Dear folks. some mysterious questions about condoms

[ehmail]

I’ve seen on the internet on some surveys on condoms usage. It was reported that condoms only have 98% reliability in pregnancy prevention. The report says that out of 100 couples who used condoms correctly and consistently over a period of one year, 2 of them managed to get pregnant. How did that happen because condoms are supposed to have no holes or leakage in them? Does leakage happens in condoms? I mean when you removed it and it looks intact? Is it supposed to be leaking somewhere? How does condoms breakage looks like?

[Ann]

eh,

You have to remember that sperm swim. Hiv doesn't. Sperm live for one thing in life and one thing only - to find and fertilize an egg. They're pretty determined little critters and all it takes is one little bit of cum which contains sperm on the outside of the vagina or condom and if you're with a very fertile woman, hey, presto, baby time.

Fortunately, hiv is a very fragile virus that cannot move under its own steam. It takes a very special set of circumstances for hiv to infect, and condoms have been PROVEN to prevent this happening.

Intact condoms don't leak. The "tiny holes" myth is put about by some people who not only don't want you to use condoms, EVER, even in marriage, but they also don't want you having sex outside of a marriage.

A broken condom is obvious. Think of a broken ballon. When they burst, they burst. A broken condom ends up looking like a hula-skirt hanging on your penis. It's obvious.

Along with reading through the Transmission Lesson linked to in our Welcome Thread, here's what you need to know in order to remain hiv negative:

You need to be using condoms for anal or vaginal intercourse, every time, no exceptions until such time as you are in a securely monogamous relationship where you have both tested for ALL sexually transmitted infections together. To agree to have unprotected intercourse is to consent to the possibility of being infected with an STI. Sex without a condom lasts only a matter of minutes, but hiv is forever.

Have a look through all three condom and lube links in my signature line so you can use condoms with confidence.

Anyone who is sexually active should be having a full sexual health care check-up, including but not limited to hiv testing, at least once a year and more often if unprotected intercourse occurs.

If you aren't already having regular, routine check-ups, now is the time to start. As long as you make sure condoms are being used for intercourse, you can fully expect your routine hiv tests to return with negative results. Don't forget to always get checked for all the other sexually transmitted infections as well, because they are MUCH easier to transmit than hiv.

Use condoms for anal or vaginal intercourse, correctly and consistently, and you will avoid hiv infection. It really is that simple.

Ann

[ehmail]

Hi Ann,

Thanks for the information. Really glad that u give me an idea about condom facts. I am always being very carefully about health and I will definately use a condom.

So the actually fact that 2 out of 100 women got pregnant when they are using condoms consistantly and properly is due to the fact that they may have some cum on the surface of the condoms and not because condoms leak? Condoms do now have any holes that leak assuming if the whole thing looks intact after withdrawal?

[RapidRod]

More like they didn't use them consistently. From beginning to end.

[Ann]

eh,

It could also be that although they used condoms, the condoms broke due to incorrect usage and/or storage. Condom failure is factored into the "98% effective" disclaimer.

If you read through the condom and lube links in my signature line, you'll know how to use them correctly. A correctly used - and stored - condom rarely, if ever, breaks.  

And yes, you'll know if and when one breaks on you.

Ann

[ehmail]

Thanks Ann & Rapid again..

So it could be those people in the survey not being honest about wat they have done.. eg. unprotected halfway and then start to use.. or the condom broke but they did not report?

But as long as the condom is intact and worn from start, non of the semen are able to get into the vagina at all causing pregnancy or STIs? condoms simply don't leak if they are intact after withdrawal? 

[Ann]

eh,

We're not a pregnancy/conception website, we're an hiv website. Hiv transmission and human conception are two very different processes. 

If you want to know more about this survey that looked at conception rates and condom use, then I suggest you go back to the website where you found it and find the contact details so you can ask them about the particulars of this survey.

As far as hiv is concerned, condoms have been proven to prevent hiv infection.

There have been long-term studies of couples where one is positive and one is negative. In the couples who used condoms for anal or vaginal intercourse, but no barrier for oral activities, not one of the negative partners became infected with hiv. Not one.

Unless you have specific hiv transmission or testing concerns you wish to ask about, there isn't really anything else we can offer you here. We've given you the basics of what you need to know in order to remain hiv negative.

Ann

[ehmail]

Hi Ann,

I understand wat you are saying. So the bottom line is condoms don't leak as long as they are intact after use? And able to protect us from HIV etc.

[Ann]

eh,

Yes, that's what I'm saying. Please re-read your entire thread and remember what you've read the next time you get intimate with someone.

Ann

[ehmail]

Yes Ann,

I will always remember your advice. Thanks again and you are a great lady.