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Male and female condoms

Male and female condoms are barrier methods of contraception. They stop sperm meeting an egg. A male condom fits over a man's erect penis and is made of very thin latex (rubber) or polyurethane (plastic). A female condom is made of very thin polyurethane. It is put into the vagina and lines it. Femidom is the only female condom available in the UK.

How effective are condoms?
How effective any contraceptive is depends on how old you are, how often you have sex and whether you follow the instructions.

If 100 sexually active women don't use any contraception, 80 to 90 will become pregnant in a year.

Male condom - If used according to instructions it is 98% effective.

If it is not used according to instructions, more women will become pregnant. Condoms which carry the BSI Kitemark (BS EN 600) and the European CE mark have had thorough quality checks.

Female condom - If used according to instructions it is 95% effective.

If it is not used according to instructions, more women will become pregnant. Female condoms carry the CE mark.

Can anything make condoms less effective?
Sperm can get into the vagina during sex, even if you use a condom. This may happen if:

• the penis touches the area around the vagina before a condom is put on
• the condom splits
• the male condom slips off
• you use oil-based products with latex condoms
• the female condom gets pushed too far into the vagina
• the man's penis enters the vagina outside the female condom by mistake
• the condom gets damaged, for example by sharp finger nails or jewellery

If any of these happen, or if you have had sex without using contraception, you can get advice about emergency contraception.

Where can I get condoms?
You can get male condoms free from a family planning clinic, many sexual health clinics and some GPs. Female condoms are free from some family planning clinics. You can buy male and female condoms from a pharmacy or through mail order as well as from vending machines, supermarkets, garages and other shops.

What are the advantages of condoms?

• You only need to use them when you have sex.
• They may give some protection to both partners from some sexually transmitted infections, including HIV.
• There are no side-effects from using condoms.
• Male condoms come in different shapes, types and sizes to suit everybody.
• Male condoms are easily available.
• A female condom can be put in any time before sex.

What are the disadvantages of condoms?

• Putting them on can interrupt sex.
• A male condom can sometimes slip off or split.
• Some people are allergic to latex, though this is rare.
• When using a male condom, the man has to pull out with the condom still on as soon as he has ejaculated. He must be careful not to spill any semen.
• When using a female condom, you need to make sure the man's penis enters the condom and not between the vagina and the condom. Also, the open end must stay outside the vagina during sex.
• Female condoms are not widely available free of charge and are expensive to buy.

For further information contact the fpa.

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