Condoms

Condoms are thin, stretchy pouches that you wear on your penis during sex, to stop sperm from getting into the vagina. Condoms also prevent sexually transmitted infections by covering the penis, thus preventing and limiting contact that can spread infections.

How effective are they?

Male:

Perfect use: Around 98% effective. About 2 in 100 women whose partners use a condom will get pregnant in a year.

Typical use: Around 82% effective. Around 18 in 100 women will get pregnant in a year. (typical use means when the method isn’t used correctly)

Female:

Perfect use: Around 95% effective. About 5 in 100 women who use a female condom will get pregnant in a year.

Typical use: Around 79% effective. Around 21 in 100 women will get pregnant in a year. (typical use means when the method isn’t used correctly)

What are the advantages?

Condoms are the only contraception that protects against sexually transmitted infections,
Only use them when having sex and no need for advanced preparation,
Widely available and come in a variety of shapes and sizes,
Most cases no medical side effects.

What are the risks?

Condoms get damaged by sharp objects such as jewellery,
Condom comes off,
Condom splits.

What makes them less effective?

Using medication creams, pessaries or suppositories can damage the latex on the condom,
You use oil based lubricants such as baby oil or lotions which damage the condom,
Have an allergic reaction to the latex, other non latex condoms are available,
Using 2 on top of one another,
Re-using a condom,
Out of date.

"We’ve got a lot out of the new resources and will certainly incorporate them into our Life Skills lessons in the future"

Penwortham Girls High School