Condom

:This article is about the contraceptive device. For the town in France, see Condom, France.

Condom failure

Most condom failures are due to misuse. This has led some researchers to suggest age-appropriate sex education that includes how to use a condom properly. A 1994 FHI study showed that most condom users rarely experience condom breakage or slippage. http://www.fhi.org/en/RH/Pubs/factsheets/breakslip.htm According to the World Health Organization http://www.who.int/mediacentre/factsheets/fs243/en/, condoms currently have a failure rate of three percent at twelve months, when used properly and consistently.

Related Topics:
Sex education - 1994

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Another possible, though rare, cause of condom failure is outright sabotage. One motive is to have a child against a partner's wishes, known to be done by men and women alike. Saboteurs usually pierce the condom's tip multiple times before intercourse. As this can result in pregnancies unwanted by one of the participants, it is generally seen as a deceitful and unethical act. However, at least one website is set up to provide advice on sabotage to women who want a child against their male partner's wishes. Sabotage as a teen prank has also been portrayed (in passing) in the Japanese film Pikanchi.

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One method of testing condoms for microscopic holes involves placing the condom being tested over one conducting form with another on the other side of the condom. If the condom does not prevent an electric current from flowing between the two conducting forms, it fails the test. Holes in condoms are unlikely if proper handling conditions (see below) are followed.

Related Topics:
Conducting - Electric current

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