CONTRACEPTION: BARRIER METHODS

The condom. This useful little article is experiencing a renaissance. It fell out of favour when the more convenient, less obtrusive oral contraceptive pill took to the streets. However, recent events, such as the advent of AIDS (acquired immune deficiency syndrome), and the apparent explosion of PID (pelvic inflammatory disease), have bolstered the popularity of this strange little rubber thing.

The condom is a very thin, strong latex sheath. It is designed to fit over an erect penis, catch the ejaculate (the semen) in a little reservoir at the tip, and be removed and thrown away. Various success (or failure) rates have been reported. The failure rate of a contraceptive method is usually expressed as ‘per 100 women years’. This means how many women would be expected to get pregnant if 100 women were using the method for a year. The failure rate for condoms has been found to be between four and fifteen pregnancies pet 100 women years (about 85 to 96 per cent effective). There is an enormous variability depending on the users, so true failure rates are difficult to assess.

Problems can arise when the condom is not put on early enough. As mentioned previously, there are plenty of sperm hanging around eagerly prior to ejaculation, like barflies around opening time. Not everyone reads the instructions carefully before putting the condom on (admittedly, it can detract from the atmosphere a little). But if the condom breaks, a panicky trip to the doctor for the morning-after pill certainly doesn’t do heaps for the atmosphere either.

There is a little nipple-like bit on the tip of the condom. This is to catch the ejaculate. If the air is not fully squeezed out of the tip before the condom is rolled onto the penis, a pocket of air may be trapped inside, which heats up and expands during intercourse. Add to this a couple of millilitres of semen and the condom may burst, no matter how carefully it may have been tested.

Another trap for young players is removal of the condom. This should happen before the penis gets flaccid (floppy) again, and care should be taken not to spill semen. The condom should be held onto the base of the penis while the penis is being removed from the vagina so the condom doesn’t slip off. The effectiveness of the condom as a contraceptive is improved by the use of a spermicidal cream, jelly or foam. There are many on the market, but they should only be used in conjunction with a barrier method, not on their own, as they are NOT effective alone.

If using a lubricant, it is important to use a water-based one, such as K-Y Jelly, and not an oil-based product, such as Vaseline or baby oil, as these weaken the latex and make the condom less effective, and more likely to break. Putting on a condom does not necessarily need to be an inconvenience; imaginative couples can easily incorporate it into foreplay.

The benefits of the condom as a contraceptive are obvious. However, the function of the condom as a germ-catcher makes it an even more useful device. As well as stopping sperm, it can decrease your chances of catching viruses (like herpes and AIDS), bacteria (like gonorrhoea and chlamydia), and other miscellaneous bugs (like syphilis and trichomonads). There are many brands of condom on the market now, with a tantalizing selection of names and promotional promises. All Australian condoms must conform to Australian standards, but if used incorrectly, or not used EVERY TIME, you might as well be wearing it on your nose (not a recommended function).