are condoms safe?

Answer 1

A condom is a device, usually made of latex, or more recently polyurethane, that is used during sexual intercourse. It is put on a male partner's penis, for the purpose of preventing pregnancy and/or transmission of sexually transmitted diseases (STDs) such as gonorrhea, syphilis and HIV.

Effectiveness In preventing pregnancy

The effectiveness of condoms, as of most forms of contraception, can be assessed two ways: method effectiveness and actual effectiveness. The method effectiveness is the proportion of couples correctly and consistently using the method who do not become pregnant. Actual effectiveness is the proportion of couples who intended that method as their sole form of birth control and do not become pregnant; it includes couples who sometimes use the method incorrectly, or sometimes not at all. Rates are generally presented for the first year of use. Most commonly the Pearl Index is used to calculate effectiveness rates, but some studies use decrement tables.

For all forms of contraception, actual effectiveness is lower than method effectiveness, due to several factors:

* mistakes on the part of those providing instructions on how to use the method
* mistakes on the part of the method's users
* conscious user non-compliance with method.

For instance, someone using oral forms of hormonal birth control might be given incorrect information by a health care provider as to the frequency of intake, or by mistake not take the pill one day, or simply not bother to go to the pharmacy on time to renew the prescription.

The method failure rate of condoms is 2% per year. The actual pregnancy rates among condoms users vary depending on the population being studied, with rates of 10-18% per year being reported.

In preventing STDs

According to a 2001 report by the National Institutes of Health,[15] correct and consistent use of latex condoms:

* reduces the risk of HIV/AIDS transmission by approximately 85% relative to risk when unprotected. See overall HIV transmission rates.
* reduces the risk of gonorrhea for men by approximately 71% relative to risk when unprotected.

A University of Washington study published in the New England Journal of Medicine in June 2006 reports that proper condom use decreases the risk of transmission for human papilloma virus by approximately 70%.

Contraceptive Technology concluded that condom failure due to breakage and leakage amounted to 8.08 percent per sexual encounter.

Other studies have shown that the proper and consistent use of condoms prevented HIV from spreading from an infected partner to a non-infected partner in every case.

While different studies show a wide range of results, every scientific study verifies that engaging in sex with a STD positive partner without a condom increases the chances of transmitting an STD when compared to sex with a condom.

Other sexually transmitted infections may be affected as well, but they could not draw definite conclusions from the research they were working with. In particular, these include STIs associated with ulcerative lesions that may be present on body surfaces where the condom doesn't cover, such as genital herpes simplex (HSV), chancroid, and syphilis. If contact is made with uncovered lesions, transmission of these STIs may still occur despite appropriate condom use. Additionally, the absence of visible lesions or symptoms cannot be used to decide whether caution is needed.

An article in The American Journal of Gynecologic Health showed that "all women who correctly and consistently used Reality® were protected from Trichomonas vaginalis" (referring to a particular brand of female condom).

Causes of failure

Condoms may fail due to faulty methods of application or physical damage (such as tears caused when opening the package), bursting caused by latex degradation (typically from being past the expiration date or being stored improperly), and from slipping off the penis during intercourse or after ejaculation. Sometimes pregnancy may result even without an obvious failure at the time of use.

While standard condoms will fit almost any penis, some men may find that use of 'snug' or 'magnum' condoms decreases the risk of slippage, leaking, and bursting.

Experienced condom users are significantly less likely to have a condom slip or break compared to first-time users, although users who experience one slippage or breakage are at increased risk of a second such failure. It is believed that instruction in proper condom use also reduces failure rates.

Among couples that intend condoms to be their form of birth control, pregnancy may occur when the couple does not use a condom. The couple may have run out of condoms, or be traveling and not have a condom with them, or simply dislike the feel of condoms and decide to "take a chance." This type of behavior is the primary cause of "typical use" failure (as opposed to "method" or "perfect use" failure).

Another possible cause of condom failure is sabotage . One motive is to have a child against a partner's wishes or consent , known to be done by men and women alike. Saboteurs usually pierce the condom's tip multiple times before intercourse.

Answer 2

They are fairly effective against pregnancy, but they can break on occasion, so there is still a chance you would get pregnant even if you used condoms. It's definitely better than not using anything, they will help to decrease the chances a lot.

They can help you to avoid STDs as well, but you should in no way ever count on them to protect you from STDs, because there is still a very high chance you could get an STD even if a condom is being used. Again, it is still much better to use them than to use nothing, but you should never count on them to be 100% effective.

Using condoms every time will greatly reduce your chance of pregnancy or being involved in transmission of an STD, but they are not a guarantee.

~Kyle

Answer 3

ONLY 83% safe! And the Pill, is 94% safe ! Honestly it is best if the woman is on the pill, and the man uses a condom as Well, or else your both taking a Big risk!! "This is the ONLY way to be Completely SAFE !!!"

THANK YOU, from a Caring Doctor, with a PhD.

Answer 4

A condom is considered very good for preventing AIDS. Very good but not perfect. Condoms break sometimes. Its rare but it can happen. I think the failure rate is about 5 per-cent, so its better than nothing but not perfect. You have to wear it right, put it on right, I think some kinds of lubricants can damage them.

Answer 5

First, check the expiration date. They don't last forever. Most condoms are safe and reliable. The problem is that alot of men don't know the correct way to put them on.

Answer 6

Condoms are safer than not using anything at all. You can still get pregnant and catch std's even though you wearing a condom.

Answer 7

They are not 100% safe. They have a chance of breaking and very small chance of leaking.

Safer sex is a long term monogamous relationship with a trusted partner.

Safest yet is abstinence.

Answer 8

They are not a 100% reliable method of birth control. Also, some people have allergic reactions to latex, but there are natural ones you can purchase should you have an allergy to latex.

Answer 9

Yes, unless you're allergic to latex. Which, in that case they do make non-latex condoms, they're just alittle less effective.

Answer 10

It's , better than no condom. I've had 1 break one time in my life

Answer 11

It depends on many things.

Latex or rubber allergies.

Proper use.

Proper size.