Everywhere I find on the internet says that condoms, when used properly and don’t break, are only 98% effective.
That means if you have sex once a week you’re just as well off as having no protection once a year.
Are 2% of condoms randomly selected to have holes poked in them?
What’s going on?
In: Biology
Birth control statistics are based on 13 cycles (one year) of a couple using only that birth control method, theoretical and actual. Not even tubal ligation (tubes tied) or vasectomy are 100% full proof, nature finds a way.
Theoretical effectiveness would account for device error, while actual effectiveness is human error. Human error would include not using the condom, putting it on wrong, etc. Theoretic would be condoms breaking, among other things. For condoms, effectiveness is 98% in theory, 92% in practice, meaning human error is more common than device error.
Cycle watching can reduce the error rate, but nothing is 100% effective.
Heres some good new for you. I have never used a birth control method other than condoms and in 25 years of sexual activity not had a single unplanned pregnancy occur. Used correctly every single time, condoms work very reliably.
98% effective against pregnancy, 30% effective against herpes.. but they skip that part in sex ed
Your math is a bit off. They are 98% effective every single time. That 1 time a year you don’t use it is 0% effective.
This is a marketing scapegoat. Like toothpaste that kills 99.9% of bacteria. It allows the company to remove liability if they don’t say it is 100% effective and then something goes wrong.
If they don’t break, then they’re pretty damned near perfect. The 2% accounts for breaks, dummies drooling pre-cum all over the place while putting them on, etc.
https://i.imgflip.com/8v67bc.jpg
First of all, those number assume perfect use, which seldom happens. But the more important question is effective against what? If we’re talking HIV protection, it’s closer to 80% in vaginal intercourse. By anal we’re talking 70%.
Protection against smear infections like chlamydia and gonorrhea is between 25% and 50%. I won’t even mention HPV.
That’s why no matter how great you condom use is, regular STI testing is important. Many infections are symptomless and you can carry them and pass them on for months or years without knowing.
That second paragraph is a classic example of a fallacy that arises from figures, I forget the name. It’s like if a nuclear shield works for 99 in hundred nukes then there is no point fighting an enemy with 101 nukes.
Does not work that way and don’t let that advise your contraceptive behaviour and for heaven’s sake don’t say this to someone you’re about to have an encounter with, you’ll get blocked on the sex and on the chat.
They break 2% of the time. Luckily its obvious when they do and secondary measures can be taken.
In the meantime concentrate on foreplay and make sure to trim your nails and check the use by date!
Sometimes, people might not put the condom on correctly, a few might have tiny, tiny holes you can’t see, and sometimes they might not fit properly. If this scares you, masturbating is looking better and better.
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