Condom Effectiveness - Are Condoms Effective?

All ways of contraception are accustomed to prevent pregnancy, but condoms have the added benefit of providing protection against infection and the spread of sexually transmitted diseases (STDs). How effective are condoms at doing both of these things? Are they really as effectual as other contraceptive methods at preventing pregnancy? And since probably the most common known reasons for utilizing a condom would be to drive back infection, are they really a highly effective barrier against being infected by STDs? In this post we look at a few of these questions.

Does utilizing a condom prevent pregnancy?

Condoms are an exceptionally effective method of preventing pregnancy. Needless to say, no approach to contraception is 100% effective because there will be cases of incorrect or inconsistent use. That is as true of "the pill" or any type of contraception since it is of condoms. However clinical studies show that top quality condoms, when used consistently and correctly, offer an excellent barrier against pregnancy. These trials show that correct and

consistent usage of condoms might have between 95% and 98% contraceptive efficacy rate.

How often do condoms fail?

The major reason that condoms "fail" to avoid pregnancy or infection isn't as the condom itself has "failed", but due to incorrect of inconsistent

use. Latex condoms could be weakened by oil-based lubricants like vaseline. They are able to also be weakened by contact with sunlight or by age. Sometimes they're torn by teeth or fingernails. But putting these incorrect uses aside, condoms hardly ever "fail".

How often do condoms break or slip off?

In america, most studies of breakage due to fault in the condom itself show breakage rate is significantly less than 2 condoms from every 100 condoms. Studies also indicate that condoms slip off the penis in about 1-5% of acts of vaginal intercourse and slip down (however, not off) about 3-13% of that time period. Again, these rates are influenced by the care one takes when working with a condom.

Are condoms able to preventing infection from HIV or STDs?

Studies show that when a latex condom can be used correctly and consistently (each time you have sexual intercourse), they're an efficient barrier against infection. It has been demonstrated most clearly by studies of "discordant" couples in Europe. A "discordant" couple is one where one partner in infected with HIV and another one isn't. In a report of 123 couples where 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. Nonetheless they may be easier damaged by fingernails, teeth, jewelry along with other incorrect uses, so extra care ought to be taken when working with a thinner condom.

Are all condoms thouroughly tested before for sale?

All brand condoms are put through rigorous quality control tests at every stage of the manufacturing process. In america, each condom is electronically tested for holes and defects. Samples are extracted from each lot and visually examined utilizing 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 may also be put through an Air Inflation Test. This calls for filling the test condoms with air until they reach the bursting point. They typically will hold about 40 liters of air -- the same as 9 gallons of water!

Other samples are checked for size and thickness, some are tested to destruction for physical strength, but still others are artificially aged through the use of high temperatures to make sure that they'll retain their quality well beyond their 5 year product life.

In all regards, condoms have already been been shown to be a good way to avoid pregnancy along with being a impressive method of guarding oneself against HIV or STD infection.