Condoms are thin latex, polyurethane or polyisoprene tubes that fit over the penis during sex (male condoms) or into the vagina before sex (female condoms). They create a barrier to stop semen and other body fluids from entering the woman’s cervix or rectum.
Condoms are 98% effective when used correctly. This means 2 out of 100 women will get pregnant with male condoms and 1 out of 18 women will get pregnant with female condoms in a year.
Preventing pregnancy
Condoms are a barrier method of birth control (contraception) and can help prevent pregnancy and sexually transmitted diseases (STIs). They are made of thin latex, polyurethane or polyisoprene and are designed to stop sperm from fertilizing an egg. They are available at pharmacies and supermarkets. They should be used with water or a non-oil lubricant (such as baby oil) to ensure the best fit and maximum effectiveness.
If you use a condom correctly every time you have vaginal, anal or oral sex, they are up to 98% effective at preventing pregnancy. Some condoms are also coated with a chemical called nonoxynol-9, which kills sperm. This can reduce the risk of pregnancy but it does not reduce the risk of other STIs.
Using condoms with another form of birth control – such as the pill or an injection – can significantly increase their effectiveness and lower your risk of getting an STI. Track your progress in Clue to see what’s working for you.
In real life, typical condom use is 87% effective at preventing pregnancy. This means that about 13 out of 100 women who use condoms as their only birth control each year get pregnant. Pregnancy rates are higher when people don’t use condoms correctly or when the condom breaks or leaks. You can get condoms for free from most GP practices, pharmacies and sexual health clinics in the UK.
Preventing STDs
Although condoms are not 100% effective in preventing all STIs, consistent and correct use significantly reduces the risk of transmission. They are effective in reducing the spread of chlamydia, gonorrhoea, trichomoniasis, herpes, hepatitis B, and HIV.
Laboratory tests have shown that latex condoms offer a nearly impermeable barrier to particles the size of STI-causing pathogens. When used correctly, they can provide more than 90% protection against hepatitis B virus, Neisseria gonorrhea, and Trichomonas vaginalis. In addition, they can also protect against herpes and HPV.
The type of condom you use and how it is put on makes a difference. For example, some lubricants can reduce the effectiveness of the condom. If you are allergic to latex or spermicide, there are other types of condoms that can be used. You can also choose from a wide variety of sizes, styles, and textures.
There are some STDs that aren’t protected by condoms, including genital herpes, syphilis, and chancroid. These infections are transmitted through skin-to-skin contact, usually from sores or ulcers that look like normal, uninfected skin. The best way to prevent these diseases is abstinence from unsafe sex, or by being in a long-term, monogamous relationship with an uninfected partner. You can also take an STI test to determine whether you’re already infected. If you are, you can start taking a prescription antiviral medication called pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) to stay undetectable and prevent new infections.
Preventing HIV infection
Condoms can help prevent HIV infection by creating a barrier between body fluids that contain the virus and a sex partner’s skin. They can also protect against exposure to different types of HIV, or strains, that may cause more severe symptoms.
Researchers have found that condoms can be up to 95% effective in preventing HIV transmission when used consistently and correctly. But they’re even more effective when you use them with other prevention methods like pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP), the daily oral HIV medicines that have been approved for use to prevent HIV infection.
Several recent studies have analyzed data from two big HIV prevention trials: VAX 004 and EXPLORE. Researchers found that people who sometimes or never used condoms for anal sex had an 83% higher risk of getting HIV than those who always did. But these analyses have some important caveats. For one, they’re based on analysis of individual couples rather than analyzing the overall population. And they don’t include data from people who use condoms 100% of the time – something that queer people often struggle with.
Latex condoms can protect against HIV and other STDs, as well as some other sexually transmitted infections. But it’s important to remember that condoms can only work when they aren’t broken or slippered. That’s why it’s so crucial to use a new condom every time you have sex, and to avoid reusing a condom if you’ve had sex with someone else.
Preventing other STIs
When condoms are used correctly, they protect against STIs that spread through bodily fluids such as semen, vaginal fluids and blood. These include chlamydia, gonorrhoea, trichomonas, hepatitis B and HIV. They can also help prevent herpes, genital warts and syphilis that spread through skin-to-skin contact.
A male condom that fits properly can be up to 98% effective at preventing pregnancy. However, 2 out of 100 women who use a male condom regularly and correctly will get pregnant in a year. This means that a woman needs to use a condom every time she has sex, even when it’s only with her partner.
Female condoms are up to 95% effective at preventing pregnancy. But they can only protect against herpes and genital warts if they are used every time you have sex, and even then they won’t prevent these STIs 100% of the time.
To reduce the chance of condom failure, always use latex (rubber) condoms if you have them. Avoid “natural skin” condoms, which have tiny holes that may allow viruses and other microorganisms to pass through. Also, avoid oil-based lubricants like talcum powder, petroleum jelly, cooking oils, massage oils or body lotions as they can weaken condoms and reduce their effectiveness. Always follow the manufacturer’s instructions for using a condom, and always check that your condom hasn’t broken or been damaged before you use it.
