Ask the Sexpert: Apr. 8, 2010

Dear Sexpert,

I recently read that condoms have a 14 percent failure rate. Does that mean that for every 100 couples that use a condom during sex, 14 will get pregnant? Those don't seem like very good odds. Are there ways I can reduce the failure rate of condoms when my boyfriend and I use them?

- Not a Statistician

Dear Not,

If 14 out of 100 times a condom were used resulted in a pregnancy, you'd be right in thinking that there would be an awfully high number of unplanned pregnancies. However, this is not what the failure-rate statistics for condoms refers to. Instead, the 14 percent failure rate means that during a year of typical condom use, 14 out of 100 sexually active women will get pregnant.

While this number is still probably higher than most people would like, the good news is that there are ways to lower your chances of an unwanted pregnancy when using a condom. The 14 percent failure rate during typical use of a condom falls to 2-3 percent when condoms are used according to "perfect use".

"Perfect use" means using a condom every time you have sex and using it correctly (i.e., you check its expiration date, make sure there are no rips or tears, position it and unroll carefully on the penis, and discard it immediately after use). Thus, "the perfect use" failure rate is actually the failure rate of the condom itself without human error. Typical use, on the other hand, takes that human error into account, and provides for the fact that many people use condoms inconsistently or incorrectly.

So far, I have only discussed condom failure as it relates to pregnancy, but "perfect" or "typical" use of condoms can also refer to the rate of transmitting sexual transmitted diseases between partners. STI transmission from a partner with an STI to one without one is 10-15 percent with typical use, while less than 2 percent with perfect use.

Thus, try to use condoms as perfectly as possible. There are a few ways to do this: Use a condom every time you have sex, store condoms in a cool dry place and make sure they aren't expired, tear the condom package open carefully (never use your teeth!), put a drop of lube on the outside of the condom to reduce breakage-causing friction, and make sure your sexual partner holds on to the base of the condom when he's pulling out.

It is important to remember that no form of protection is 100 percent effective. However, by following these steps, you can dramatically reduce the risk of condom failure.

- The Sexpert

The ‘Sexpert' is written by a team of peer sexual health educators and fact-checked by University health professionals. You can submit questions to sexpert@dailyprincetonian.com. Don't be shy!