The vast majority of available literature on condom failures has focused on inconsistent condom use, ignoring the phenomenon of incorrect condom use.  Researchers tend to treat consistent condom users as consistently correct condom users, which is not necessarily the case.  Bleaker yet, people with a history of condom failure tend to become distrustful of condom efficacy, misattributing their own incorrect use of the product to the company that made the condom and deterring future use.

However, the data is quite consistent that the vast majority of condom failures are due to human error and not the manufacturing of the condom itself.  When used consistently and correctly, male latex condoms are at least 98% effective in preventing the transmission of fluid-spread sexually transmitted infections such as HIV.  Below is a list of the most common condom use errors.

• Neglecting to check for an air bubble: 83% of the time
• Neglecting to check the expiration date on the packaging: 71% of the time
• Applying the condom after commencement of intercourse: 25-50% of the time
• Putting the condom on the wrong way: 10%-30% of the time
• Applying an inadequate amount or no lubrication: 25%  of the time
• Not pinching the tip: 42-75% of the time
• Not leaving excess space in the tip of the condom:  24-46% of the time
• Not rolling the condom all the way down to the base of the shaft: 15% of the time
• Removing the condom before finishing intercourse: 15% time
• Not holding on the base of the condom when withdrawing to prevent slippage or spillage: 27-31% of the time
• Other nuanced errors included unrolling the condom all the way before applying to the penis and re-using the condom: 7% of the time

[Note: “Percent of the time” refers to the collective sample pool of all condom uses by all participants in the included studies, not condom mistakes per participant.]

Most studies found that increased experience with using condoms did not improve competency.  If a person learns to apply condoms incorrectly, they are not likely to unlearn their method.  Others found that self-reported lack of information was a contributing factor to incorrect condom use.  The CDC reported that 37% of health teachers in the United States are “inadequate” in teaching proper condom application and use.  Misinformation and rumors are another source.   A review of the National Longitudinal Study of Adolescent Health found that a third of youth believe that they should not leave space in the tip of the condom and Vaseline is a recommended lubrication; one-fifth incorrectly believe that lambskin condoms are more effective in preventing the transmission of HIV than latex condoms.

One major gap in the literature is the minimal acknowledgement of the social and emotional factors of incorrect condom use.  “Heat of the moment” syndrome may take precedent over lack of education or information.  The literature also ignores that demonstrated condom ability in the laboratory—under lights, cameras, and supervision—may present differently than in the bedroom.

Please contact sexoutloud@gmail.com if you are interested in the bibliography for this piece.

You don’t have to have a penis to include insertive (male) condoms in your fun and games! For your reading pleasure, here are several sexy and fun alternative uses for condoms!

Quick Sex Toy Clean-up!
First of all, condoms aren’t just useful with fleshy bits! Slipping a condom on a sex toy like a dildo or vibe for solo sex can make aftercare of your sex toys a lot easier and faster. Because seriously, who wants to get up in the middle of a glorious post-orgasmic afterglow to trot down the hall to the sink? Roll the condom on before you get going, then throw in the trash for quick-and-easy clean-up. It’s like using aluminum foil in the kitchen to avoid dishes, but sexier!

For partnered use of sex toys, condoms are also important barriers for preventing swapping of fluids to limit STI transmission risks. Always remember to use a new condom for every partner and every hole!

Another important consideration with sex toys is potentially toxic ingredients including phthalates that are often used in a variety of plastics and soft jelly toys. Ever notice an overwhelming plastic-y smell when you first unwrap a new toy? If it smells toxic, it could very well be. Although phthalate-free toys are available, they tend to be more expensive, and throwing out all your old ones to buy brand-new can be a daunting for a college student on a limited budget. Instead, slip a condom on it to prevent exposing yourself and your most sensitive parts!

Make Your Own Sex Dam!
Major chain drug stores usually don’t care oral barriers. (Reminder: Sex Out Loud stocks free sex dams, as well as 20+ different types of condoms in our office!) But, in a few minutes, any type of insertive condom can become a DIY-sex dam! Simply unroll, snip off the tip, then carefully cut long-ways. Stretch over your partner’s vulva, butthole, or balls for safe oral fun.

For a more advanced arts & crafts project, you could use some condoms to make party lights?

Stand in for Latex Gloves!
In a pinch, a condom can be stretched over the hand as a stand-in for latex or nitrile gloves if you don’t have any, to protect your partner from inadvertent injury during finger fucking or fisting, particularly from fingernails. Remember that although male condoms are marketed in different “sizes,” all condoms are capable of stretching VERY far!

As a storage device for ALL sorts of things that don’t have anything to do with drug trafficking…
For anything from small, sensitive electronic equipment like stage microphones, to matches and smokes, to a travel-case for a toothbrush, non-lube condoms can work great to protect from moisture, sand and dirt. Text msgers take note: The touch-screen on a smartphone still works inside a condom, but now waterproof.

Before you use a condom, always (1) check the expiration date (2) squeeze the package gently to make sure the air bubble is intact (3) make sure your hands are clean! Also, make sure you have your partner’s consent.

Remember that using barriers is a way to minimize, not totally eliminate the risk of STD transmission and it’s a good practice to get tested regularly. As a UW student, you can get tested for free at UHS!

Happy sexcapades!