Sex & fertility

Aren’t condoms unreliable for birth control?

Actually, condoms are a great method of birth control, if used properly — and that means putting one on before any contact is made between the penis and the vagina. In studies evaluating condom use with sex workers, failures are very rare.

Condoms rarely break or fall off these days if the following guidelines for using condoms are kept in mind:

• a condom must be put on correctly;
• the vagina should be well lubricated;
• and the penis should be removed from the vagina promptly after ejaculation.

Condoms come in all kinds of sizes, textures, and thicknesses. There are even large condoms for the man who has difficulty fitting a standard one — and boy, what an ego boost that must be! Using condoms can easily be made into a fun part of foreplay.

For some adults re-entering the dating scene, the thought of using condoms or other barrier methods can be a little daunting at first, but it doesn’t have to be a huge interruption or awkward experience. It takes a little practice, patience, and support. If a man is nervous about losing his erection, then it may work better for a woman to put it on for him. She can practice ahead of time by putting one on a banana. Just be sure to throw it away afterwards — condoms should not be reused once they’ve been stretched.

If there is a method failure with a condom (such as if it breaks), you will know. Plan B emergency contraception is now available through your doctor’s office. You may want to keep a prescription on hand to use for back-up if you are using only barrier methods for birth control.

Return to:

• Birth control FAQ’s
• An intro to choosing birth control

 

Last Modified Date: 04/19/2011
Principal Author: Marcy Holmes, NP, Certified Menopause Clinician