Condoms are the most effective way to safeguard your sexual health as they provide a very thin barrier that stops sperm, bacteria and viruses getting from one person and into another.
How do condoms work?
Used correctly they have a very good success rate in preventing unwanted pregnancy and the spread of sexually transmitted infections (STIs), including HIV. People who claim HIV can get through condoms are wrong.
Types of condom
The male condom is worn by a man over his erect penis, while the femidom is a pouch with two rings inside it that a woman inserts into her vagina before sex.
There are different condoms to choose from too.
How effective are condoms?
If over a year men use condoms properly with their female partners, 98 per cent of these women will avoid getting pregnant. This figure drops to 85 per cent if condoms aren’t always used correctly.
Female condoms have a lower level of effectiveness (95 per cent if used correctly, 79 per cent if not always used correctly).
While other contraceptives such as the Pill protect against unwanted pregnancies, unlike the condom they offer no protection against STIs.
Using a male or a female condom together with other methods of contraception offers protection against both pregnancy and infections.
The benefits of condoms
Compared to other products that protect against pregnancy and STIs, condoms are:
- cheap
- easy to find
- only need to be used while sex is happening
- don’t have side effects
- or require the help of a health worker to use.
Problems?
Of course condoms can have their problems, just like anything else, but there are ways you can manage those.