Slide 9
This study of 360 couples in Los Angeles, California compared the
breakage and slippage rates of two types of condoms: latex and polyurethane. The slide
shows clinical failure rates, all breakages and slippages that occurred during intercourse
or withdrawal. Overall, polyurethane condoms were found to be 6.6 times more likely to
suffer clinical breakage or slippage than were latex condoms. The study also looked at the
characteristics of study participants that were correlated with condom breakage; they
were: history of condom breakage with the current partner, with partner for less than 6
months among others. Also of interest is that almost half of the couples preferred the
polyurethane condoms.
Slide
10
This study of 92 couples and 4637 episodes of use, reported a clinical
breakage rate of 0.28%, total breakage rate of 0.41% and slippage rate of 0.61%. It is
important to note that 21 of 29 slippages occurred in one couple; if that couple is
removed from the results the total failure rate is halved. These rates are lower than most
reported failure rates.
Slide
11
Condom failure rates vary greatly from study to study. A 1974 study by the
British Family Planning Association which followed 2057 couples who had switched to the
condom from COCs, IUDs or the diaphragm found a failure rate of 4%. A rate of 12% is more
commonly given as the failure rate for typical users. It is important to note that for
condom users, typical users include those using condoms inconsistently and incorrectly.
Slide
12
Most studies of condom permeability have not found that HIV can be
transmitted through a condom. Some studies suggest that latex condoms do not have holes
that pass through the condoms. In vitro studies of permeability have shown that small
amounts of fluid (0.1 microliter) can pass through condoms but this amount of semen is
unlikely to contain HIV. With this level of permeability, condoms reduce exposure
10,000-fold.
