Which is more effective: the pill or condoms? With perfect use, the
With typical or average use, here's how effective birth control pills vs. condoms are in preventing pregnancy: Birth control pills are 91% effective. Male condoms are 87% effective.
The bottom line is that condoms provide protection against STI's (sexually transmitted infections) in addition to preventing pregnancy. Birth control pills only prevent pregnancy.
If you use condoms perfectly every single time you have sex, they're 98% effective at preventing pregnancy. But people aren't perfect, so in real life condoms are about 87% effective — that means about 13 out of 100 people who use condoms as their only birth control method will get pregnant each year.
Contraceptives that are more than 99% effective:
intrauterine system, or IUS (up to 5 years) intrauterine device, or IUD, also called the coil (up to 5 to 10 years) female sterilisation (permanent) male sterilisation or vasectomy (permanent)
When used correctly every time you have sex, male condoms are 98% effective. This means 2 out of 100 people will become pregnant in 1 year when male condoms are used as contraception.
Sperm can't pass through a condom. The only way that could happen is if the condom breaks or if it has a hole in it. Otherwise, sperm stays trapped inside the condom. That's why condoms are so good at preventing pregnancy.
The pull-out method is about 80% effective. About one in five people who rely on the pull-out method for birth control become pregnant.
As long as sexual interaction takes place and sperm enters the vagina, there is a chance of pregnancy even while taking the pill. The withdrawal method is also not 100% effective, which means that pulling out while on the pill does not reduce the chance of pregnancy to 0%.
Doctor's Response. The failure rate of condoms in couples which use them consistently and correctly is estimated to be about 3% during the first year of use. However, the true failure rate during that time period is estimated to be about 14%.
The most common reason for failure, besides not using a condom every time, is that the condom breaks or partially or completely slips off the penis. Slippage occurs more often than breakage, usually when a condom is too large.
Recap. Some women say that they avoid condoms because they don't believe they are at risk of STDs. Others claim that condoms are uncomfortable, ruin sexual spontaneity, reduce sensitivity, or suggest a person is promiscuous.
Condoms have no side effects.
Most people can use condoms with no problem — there are no side effects. Rarely, latex (rubber) condoms can cause irritation for people with latex allergies or sensitivities. And sometimes the lube on certain types of condoms may be irritating.
Levonorgestrel. Birth control pills containing levonorgestrel appear to have a lower risk of side effects, such as blood clots, than pills containing other types of progestin.
If one or both of you test positive for an STI you may both need treatment before you think about stopping using condoms. If one of you has a viral STI, such as herpes or HIV, it will be safer to continue using condoms. If you have been using condoms to prevent pregnancy, you'll need to switch to an alternative method.
Do you feel when it rips or breaks? Men wearing condoms should be able to tell when they break — they will feel a change in sensation. Their partners might not be able to feel the difference, so the responsibility lies with them. They can learn what it feels like by breaking condoms on purpose while masturbating.
Heat, sun, oils, and chemicals all can weaken condoms, making them more susceptible to breakage. Keep condoms away from heat and light, which can dry them out. And, don't use oils or lotions with a condom, only water-based lubricants.
Non-latex condoms are not quite as effective as latex condoms and have a higher rate of breaking, meaning their effectiveness is very slightly lower at around 95%. The most common material used for non-latex condoms is polyurethane, but other materials such as lambskin are also sometimes used.
Latex condoms can be used safely in the shower or pool and water will not affect the strength of the latex. However, you must remember not to use an oil based lubricant or to use bath/shower items like gels and soaps because they can weaken the condom.
Thankfully, thin condoms are no more likely to break than standard condoms, and they undergo rigorous testing to make sure. Generally speaking, thin condoms are made from the same durable latex material as standard condoms, just thinner by design.
To make sure your condom is still intact, first press on the wrapper—you should feel a little cushion of air. If you can feel the air cushion it means that the outside of the wrapper has not been damaged or punctured. Next, while still pressing on the wrapper, feel for the slip-slide feeling of the lube.
When you use the birth control pill correctly, it gives you really great protection against pregnancy — even if semen (cum) gets into the vagina. If you use it perfectly, the pill is 99% effective.
Sperm can live inside the female body for up to five days. 3 So even if you do not ovulate for another four days after having sex, sperm could still be living inside you that can fertilize your egg when it is released.