Using condoms alone

[GForceFX6800]

Hello,

In most TV shows, around school, around boards and just about everything to do with sex, people appear to be only using condoms with out any other protection. Condoms most of the time are %80 precent effective and those are pretty bad odds. Thats like for every 5 times you have sex, you could have a baby or get an STD or something else. AM I missing something? Is this kind of protect more affective then it seems? Im thinking about using a condom alone, but im stressing over these stats...

[thetease13]

no matter what you use, what you do, what combination of things you use, nothing is 100% effective except not doing it.

can you get something with a condom? sure. but odds are dramatically decreased when doing so.
atleast you are taking a step in the right direction by using a condom. many people don't use them. many of them do not use them correctly either, which is why the percentage is decreased. condoms can be up to 98% effective if used correctly.

[Brandye]

The way contraceptive effectiveness is reported is per 100 women using that technique for a year. So, the 20% (it is a little better) does not mean you become pregnant every five sex acts; it means that 100 women using condoms properly for a year will have 20 pregnancies. Condoms should be used with a spermicide in the vagina. Not the lube on the condom but vaginal jelly, suppository, foam or film inserted into the vagina. Using both condom and spermicide will reduce the chance of pregnancy to about the same as the pill.