I mean, I know that no form of birth control is 100%, but condoms are the form of birth control that you can actually TELL when they fail -- unlike the pill, anything hormonal, etc. And condoms are very carefully inspected for holes by the factories and FDA, so that chance especially would be one in a million. I am just wondering, REALLY, what would make a condom fail if nothing broke, leaked, and you wore it for all genital contact, from start to finish. AND checked it in the bathroom when you were done.
Serious answers, please. Thank you. :)
2007-01-02 05:09:18 · 13 answers · asked by Amanda C 2 in Pregnancy & Parenting ➔ Pregnancy
If the condom doesn't fail, and it is used properly, then it will prevent pregnancy. The problem is you can't be 100% sure it didn't leak, no matter how much you inspect it. Sperm are microscopic, so they don't need much of a hole to travel thorugh. But most of the "failure" of condoms is because they were NOT used properly. Under the circumstances you describe, it would be VERY rare for a pregnancy to occur.
2007-01-02 05:12:37 · answer #1 · answered by MOM KNOWS EVERYTHING 7 · 0⤊ 1⤋
First of all, you make a really big erroneous assumption. You assume that you can see any kind of break that would cause a condom to fail to work.
Think about it for a minute. The minimum necessary is one sperm has to get through. A sperm is microscopic and small even for a cell. Are you SURE there aren't any microscopic-sized holes in your condom?
And the fact of the matter is that microscopic holes ARE one of the ways condoms fail. Like most rubber products, the quality tends to degrade with time. You've seen old rubber stuff, I'm sure - the surface is usually cracked. Those big cracks start from small cracks. That's why some condoms actually have dates printed on them... you want fresh ones!
It also bears mention that it is frequently the case that not EVERY condom is checked, as you seem to think. This would cost time, money, and alter the product. Manufacturers often take short-cuts where they are allowed by law, and the short-cut that is often taken is batch testing. A manufacturer will test (maybe) one out of every hundred condoms, and if that one works they'll assume that their manufacturing process is going along just fine.
You also need to keep in mind that virtually all manufacturers do not shoot for perfection (nearly impossible in manufacturing anyway). When the U.S. FDA tests condoms, a fail rate of four to 150 per thousand is considered acceptable, depending on the test that is used. This means that up to 1.5% of condoms can have problems and that is considered PERFECTLY OKAY. To the manufacturers and the government, anyway.
Even with perfect use there is a 2-5% fail rate of condoms (see link 1, below). Don't kid yourself. It's only slightly better than just pulling out.
2007-01-02 13:12:48 · answer #2 · answered by Doctor Why 7 · 2⤊ 0⤋
I think its NOT the condom problem. Its the timing.
It is when you used it? There are guys who will only use the condom when they are about to shoot because they do not want the feeling of it in the way. So probably there is a leak before the condom is used. If you are really the very fertile type, a drop will get you pregnant.
2007-01-04 22:48:51 · answer #3 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
I had a friend who only used condoms for the last part of sex .... for when he was getting close to ejaculation.
He was a collage graduate and smart about most other things ...he just didn't know that you dribble before you shoot.
The friend is now a family man by the way.
He didn't believe me when I told him that TV wrestling wasn't the real deal either.
2007-01-02 13:27:08 · answer #4 · answered by Sam 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I think the only way it would fail is if the guy took the condom off too early.
2007-01-02 13:12:06 · answer #5 · answered by Bud's Girl 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
If the condom didn't break what-so-ever and everytime you used one the condom never broke and the girl is pregnant....then someone else is the daddy!
2007-01-02 13:29:25 · answer #6 · answered by echc 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
It cant. Breaking is the only way a condom can fail.
2007-01-02 13:11:59 · answer #7 · answered by RamontheGreat 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
because the side of the box says that it isn't 100%. They probably due that for legal reasons. The chances of actually getting pregnant would be very slim if at all.
2007-01-02 13:12:12 · answer #8 · answered by Wesley C 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
you never know one of those little man stuff can slip out the condom doesn't have to break.
2007-01-02 13:14:33 · answer #9 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
you cant tell if a condom leaked- only if it breaks!
2007-01-02 13:13:02 · answer #10 · answered by noel22f 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋