How safe is a condom? And how many people have ever fell pregnant even though they used a condom?

Question

im asking this because i dont want to make a stupid mistake and im trying to be as careful as possible, serious answers would be greatly appreciated, cheers

Answer 1

well a condom is not 100% we all know that so if you are looking for something that is then not having sex at all is100% guaranteed she wont get pregnant but who wants to wait huh? Using a condom is a lot safe than not using anything at all now if you want to be extra safe pull out before you come while using a condom, and you dont have to worry about precoming inside ether i have 3 kids i should know. i hope this info helps you

Answer 2

Extremely safe if used correctly. It's the "correctly" bit where people go wrong.

There was a proper study about 2 or 3 years ago in the UK comissioned by one of the main contraceptive companies - they wanted to find out why condoms (and also other forms of contraceptive, like the various forms of the pill) were never as effective in real life as they are in the lab. Condoms are carefully tested, and should only have a failure rate of about 0.5 percent, although in real life they are said to have a failure rate of up to 6%. So there was a large scale study, involving several thousand women who had become pregnant, asking them what contraceptive they had used, etc, and whether it was a "deliberate" pregnancy. It was a "no blame" study, so no answers would be reported back to GPs or clinics. It turned out that very, very few cases where the woman got pregnant were condoms actually used correctly (I think it was 2) - women admitted they either hadn't used the condoms at all (they didn't tell the clinics that, they didn't want to seem like twits), or their partner had put a condom on half-way through sex (so there's already a good chance of being pregnant) or their partner had not withdrawn correctly, resulting in the condom falling off, and, ahem, leakage.

I'm sorry I can't recall where this study was published, it was one of the proper medical journals in the UK though.

Condoms are pretty reliable if used correctly. It's just there is the problem of being sensible and using them correctly, and lust doesn't always allow for sensible and correct behaviour!

Answer 3

What I have read was that the pill is about 97% effective, and the condom about 94% effective, both if used correctly. I think the drop of 6% comes from the chance that the condom was previously punctured (possible) or it may break during the act - also possible.

For a number of reasons (including my determination not to have one), abortion was not an option for me, so I was advised by my doctor to use, until I would be ready to take care of a child, the pill+condom combination, which is supposed to give the best protection.

It's waaaay safer than not using one, though :) And it helps protect from STD's, at least some of them, as well. AIDS in particular (not that I will doubt each partner of that, just to be on the safe side.

Use condoms within the Best-Before date range; and, if possible, buy and bring your own, and keep them safe, to make sure there were no pinholes a younger sibling has decided to surprise their sister with... Yes, and no oil-based lubericants, as the above answer points out; best look up generously lubricated ones to start with, and use water-based lub.

Answer 4

You can only get pregnant if the sperm comes into contact with the vagina/cervix directly. If the condom split or came off inside the vagina after you'd ejaculated, there is a chance of pregnancy.

There is more chance of it splitting if you use very cheap condoms or ones which are old and the rubber might have perished. Use a well known brand like Durex and make sure you get the right size to fit you.

If the condom is used properly and does not break, and you're careful to make sure you've totally withdrawn before you take it off it should be very effective and safe.

Answer 5

Hi, are you in a serious long term relationship? If so then look into something more permanant like the coil. It is rumoured to be more effective than sterilisation. You can still use a condom if you wish. I fell with my first child when I was on the pill and my partner used a condom too. With my second child I was having the deprovera injection and still got pregnant. I have had the coil in for over a year now and I have not fell.

Answer 6

They are about 98% effective. Make sure you use a condom friendly lubricant and read the instructions before hand. It'll tell you how to properly put it on and removing the air from the tip. If you want more protection use a spermicide condom or spermicide gel. Before you do the deed, practice on a banana to make sure you are doing it right. There are those that get pregnant, usually this happens from incorrect usage and sometimes just a faulty condom, but nothing is 100% effective.

Answer 7

It is 98% effective if used correctly.
The problem is that 98% of people don't use it correctly.
Size and quality matter, as do when and how you put them on.

The story about visiting prostitutes in a third world Aids infected country, goes like this;
Before contact put on 1 rubber.
Apply wintergreen/Deepheat to the rubber.
Put on 2nd. rubber.
If she hurts stop.
If you hurt stop.
If you both hurt "put your head between your legs and kiss ........."

Used correctly a rubber should give you enough protection.
Just don't expect it to save your life. From unwanted pregnancy or disease. But when it comes right down to it - it could be 98% better than nothing.
When I was a kid, 1/3 of my rubbers broke and 1/3 came off, the other 1/3 worked perfectly. By the time I had mastered the skill, I didn't really need them as much. And I was getting more.

If you don't want a kid but it wouldn't kill you if you did have one - use a rubber, and learn the best way to use it yourself.
My advice for every other situation is don't.

Answer 8

Manufacturers typically follow a ISO standard which is certified.
Using condoms are perfectly safe.
The reason it usually fails to work is the incorrect use of it. Condoms are made of latex and usually contain its own lubricant.
Using a non-waterbased lubricant can cause the rubber to have holes in them or snap. That is why with all the excitement and ecstasy the person doesn't realize it has broken.
To prevent this from happening, make sure that the lubricant you are using is water-based and follow manufacturer's instruction for use

Answer 9

I wish condoms were more protective, but the truth is, they just are not. My friend, heading into law school, had to put her entire life on hold after she got pregnant after a failed condom. Another friend of mine went through a major depression after ending a pregnancy when a condom failed. I hate to be the bearer of bad news, but you have to be really careful in this world today. I have heard about "guy" birth control pills, but I have never looked into them. It is worth checking out, I think. That PLUS a condom and I think your being pretty safe. Never trust the other partner though, females can get pregnant on various forms of birth control if they are not using them correctly. Your best bet is to trust what you know, and that is what you are doing to protect yourself from getting someone pregnant. Hope this helps.

Answer 10

A CORRECTLY FITTED condom is about 98% effective. If you fail to put it on correctly, that falls to somewhere between 0 and 50% depending on how badly you've messed up putting it on... How many peopl have ever fallen pregnant using a condom - that is really easy to work out... all you need to do is found out how many people have ever used a condom and take 2% of that......simple really.