so how effective ARE condoms really???

[uncreativename]

there are all these campaigns saying 'have safe sex, use a condom'...but can you guarantee that you won't contract a sexual infection from someone by wearing condoms??? presumably you can get herpes and warts if you still use a condom..but things like chlamidia etc. must be blocked right?

Would really appreciate some help on this as I don't know as much as i'd like to about their effectivity!

thanks

uncreativename


AND COULD SOMEONE PLEASE MOVE THIS TO THE STIS SECTION I HAVE STUPIDLY POSTED THIS IN THE WRONG PLACE!!! SORRY!

[Ducy]

Yes you can still get herpes from having protected sex (although IDK what the chance is to contract it)

[Brandye]

OK, you are asking something that is very difficult to quantify. We know that as contraceptives, condoms are quite effective. If 100 sexually active women use condoms every time for a year, fifteen will become pregnant. Most of these pregnancies result from "lingering" and allowing sperm to swim around the open end. Fewer than two percent of condoms actually break. Various studies have found from 3-13% slip to the point that they will allow semen to enter the vagina directly. It is interesting to note that all forms of contraception, including condoms, are more effective for women in their thirties than women in their teens! Maturity adds motivation or, at least, reduces risk.

These numbers cannot be inferred to be the same for disease prevention. Epidemiologic studies are very difficult to do because a researcher is not watching every act. We do know that in the laboratory, all the STD pathogens are stopped by the condom. So if condoms are used properly every time with the same care to withdraw immediately upon ejaculation, they will be very effective. If the semen leaks, all bets are off. Some WHO studies have found 80-93% effectiveness against HIV. These studies were done where one partner was known to be HIV infected and the other not. After a year, 80-93% (in different regions) still had one infected partner and one not.

HIV is a virus. Virus are smaller than bacteria so we may conclude that if there is that level of protection with HIV, it will the same for bacterially transmitted diseases. This is for "injected" pathogens; those that travel in the semen or enter the penis from vaginal juices.

Condoms do offer some protection agains the disease passed through lesions because the majority of the lesions are covered by the condom. But not all and there is no way to determine the degree of transmission of, for example, genital herpes during an apparent latent stage.

I am sure that you would like a direct answer to a simple question. There is no direct answer available. Virtually all authorities use terms such as "shown to be highly effective" but the results are difficult to quantify.

The only sure way is to keep your legs crossed. The next best is being in a monogamous relationship, although "mistakes" occur there, too. The third best is the condom with regular checkups.

[uncreativename]

Originally Posted by Brandye

OK, you are asking something that is very difficult to quantify. We know that as contraceptives, condoms are quite effective. If 100 sexually active women use condoms every time for a year, fifteen will become pregnant. Most of these pregnancies result from "lingering" and allowing sperm to swim around the open end. Fewer than two percent of condoms actually break. Various studies have found from 3-13% slip to the point that they will allow semen to enter the vagina directly. It is interesting to note that all forms of contraception, including condoms, are more effective for women in their thirties than women in their teens! Maturity adds motivation or, at least, reduces risk.

These numbers cannot be inferred to be the same for disease prevention. Epidemiologic studies are very difficult to do because a researcher is not watching every act. We do know that in the laboratory, all the STD pathogens are stopped by the condom. So if condoms are used properly every time with the same care to withdraw immediately upon ejaculation, they will be very effective. If the semen leaks, all bets are off. Some WHO studies have found 80-93% effectiveness against HIV. These studies were done where one partner was known to be HIV infected and the other not. After a year, 80-93% (in different regions) still had one infected partner and one not.

HIV is a virus. Virus are smaller than bacteria so we may conclude that if there is that level of protection with HIV, it will the same for bacterially transmitted diseases. This is for "injected" pathogens; those that travel in the semen or enter the penis from vaginal juices.

Condoms do offer some protection agains the disease passed through lesions because the majority of the lesions are covered by the condom. But not all and there is no way to determine the degree of transmission of, for example, genital herpes during an apparent latent stage.

I am sure that you would like a direct answer to a simple question. There is no direct answer available. Virtually all authorities use terms such as "shown to be highly effective" but the results are difficult to quantify.

The only sure way is to keep your legs crossed. The next best is being in a monogamous relationship, although "mistakes" occur there, too. The third best is the condom with regular checkups.

This is a SUPERB post brandye. exactly what i needed to hear!!

[gigi]

Brandye, though the net result is the same, I would venture to say that increased effectiveness of contraceptives in ones 30s compared to teens is largely a result of greatly decreased fertility in the 30s. Depending on the study, fertility rates drop as much as 50% from 20s to 30s.

That just to say -- Teens, don't underestimate how fertile your bodies are at this age.

[Brandye]

I do not think the decrease in fertility is nearly that great for most women but you are on to an important point.

In this context, the more important point is simply that as we mature we are less likely to take chances and are a bit more careful in our contraception. We often have questions here about missed or lost pills - from teens. The old joke was about the effectiveness of the diaphragm in the medicine cabinet. And by the time we reach our mid-20s we have learned to mean it when we say, "No condom, no sex."