Broken Condoms? What are they?

One of the worst things that can happen to people who are trying to avoid pregnancy or sexually transmitted diseases is a broken condom. When a condom is used people expect it to work, and it often comes as a shock when it breaks. Though most people know that condoms are statistically only about 95% effective, few people realize that one reason for these statistics is based on the fact that the condoms are sometimes defective. Though the companies that manufacture condoms go to great lengths to make sure that they will work the way they are supposed to, a broken condom can still happen.

What you should do about a broken condom really depends on when you notice that it is broken. When you remove a condom from its package you should ideally inspect it before using it, although in the heat of the moment this often doesn't happen. If you notice after taking the condom from its package that it is broken, the solution to this is to simply throw it away and use another one. Sometimes the condom may have a very small hole that is hard to see, which is why close inspection really is a good idea. You also want to keep in mind that if there is one broken condom in a box, this may mean that all of the condoms in that particular box are defective. Either inspect each one carefully or throw the whole box away and buy more.

If you notice a broken condom during or after having sexual intercourse then things are a little more serious. What you should do depends a lot on your circumstances. A woman may want to see her doctor as quickly as possible to get the "morning after" pill to prevent pregnancy. Often a woman's doctor will prescribe a few of these pills to a woman who is sexually active but does not want to get pregnant so she will have them right there in case of emergency. If there is a situation where the condom breaks and it happens to a monogamous couple who have been together for a long time, the risk of a sexually transmitted disease is probably very low. If it is a casual sexual encounter and the condom breaks, both parties may want to be tested regularly until they are sure that they have not contracted anything.

A broken condom can be a frightening ordeal. If you are worried mostly about an unwanted pregnancy, it is a good idea to use another kind of birth control such as spermicidal cream along with the condom. Be sure to use a cream that won't degrade the condom material or you really won't be doing yourself any good. If you are truly worried about condoms breaking you may want to look into other forms of birth control. Though this means that the responsibility will fall on the woman's shoulders, she may think this is a small price to pay for the peace of mind.