Condoms are mainly used during sex to prevent pregnancy and reduce the risk of sexually transmitted infections (STIs) like HIV, gonorrhea, and chlamydia.

What is a condom?

A condom is a thin, flexible barrier (usually latex or similar material) worn on the penis (external condom) or placed inside the vagina (internal condom) during sex.

It blocks semen from entering the partner’s body, which is how it helps prevent both pregnancy and many infections.

Main uses of condoms

  • Prevent pregnancy by stopping sperm from reaching the egg.
  • Reduce risk of STIs such as HIV, gonorrhea, chlamydia, trichomoniasis, and others.
  • Provide some protection (though not complete) against infections spread by skin contact, like genital herpes and HPV.
  • Can be used for vaginal, anal, and oral sex, and on sex toys, to keep things cleaner and safer.

How effective are they?

  • With perfect use of external condoms, pregnancy risk can be as low as about 2% per year.
  • With typical real‑life use, pregnancy risk is around 15–18% per year, because people sometimes use them late, incorrectly, or not every time.

Extra practical benefits

  • Make cleanup easier by keeping semen contained inside the condom.
  • Some people find that condoms can help the penis take longer to reach orgasm, which can make penetrative sex last longer for those who want that.

Are condoms enough on their own?

  • For pregnancy prevention, many couples combine condoms with another method like the pill or an IUD for extra safety.
  • Even if another contraceptive is used, condoms are still important for STI protection, especially with new or multiple partners.

Quick safety tips

  • Use a new condom every time you have sex.
  • Check expiry date and that the packet has a quality mark like CE/UKCA (or equivalent in your country).
  • Put it on before any genital contact, not halfway through.

If you’re sexually active and not planning a pregnancy, using a condom correctly every time is one of the simplest, most accessible ways to protect both yourself and your partner.

Bottom note: Information gathered from public forums or data available on the internet and portrayed here.