Why condoms fail

With perfect use, condoms preventpregnancy with 98 percent success, according to the World Health Organization. Typically, however, the rate of unintended pregnancy with condoms is around 15 percent.

Led by Stephanie Sanders of The Kinsey Institute for Research in Sex, Gender, and Reproduction at Indiana University, the researchers pulled together 16 years of research on condom errors and failures going back to They found 50 studies from 14 countries, though western nations such as the United States and the United Kingdom predominated.

The studies involved diverse groups of participants, from married individuals to sex workers to college students; as such, there were a range of condom use-error rates.

An analysis of all 50 studies found a laundry list of reported errors in condom use. For example, between 17 percent and Other studies found that between 1. The research also turned up multiple mistakes in how people put condoms on. Up to Between a quarter and almost half of respondents said they'd failed to leave room at the tip of the condom for semen to collect.

About 75 percent of men and 82 percent of women failed to check condoms for damage before using them. Between 0. Improper condom use, including the wrong kind of lubricant or storage, can contribute to these problems.

For instance, oil-based lubricants will degrade latexcondoms. While perfect condom use has a 98 percent success rate at preventingpregnancy , errors can increase the risk of breakage, slippage or other condom failure.

Here are the rates for those problems:. Condoms are one of the most effective ways to prevent and lower the risk of sexually transmitted infections STIs. But they're only effective if you use them consistently and correctly. Even if you use a condom without fail, there may be times it slips off during sex or spontaneously bursts or ruptures. This can happen if the condom:.

This article reviews the possible ways a condom can fail and how you can use a condom the right way to prevent condom failure. Proper condom use isn't limited to the time you're having sex.

It starts from the moment you buy the condom and ends when you dispose of it. To prevent condom failure, there are 10 things you need to do:. To get the right size, measure your penis while it's erect. This helps you know the right length, width, and girth.

You can match the measurements to the sizing chart on the condom box. Always use water-based or silicone-based lube with latex condoms. Never use oil-based lube, including baby oil or coconut oil. This can damage the latex and increase the risk of rupture.

Never use lambskin condoms. You should not store condoms at temperatures over degrees Fahrenheit or less than 32 degrees Fahrenheit. Keep condoms out of direct sunlight and never store them in the glove compartment of your car.

If the condom is expired, throw it out—no exceptions. There's no guarantee of how effective it will be if it's past the expiration date. Tears often happen when you're rushing and rip the condom package with your teeth. To avoid this, use nail scissors instead. You can even take a condom out before sex and put it by your bed. Know what side of the condom is up and how to roll it on correctly with an open reservoir tip. Don't wait until the last minute to learn how to use a condom. Practice either alone or with your partner to get it right before having sex.

Rupture can occur when there's a lot of friction during sex. Avoid this by using plenty of lubricant. If you need to, pull out to put on more lubricant.

This is especially true if you or your partner have any vagina or penis piercings. If you don't take a condom off right away, your penis can shrink and the condom can slip off as you pull out.

This can spill sperm into the vagina or rectum. After ejaculating, pull out carefully, remove the condom, tie up the end to prevent it from spilling, and throw it away.

Even if you want to have sex again with the same partner, resist the temptation to reuse a condom. There may be ejaculate on the outside of the condom. Plus, a used condom is more likely to burst.

You can't tell if someone has an STI by looking at them. Don't let anyone talk you out of using condoms or suggest that pulling out early is safe. If you don't have condoms, you can either wait until another time or engage in safer sex practices like mutual masturbation. It's also good to know what condoms can't effectively protect you from. When condoms break or slip off during intercourse or withdrawal, however, their effectiveness is seriously compromised.

This paper explores possible explanations for this wide range of breakage rates seen in the literature and tries to provide a basis for identifying condom users who are at increased risk of breaking condoms. The analysis is conducted upon a subset of data from a study conducted by Family Health International to assess the value of laboratory tests in predicting condom breakage.

The study found a small group of users responsible for a disproportionate number of condom failures.