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Condoms
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Four kinds of condoms: A guide for consumers
Originally Published: January 26, 2001
~ Last Updated / Reviewed on: March 31, 2006
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Dear Alice, My boyfriend and I have recently decided that we will use condoms and spermicide for contraceptive purposes. We have begun experimenting with various brands/types of condoms, which has caused concern. Can you explain the various types of condoms, and/or the advantages/disadvantages of each, i.e., effectiveness, etc. Lambskin vs. latex vs. polyurethane??? We are monogamous and primarily concerned with pregnancy prevention. Thanks for the help! Condom Confusion
Dear Condom Confusion, As you've noted, condoms are made from three different materials - latex, lambskin, and now polyurethane. Latex condoms are by far the most widely available and least expensive. The market offers several brands, each coming in a variety of sizes, colors, textures, shapes, and even flavors. Many are already coated with the spermicide Nonoxynol-9, but this slight amount has been found to be inadequate in protecting against pregnancy, so it's recommended that additional spermicide be used. However, new research no longer promotes the use of N-9 as it may facilitate HIV transmission [read Condoms with Nonoxynol-9 (N-9): Do they increase HIV risk? in Alice's Sexual Health archive]. Polyurethane condoms are the newest on the market. Compared to latex condoms, polyurethane ones are made from a type of plastic that:
Unlike other condoms, polyurethane ones are available in male and female versions. Worn by women, the female condom is a sheath that's inserted into a vagina up to eight hours before intercourse. Adding extra water-based lube helps increase comfort and decrease noise. They're not to be used together with male condoms. Read What is a female condom? in Alice's Sexual Health archive for more information about this method. Polyurethane condoms have not been well studied for preventing sexually transmitted infections (STIs), but they're believed to offer as much, or even more, protection than latex condoms. However, they're pricier than latex condoms. Lambskin condoms, in contrast, are the oldest on the market. They're made from the intestinal membrane of a lamb. Small pores make lambskin condoms ineffective in protecting against viruses that cause STIs. But they do protect against pregnancy, since the pores are too small for sperm to pass through. Lambskin supposedly has a more "natural" feel than latex and polyurethane. All three male condom types offer the same statistical effectiveness against pregnancy, which is your primary concern. Contraceptive Technology estimates that only 3 percent of couples who consistently and correctly use male condoms will experience failure in the first year of usage. Female condoms have a probability of pregnancy of 5 percent, which still makes them quite an effective method of birth control. All of these options offer similar protection against pregnancy. Other factors that could figure into your choice might include your budget, availability, how they feel, willingness to experiment, and animal rights convictions.
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