The numbers are appalling: An estimated 65 million Americans have a sexually transmitted disease, and about 15 million new infections arise each year. Suspicious that these figures indicate that condoms do not perform as advertised, family practitioner and then Rep. Thomas Coburn, R-Okla., called in June 2000 for a government analysis of their effectiveness in preventing disease transmission.
In response, 28 scientists pored over 138 peer-reviewed studies before issuing their report to the NIH. In the results of their work, released in late July, the scientists said they found little to no evidence that condoms are effective at preventing many STDs.
For example, while consistent and correct use of condoms was about 85% effective at preventing transmission of HIV, that translates into a failure rate of 15% for transmitting AIDS. (The rate can be much higher when condoms are not always used, or are used improperly.)
Moreover, HIV is actually harder to get than many sexually transmitted diseases, and it’s not the only killer in the bunch. Human papillomavirus, or HPV, is the cause of more than 90% of all cases of cervical cancer, which kills more American women each year than AIDS. The NIH analysis found no evidence that condoms prevent any HPV transmissions.
Condoms were between 49% and 100% effective in preventing the spread of gonorrhea in men, but no effect was found for women. And an array of other serious diseases — chlamydia, chancroid, trichomoniasis, syphilis and genital herpes — showed no reduction with condom use. These diseases also increase the risk of contracting HIV.
http://www.ncregister.com/Register_News/Tusnet-NIH.htmexcept for that fifteen percent of the time they fail outright by breaking, slipping off, etc My husband and I used condoms (well, technically, it was he who used the condom) for many years, and never once did any of these occur. We also used a diaphragm (well, technically, it was I who used the diaphragm). There were health reasons why I couldn't use birth control pills. But I did use the Billings method to keep track of fertility, and we either abstained during fertility or used a barrier method of contraception. And then no contraception (and there was much rejoicing) during non-fertile periods. Nor did we ever experience an unplanned pregnancy. Both of our sons were conceived as planned.