Source: Georgia Tech Wellness Center
This page has statistics and studies from reputable institutions citing the effectiveness of male latex condoms. The last section addresses some common myths about condoms.
Statistics
The following statistics are from the fact sheet "The Truth About Latex Condoms," developed by the Sexuality Information and Education Council of the U.S. (SIECUS).
1. Condoms are 98% effective when used correctly.
2. The average failure rate for condoms is 12%: reflective of people who do not use them properly or do not use them every time they have intercourse.
3. Laboratory tests show that neither sperm, which has a diameter of 3 microns, nor STD-causing organisms, which are a quarter to a ninth the size of sperm, can penetrate an intact latex condom.
4. If there is a leak in more than 4 per 1,000 condoms, the entire lot (approximately 5,000) is discarded.
Studies
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention promote latex condoms as being "highly effective [against STD's] when used consistently and correctly." In fact, "recent studies provide compelling evidence that latex condoms are highly effective in protecting against HIV infection when used for every act of intercourse." Some of these studies used "discordant couples". These are couples where one person is infected with HIV and the other is not. One such study featured 124 couples who reported consistent use of latex condoms during sex After 2 years, none of the uninfected partners became infected.
A study cited by the University of California, San Francisco in an HIV Prevention Fact Sheet supports this finding. The study focused on 245 heterosexual couples where one partner was HIV infected and the other wasn't. None of the 123 male or female partners who consistently used condoms became infected. In contrast, 12 of the 122 partners who either didn't use condoms or used them inconsistently became infected.
Myths
This information is from a CDC publication titled "Condoms and Their Use in Preventing HIV Infection and Other STD's."
Myth #1: Condoms don't work.
Some persons have expressed concern about studies that report failure rates among couples using condoms for pregnancy prevention. Analysis of these studies indicates that the large range of efficacy rates (effectiveness) is related to incorrect or inconsistent use. In fact, condoms are highly effective for pregnancy prevention, but only when used properly. Incorrect use contributes to the possibility that the condoms could leak at the base or break.
Myth #2: Condoms frequently break.
Some have questioned the quality of latex condoms. Condoms are classified as medical devices and are regulated by the Food and Drug Administration. Every latex condom manufactured in the United States is tested for defects before it is packaged. During the manufacturing process, condoms are double-dipped in latex and undergo stringent quality control procedures. Several studies clearly show that condom breakage rates in this country are less than 2 percent. Most of the breakage is likely due to incorrect usage rather than poor condom quality. Using oil based lubricants can weaken latex, causing the condom to break. In addition, condoms can be weakened by exposure to heat or sunlight or by age, or they can be torn by teeth or fingernails.
Myth #3: HIV can pass through condoms.
A commonly held misperception is that latex condoms contain "holes" that allow passage of HIV. Laboratory studies show that intact latex condoms provide a highly effective barrier to sperm and microorganisms, including HIV and the much smaller hepatitis B virus.
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