How effective are condoms?

A condom (a thin covering worn over the penis or inside the vagina during sex) is one of the most accessible forms of birth control. 

Available from drugstores and sometimes even vending machines, condoms are often your best option if you need to get contraception quickly. But if you’re using condoms on their own, how reliable are they at preventing pregnancy and sexually transmitted infections (STIs)? Let’s find out.

Key takeaways

• Condoms are not as effective as some other forms of birth control. 
• When used perfectly, 2 people in every 100 will get pregnant anyway within a year. 
• It can be difficult to use condoms perfectly every time because they are prone to tearing and have to be put on and removed carefully to avoid any leaks. 
• Condoms are the only kind of birth control that can protect you against STIs. For the best all-around protection, use them alongside another form of birth control.   

What is the effectiveness of condoms? 

Let’s look at the stats. With perfect use, external condoms (the type of condom that’s worn over the penis) have a failure rate of 2%. That means for every 100 people using the contraception in the correct way in a year, 2 people will get pregnant anyway. However, with typical or normal use, the failure rate is much higher than this, at 13%, often because of human error. 

Internal condoms (sometimes called female condoms) are slightly less effective overall. In case you haven’t come across them before, here’s a quick overview. These types of condoms go inside the vagina to keep sperm from entering your uterus. With perfect use, female condoms have a failure rate of 5%, meaning for every 100 people using the contraception in a year, 5 people will get pregnant anyway. But with typical use, the failure rate rises to 21%. 

“Condoms are not as effective as some of the other contraception methods,” says Dr. Renita White, Obstetrician and gynecologist, at Georgia Obstetrics and Gynecology, Georgia, US. 

Take, for example, hormonal intrauterine devices (IUDs), which have a failure rate of 0.2%, or the implant, which has a failure rate of just 0.1%. 

But condoms have other important benefits. As well as being readily available, they are the only method of birth control that can protect you against STIs. This is because they can stop or greatly reduce the chances of exchanging bodily fluids through the genitals during vaginal or anal sex. Condoms can protect you against most types of STIs, including chlamydia and gonorrhea, so they’re important if you or a new partner haven’t had a sexual health screening recently.

Can you get pregnant with a condom?

As we’ve seen, there is a chance that condoms will fail to protect you from pregnancy, especially if you don’t use them perfectly. For example, one study found that 42% of men did not use a condom from the start to the end of penetrative sex. 

When people don’t use condoms correctly, it’s usually due to human error rather than a fault with the condom. If the condom leaks after making any one of the following errors, there is a pregnancy risk:

• Tearing: If you don’t use enough lube or have sharp, jagged fingernails or jewelry, it can create tiny tears in the condom that can be tricky to spot. 
• Putting the condom on or taking it off incorrectly: The condom can also be less effective if you put it on incorrectly, such as by unrolling it backward without leaving empty space for sperm to collect at the tip or if the wearer fails to hold down the rim of the condom when pulling out after ejaculation. We’ll explain more on how to put a condom on below. 
• Getting the size wrong: Condoms can also be less effective if they don’t fit correctly, so it’s important to get ones that are the right size.  

If you have a condom mishap, don’t beat yourself up about it. Things don’t always go according to plan, and many of the human errors above are easily done. But if you’ve noticed a leak or tear in the condom, it’s important to use a form of emergency contraception as soon as you can to avoid pregnancy. 

Emergency contraception can prevent over 95% of pregnancies when taken within five days of having unprotected sex. You can either take an emergency contraceptive pill (sometimes called the morning-after pill) or arrange to have a copper IUD inserted by your doctor. 

Tips on how to use a condom

The following tips will help to boost the effectiveness of condoms and hopefully lessen any anxiety you have over whether they’re working properly.  

How to choose the right size 

First up, make sure the condom size is right. Most condoms will fit most people, but everyone is different. A condom that’s too big could fall off during sex, while one that’s too small could break. 

A well-fitting condom will feel snug to the wearer but not too tight. It will cover the penis from tip to base with a half-inch gap to catch ejaculation at the top. Don’t worry if there’s a bit of extra material rolled up at the base, but if the condom doesn’t reach the base near the belly, then you will need to size up. 

Look for details about the size of the product on the condom packaging, which will provide measurements according to when the penis is fully erect. A standard condom size will likely be for a penis between 5 and 7 inches long (12.7 to 17.8 cm) and with a girth of 4 to 5 inches (10.2 to 12.7 cm). To get the right size, use flexible tape to measure from the base of the penis to the tip and then around the widest part of the penis shaft to measure the girth. 

How to put a condom on and remove it correctly 

• Take the following steps every time you have sex: 
• Check the expiration date and carefully remove the condom from its packaging. 
• Place it on the top of the erect penis with the rolled side facing outward and a small gap above the tip.
• Pinch the tip of the condom to squeeze out any air and gently roll the condom all the way down to the base of the penis. 
• After sex, the condom should be held at the base while pulling out to avoid any leaks. 

How to avoid tearing 

Friction during sex can sometimes cause a condom to tear, so adding lube can make condoms more effective. For condoms made of latex, make sure you use a water-based lubricant (you can buy these over the counter), as oil-based lubricants can increase the risk of breakages.

To avoid tears, you should also make sure the condom doesn’t come into contact with piercings, sharp fingernails, jewelry, or teeth. And you should never use a condom that feels sticky, dry, or stiff or that looks bent or creased. For more advice, read our guide on how to store condoms properly. 

Use condoms with another form of birth control 

Pairing condoms with another form of birth control can be the ideal approach, as it will boost your protection against pregnancy while protecting against STIs. You could try adding: 

• Hormonal birth control like oral contraceptives (the pill), the birth control shot, or IUDs
• Another nonhormonal birth control method like the diaphragm
• Spermicide (a foam or jelly that kills sperm)

Fancy testing your knowledge on different kinds of contraception? Try our birth control quiz. 

How to set boundaries with your partner 

If your partner is pressuring you to have sex without a condom, it’s time to have a serious conversation with them. Setting boundaries around sex can help you stay safe as well as feel more empowered in your relationship. It’s good to set boundaries before you become intimate with someone, but you can have the discussion at any point during the relationship — even if you’ve been together for years. The following tips can help you navigate that conversation: 

Choose the right time and place 

Rather than trying to set boundaries in the middle of an argument or even during sex, have the chat in a neutral environment and at a time when you’re both feeling relaxed.

Use “I” statements 

Focusing the conversation on your emotions and needs will prevent your partner from feeling attacked and getting defensive. For example, you could try saying, “I don’t want to have sex without a condom. It makes me feel anxious and unsafe. I need to know that we’ll always use protection, even in the heat of the moment.”

Explain clear consequences 

If someone tries to cross your boundaries, explain that there will be consequences if the behavior continues. For example, you could say, “If I feel pressure to have sex without a condom, I will stop us from going any further.” 

Know your worth

You should never feel pressure to do anything sexual that you are not comfortable with. If your partner continues to disrespect your boundaries after clear communication about the issue, then you should seriously consider whether to continue the relationship. You deserve to be with someone who cares as much about your needs as their own. And if you ever feel unsafe during sex or think you might be experiencing any kind of abuse, know that you are not alone. There are support networks out there dedicated to providing information, help, and protection. You can find networks in your country on our crisis support page.

The pros and cons of condoms

Pros 

• Condoms are easily available.
• They are the only type of contraceptive that can protect you against STIs.
• With perfect use, they are an effective form of contraception.
• They can be used alongside other forms of birth control. 
• They have no impact on your hormones.
• They can be used immediately after giving birth and, unlike contraception that contains the hormone estrogen, they won’t affect your milk while breastfeeding.

Cons 

• There’s lots of room for human error with condoms, making them less effective with typical use. That’s why it’s important to make sure you’re putting them on and taking them off correctly.
• They need to be put on once the penis is already erect, potentially interrupting the moment. One way around this is to make putting the condom on feel like it’s part of foreplay. 
• Some people are allergic to the material used in condoms, such as latex or polyurethane.

Finding the right birth control for you

When it comes to contraception, condoms aren’t the most effective method out there. But if you use them correctly and consistently, they can provide reliable protection against pregnancy. And remember, they are the only type of contraceptive that can reduce your chances of getting an STI. Having them on hand is a great idea even if they’re not your main method of birth control. Speak to your doctor about your different options. They’ll be able to help you figure out the best birth control method for you.