Chance of catching something through a condom?

Question

Assuming you wear a condom (properly) and assuming the person is riddled with STI's (for now ignore the ones you catch regardless like crabs), what is the chance you would catch something?

I once heard a simile something like 'it would be like pushing a golf ball through 10 feet of rubber' or such. Anyone know what the actual phrase is?

Answer 1

You can catch herpes, and HPV with or without a condom. The others are transmitted through fluids. So the condom would have to break.

Answer 2

You might hear abstinence-only advocates or various HIV-denialist folks say that HIV can penetrate latex (one guy likes to say "The HIV virus can go through a condom like a bullet through a tennis net"), but repeated studies have shown this not to be the case. For a sampling, check out Google Scholar and look up keywords "HIV condoms prevention."

I hate using older citations, but in recent years the research shift has been more towards epidemiological and behavioral studies and not material science ones; this article was the most concise and addresses the point best.
Sexually Transmitted Diseases:Volume 24(3)March 1997p 161-164.

Here's a snippet of the abstract:
Results: Under test conditions, 2.6% (12 of 470) of the latex condoms allowed some virus penetration; the median level of penetration was 7 × 10-4 ml. Lubricated condoms performed similarly to nonlubricated ones. Polyurethane condoms yielded results higher than but not statistically different from those for latex condoms.

Conclusions: Few condoms allowed any virus penetration. The median amount of penetration for latex condoms when extrapolated to expected actual use conditions was 1 × 10-5 ml (volume of semen). Thus, even for the few condoms that do allow virus penetration, the typical level of exposure to semen would be several orders of magnitude lower than for no condom at all.

It bears repeating: Even for the few condoms that do allow virus penetration, the typical level of exposure to semen would be several orders of magnitude lower than for no condom at all.

Things to consider: HIV particles are MUCH smaller than bacteria like N. gonorrheae and Chlamydia. So if latex can stop HIV, then it'll definitely stop bacteria.

Answer 3

No, but you can catch something if the condom is old, or has been through such high heat. If it has a puncture in it then you could probably catch something.

Answer 4

Well you can still catch herpes without a condom.

But other STI's you won't.

When you are performing oral sex, however, if you are worried about catching an STI then use a dental dam as some STI's can be transmitted orally. These are usually used in dentists but you can buy them in shops.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dental_dam

I know you didn't mention oral sex, but the use of dental dams isn't well known.

Answer 5

Sorry the protection a condom gives is fairly good, but not that good.

HIV/gonorrhoea risk is reduced by 85% and HPV risk is cut by 70%.

The fewer the partners the less the risk. In the States many couples elect for STD testing before commencing intercourse.

Answer 6

I think most std's (except HIV and Hep) can be fairly easily caught as most are skin conditions and are therfore transmitted by skin to skin contact in the surrounding areas regardless of the condom.

Answer 7

You cant catch anything UNLESS it splits or comes off. So you can rest now. xx and no i dont know the riddle. x