How effective are condoms in preventing pregnancy and STIs?
When condoms are used perfectly for vaginal intercourse–this means every time a couple has intercourse and used correctly every time–the chance of becoming pregnant is less than 3%. This rate is in line with birth control pills. But, not every couple who uses condoms uses them every time and not every couple uses them correctly, so the average risk of becoming pregnant is 12%. If you are concerned about the strength of your condom, a Consumer Reports study found that actual condom breakage is rare: 1 in 165 during vaginal sex and 1 in 105 during anal sex. When you take human error into account, failure rates would be higher. Using a condom correctly will decrease the chance of breakage. Condoms are currently the best method of STI protection. When used correctly and consistently, condoms will greatly reduce your exposure to STIs.
