MALE AND FEMALE CONDOMS
Male condom - if used according to instructions it is 98% effective. This means that 2 women in 100 1will get pregnant in a year.
If it is not used according to instructions, more women will become pregnant.
Condoms, which carry the BSI Kitemark or the European CE mark, have had thorough quality checks.
Female condom - if used according to instructions it is 95% effective. This means that 5 women in 100 will get pregnant in a year.
If it is not used according to instructions, more women will become pregnant.
Condoms can be less effective
Sperm can get into the vagina during sex, even if you use a condom. This may happen if:
the penis touches the area around the vagina before a condom is put on;
the condom splits;
the male condom slips off;
the female condom gets pushed too far into the vagina or;
the mans penis enters the vagina outside the female condom by mistake.
If any of these happen, or if you have had sex without using contraception, you can get advice about emergency contraception.