having sex. In this day and age, there is NO excuse for not having a condom on if you are having sex. I don't care if you are straight, gay, or having sex with weird things, if you think you are at a point in your life when you are ready to have sex, then you are at a point in your life when you must accept responsibility for your actions, and that means wearing a condom in absolutely every sexual encounter you have, no questions asked. If you cannot be responsible and wear a condom during sex, you should not be having sex. A person dies of HIV/AIDS every nine seconds on this planet. An unwanted child in conceived every seven minutes in the United States because people are having unprotected sex. These statistics are appalling.

The condom is quite possibly one of the most ingenious inventions known to mankind. Be smart and always use them.