In heterosexual relationships, the most concerning issue is the use of contraceptives. Currently, there are many contraception methods available in the market, but the most commonly used one is condoms. The key role of condoms is to ensure the safety of both partners and prevent unintended pregnancy and sexually transmitted infections. However, many people are concerned about the safety of condoms. Here is a detailed explanation of how safe condoms actually are.
High Safety Performance:
How likely is one to get pregnant while using condoms? According to statistics, the chance of unintended pregnancy is less than 3%, provided the condoms are used properly. The success rate of using condoms is even higher than that of using contraceptive rings. As a result, condoms are not only popular among males but also among females.
In addition, condoms show remarkable performances in protecting against sexually transmitted infections. The chances of getting infected are greatly reduced after using condoms. That is why millions of couples around the world choose condoms as their safe sex method. Condoms are considered the safest, easiest, and most reasonable way to have safe sex.
If there are small holes or cracks on the condom surface, pathogens such as Chlamydia and other harmful strains of microorganisms can still pass through the holes and cause infections. What is the safety level that condoms provide against sexually transmitted infections? The breakage rate of standard condoms is around 1%, while that of high-quality condoms is even lower. However, the chances of getting infected can be 100% if we have direct skin contact.
Even if there is no direct contact between the male genitalia and the vagina, if one partner has genital warts or herpes on the labia or the male pubic region, they can still spread the infection. Therefore, what is the safety level that condoms provide against sexually transmitted infections? Condoms cannot prevent skin-to-skin contact, such as that between the penis and the skin, nor can they fully protect against the contamination from other sexual organs. When it comes to preventing gonorrhea, the relative risk to men is between 25 and 50%, while for women, it is between 70% and 80%.
Minor Side Effects:
Condoms are one of the most commonly used emergency contraceptives. They are best for people who suffer from severe chronic illnesses, such as heart, lung, liver, or kidney diseases, but cannot use contraceptive pills or rings. Moreover, condoms do not have many side effects and can be used by most people, except those who are allergic to rubber. They have no adverse effects on the body. Compared to sterilization and emergency hormonal contraception, condoms prevent any residual effects of medication, do not change any clinical symptoms or physiological patterns, and have a much lower regret rate. They can give peace of mind during intercourse.