On average, scientists estimate The Truth About Condoms the effectiveness of condoms to be high — 98%. However, this figure quickly drops if they are worn incorrectly or at the wrong time. Very often, this is exactly what we do.
In 2012, a group of scientists from several institutes in the USA, the UK, and Canada conducted Condom use errors and problems: a global view a comprehensive analysis of such errors. The study covered English-language publications in peer-reviewed journals from 1995 to 2011: this includes 50 articles with data from 14 countries. Because the texts relate to different categories of people and different periods, there is no unified statistics, but the average percentage of errors can be identified.
1. Wearing at the wrong time
Already after penetration, that is, potential infection, 25% of surveyed couples put on a condom. They removed the condom before ejaculation and continued to have sex — 17%. Formally, people still used the condom, but their sex did not become protected because of that.
2. Wearing incorrectly
To correctly wear a condom means to check the expiration date, choose the right size, ensure that the condom material is undamaged, apply it to the head of the penis on the correct side, and roll it down so that there is a little space at the tip and no air. This should be done smoothly, without touching the surface with nails. Ideally, if you drop one drop of lubricant inside before this, and then three more on top. You can watch the master class in the BuzzFeed video.
The study showed that on average, 74% of people do not check if the condom they are putting on is correct at all. 18%, that is, almost every fifth person, wore a condom inside out and rolled it down as best as they could. In such cases, there are two dangers: firstly, the contraceptive may roll up and slip off in the process; secondly, the special notch for sperm will not be filled because it is designed to stretch from the other side.
Unfortunately, the study does not address perhaps the most important problem of condom use — that of what is still considered sex. Many believe that oral or anal sex does not count and cannot lead to infections. But that is not true.
3. Considering oral and anal sex safe
Famous gynecologist Dmitry Lubnin explains that sexually transmitted diseases are transmitted through vaginal, oral, and anal sex. A condom is needed for each of them. To understand why, let's figure out how diseases are transmitted sexually.
Two conditions are required for infection. The first — a particle of the virus or infection. The second — a wound for it to enter.
It has become the case that pathogenic agents in people infected with STDs concentrate in blood, semen, vaginal fluids, and breast milk. This is why diseases are not transmitted, for example, through saliva, mucus, or tiny pieces of skin. Otherwise, they would have been called something else. Wounds are provided by friction, which cannot be excluded from any form of sex.
Micro-cracks, invisible to the eye, that form on the skin of partners during anal, vaginal or oral contact — are the path through which viruses and infections from the sick enter the healthy body.
To prevent this from happening, a barrier is needed. The condom serves as a barrier for the virus. If it is suitable for oral and anal sex, then it is necessary to figure out what to use for cunnilingus, anilingus, and penetration petting, which can also leave micro-abrasions. For these cases, there are latex sheets, which are sold in pharmacies and intimate stores, and come in different colors and flavors. A cut condom can also be used as a replacement.
In movies, it is almost impossible to encounter a bedroom scene where a partner pulls something like that out of the nightstand. It is largely for this reason that such an approach may seem strange, stupid or awkward. But if you are afraid of looking like a fool to your partner, is it worth the game?
In any case, it should be taken into account that the period before the symptoms of many diseases appears can vary from days to months and even years, so any person may simply not know that they are sick. Thus, any contact without a barrier remains frivolous and dangerous, even if in porn, literature, and series, nobody thinks about it.
4. Forgetting to wash hands
Fingering — finger stimulation with penetration — also requires its barrier. Latex gloves can serve this purpose. But if this seems excessive caution to someone, it is very important to at least wash your hands before sex. We were taught to do this only before eating, and that is a mistake.
5. Not holding the condom during oral sex
Oral sex is a sexual practice with a high risk of injury. This is especially true for deep throat oral sex, which is popular in porn. Besides the risk of damaging the trachea, there is a real danger of choking. In January of this year, news circulated about a woman from St. Petersburg who died from choking after oral sex. A condom was left in her throat, which could not be removed.
If a person chokes on a condom, it is almost impossible to save them on the spot without professional help.
Latex sticks to the walls of the trachea and blocks the airflow. It is impossible to reach the thin impermeable layer to puncture it or remove it. Therefore, during oral sex, where the receiving party is a man, the condom must be held at the base of the penis.
6. Picking up condoms from the floor
People often drop condoms, it is not hard to imagine. It is one thing if it fell onto the sheets, and quite another if it fell on the floor. Even if it seems clean, bacteria or dirt particles may have stuck to the latex surface. The former can lead to inflammation. This is why we have been taught since childhood not to eat food that has fallen on the floor, and over time we begin to realize that sitting on it without underwear is also not a good idea.
Furthermore, any dense particles, such as crumbs, that get on the surface of the condom will create areas of increased tension during friction. Latex can tear: crumbs are not considered in production testing.
7. Wearing two condoms at once
It may seem like wearing two condoms at the same time can achieve double protection. But that is not the case. All tests are calculated on the principle of one layer. A second significantly increases friction, and the latex breaks.
With clean hands and clear thoughts — that is perhaps a universal approach to truly protected sex.
