When we are taught about contraception methods we normally get told the theoretical failure rates and then the actual failure rates. Condoms are only as reliable as the people using them, for all kinds of reasons. You can put them on wrong, buy crap ones, not leave enough of a pouch on the end, use some kind of lubricant that weakens it, not use lubricant at all.... Hence measuring their effectiveness very much depends on what endpoint you use and whether you study them in controlled circumstances or in actual use. I can't find the exact article just now, but it has been suggested that condoms are something like 70% effective against conception in actual use when used as the only method of contraception.
Similarly while The Pill is reported to be 98% effective in reality the end-users aren't anywhere near strict enough in administering it to achieve this figure. I can't remember what the actual use value is but it was somewhere around 85%.
The most effective contraceptive is the Mirena coil at 99.5%, a form of IUD, as you can do very little to interfere with its functioning short of removing it. The reported failures were also in very specific circumstances, one of which I believe was a woman who had 2 wombs and it hadn't been diagnosed before insertion. Unfortunately it doesnt offer anything in the way of protection against STDs and pelvic infections which still remains the only benefit of using condoms. It has been suggested that its use should be promoted more than The Pill due to its effectiveness and low side effect profile, but funnily enough guess which is cheaper to give out on a large scale?
no subject
Similarly while The Pill is reported to be 98% effective in reality the end-users aren't anywhere near strict enough in administering it to achieve this figure. I can't remember what the actual use value is but it was somewhere around 85%.
The most effective contraceptive is the Mirena coil at 99.5%, a form of IUD, as you can do very little to interfere with its functioning short of removing it. The reported failures were also in very specific circumstances, one of which I believe was a woman who had 2 wombs and it hadn't been diagnosed before insertion. Unfortunately it doesnt offer anything in the way of protection against STDs and pelvic infections which still remains the only benefit of using condoms. It has been suggested that its use should be promoted more than The Pill due to its effectiveness and low side effect profile, but funnily enough guess which is cheaper to give out on a large scale?