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Condoms are one of the best ways to protect yourself during sex. They are clinically proven to reduce the transmission of sexually transmitted infections (STIs) and unwanted pregnancies.
But a common question asked by many is – can you get an STI with a condom. It is important to remember that condoms are simply tools, and no tool is appropriate in every situation. If you think condoms are 100% safe – no, they aren’t! Condoms are not 100% effective against STIs; using them correctly might help to reduce the risk of transmission.
You should always use a condom during sex if you think you may be at risk for STIs, but there are yet some infections that may slip through the cracks. Knowing what types of infections can do so; you may be able to take appropriate steps to protect yourself during subsequent sexual encounters. Keep reading to learn more.
A condom is a type of contraception, or ‘barrier’ method, used in sexual activity for the purpose of preventing pregnancy and protecting against STDs or STIs.
Condoms primarily prevent semen or vaginal fluids from coming into contact with a partner during penetrative (vaginal or anal) sex, but they can also be used as a barrier for other kinds of sexual activities including oral sex and genital touching.
Any time you engage in sexual activity, the risk for STD transmission exists. To provide effective protection, a condom must be used every single time one has sex (whether vaginal, oral or anal).
Laboratory research shows latex condoms are an effective barrier to sexually transmitted pathogens, blocking even the smallest viruses such as HIV and hepatitis B when used correctly.
The protection against STD through condom can differ when using condoms of various materials, the manufacturers of the condom, where the user wore the condom on their body, and which type of sex a person is having.
The three different types of condom materials may differ with STI protection in the following manners:
External and internal condoms can also protect someone from STIs.
The term STI refers to infection, and STD refers to the disease that may develop if the infection causes symptoms. In general, STIs are usually bacterial or viral, and can be transmitted through bodily fluids during sex. These include:
In addition, some STIs are spread through skin-to-skin contact. For example if you have sex with an individual having genital warts or genital herpes, you could get an infection simply through skin contact.
Overall, all STIs are spread either through skin-to-skin contact or bodily fluid transmission, or through both in some cases. For instance, chlamydia, gonorrhoea, HIV and hepatitis B get transmitted through bodily fluids. On the other hand, syphilis is passed on through skin-to-skin contact. HSV and HPV spread mainly through skin-to-skin contact, while trichomoniasis is transmitted through genital fluids.
Even with condom use, some infections can still spread. Get tested today to ensure your sexual health and safety.
When used correctly, the probability of STD with condom during sex can be reduced significantly. Condoms serve as a barrier, which helps protect against the spread of STIs through bodily fluids like sperm, vaginal fluids, etc.
However, remember that there are STIs that can infect other parts of the body which are not covered by a condom. It suggests that while condoms help lower the risk of getting or giving STIs, they do not offer you full protection against all infections.
Condoms are most commonly used for vaginal sex between men and women. The condom is placed on the penis to stop the penis and vagina from absorbing the infected bodily fluids.
Condoms can be used for anal sex as well to protect your partner from infections. Using condoms for anal sex is even more critical than for vaginal sex, because the anus is more prone to tearing than a vagina.
Oral STIs such as gonorrhoea, chlamydia, syphilis, herpes and HPV can all be passed on during oral sex. Whether you are receiving or giving oral sex, using condom is safer choice.
Infected bodily fluids can stay on the surface of a sex toy when it is shared with multiple partners. If the toy is not thoroughly cleaned in between uses, the pathogens can thrive and be transferred to the uninfected person who is using the toy. Therefore, you may wish to provide the sex toy with an added layer of protection by putting a condom on it before using it.
Condoms definitely do not provide 100% protection against transmission of infection, and many STIs are more likely to be passed on than others.
Herpes Simplex Virus-1 or HSV-1, commonly referred to as oral herpes, leads to the formation of fever blisters or cold sores, which appear primarily around the lips and mouth. On the other hand, HSV-2, called genital Herpes, is responsible for the creation of sores typically located around the anus or genitals.
There is strong evidence that condoms are effective at blocking the transmission of herpes infections. However, condoms do not always shield the area shedding the virus during an outbreak. It requires you to avoid sexual activity during outbreaks to reduce the risk of transmission of herpes to your partner.
Genital warts are caused by Human Papillomavirus (HPV), and may be passed on through skin to skin contact of the genitals which is not covered by a condom. Condoms are effective at lowering the transmission of this virus through protected sexual contact, but again the chances of STD with condom are higher when there is repeated, prolonged contact with a skin area either infected with or shedding the virus – for instance, in a long-term relationship.
When used correctly, condoms are about 98% effective at preventing pregnancy and reduce STI risk significantly, though breakage or incorrect use can lower protection.
Condoms are strong barriers but they might break if not put on correctly or used incorrectly. Make sure to not tear the condom with your fingernails while taking it out of the packet, and put it on with great care. In fact, if you mess it up the first way, throw the condom away and use a different one. Moreover, it is always a good idea to check the expiry date on your condoms.
Oil-based lubricants can feel great and they can also disrupt the quality of the latex in most standard condoms, resulting to the breakage of condom. Some examples of oil-based lubricants are olive oil, coconut oil, petroleum jelly, many body lotions and moisturisers. To avoid this, just use water-based lubricants. Avoid using saliva as lubricant, as it may contain infectious agents such as herpes or gonorrhoea bacteria. Use water-based lubricants instead.
It is not unusual for people to find condoms uncomfortable, and thus many people aim to put them on as late as possible. The complication with this is that STIs can be transmitted even before the man ejaculates. Male condoms should be put on as soon as the penis is erect and before any genital contact occurs.
Another mistake which most people make with male condoms is taking them off too late. A condom should be removed while the penis is still erect, holding the base to prevent leakage.
First learn the right way to use a condom and then do so.
A loose condom tends to come off, and a tight condom seems to break. Get yourself to the closest shop, buy different types of condoms, and play around with them all to see which one fits you best.
Store condoms in a dry and cool place. You may have observed someone stashing a condom in his wallet in a movie; which is inappropriate because that location creates too much friction and heat.
The date of expiry is not just a decoration on the condom. It is to be taken seriously.
The condom package can easily be opened with your fingers; do not attempt to use your teeth because it presents a chance for a noticeable or unnoticeable tear.
Condoms are not reversible. So make sure you roll it in the right direction. If you put it on and then realise it was upside down, do not reverse it and try again – simply discard it if you realise it was inverted.
When rolling the condom on, maintain the tip of the condom at the top. It is also referred to as the nipple, and in some cases the reservoir. This little space is for the ejaculate because if the space is not there, the ejaculate may cause the condom to tear.
Unroll the condom as soon as you or your partner(s) ejaculate. After removing it, seal the condom properly to avoid any bodily fluids spilling from it.
Testing right away after a possible exposure will not tell you whether an STI was transmitted to you from the partner(s) you just had sex with. All STIs have a period of incubation during which the body acknowledges and mounts an immune response by creating antibodies against the infection. It is the presence of these antibodies that the test is looking for, and it takes time for these antibodies to be detectable.
The incubation period for different STIs varies from one STI to another. Gonorrhoea, chlamydia, and trichomoniasis usually become detectable within 1–2 weeks. HIV and syphilis may take several weeks to months to show up, depending on the test used. Exact timing varies by infection and test type, so follow your clinician’s advice for window periods and repeat testing.
Worried about getting STDs while using a condom? Our experts can guide you and arrange discreet testing. Schedule your confidential consultation
If the result is positive, the doctor will usually provide a prescription for a course of antibiotics if you have a curable STI (such as chlamydia, gonorrhoea, syphilis or trichomoniasis) or a course that will help to manage the symptoms of an STI that can be treated (such as HSV and HIV).
The doctor will also instruct you to refrain from some or all sexual acts for a period of time to minimise the risk of transmission.
Having unprotected sex can lead to STIs and put your and other people’s health at risk. Fortunately, one of the best safe sex practices, which is also one of the most simple ways to help prevent STIs, is to consistently and correctly use condoms.
Condoms can prevent pregnancies and sexually transmitted infections, but they cannot work in all cases. That is why, if you are sexually active and you think you may have been exposed to an STI, you should always get tested.
The only way to completely prevent the sexual transmission of HIV and STIs is to abstain from all types of vaginal, anal and oral sex. A latex male condom or a female condom can lower, but not eliminate, the risk of transmission of HIV and STIs.
No. Only condoms lower the risk of pregnancy, STIs and HIV. Items like birth control pills, an intrauterine device (IUD), contraceptive injection, a diaphragm, birth control patch or any methods of birth control other than condoms will not protect against STIs and HIV.
Yes, studies show that female condoms are equally effective as male condoms at protecting against HIV. An effective barrier to HIV – nitrile – is used to make female condoms. Note that male and female condoms cannot be used at the same time.
Oral sex poses a lower risk of HIV and some STIs as compared to vaginal or anal sex, but the risk still exists. For instance, a non-lubricated condom is recommended for a man having oral sex. When a woman is having oral sex, a dental dam (a thin square of latex) or plastic wrap or a non-lubricated condom cut open and placed over the vagina can be used. Oral-anal sex (also called rimming) is considered a high-risk activity, but the use of a dental dam may reduce the risk to some extent.
The highest risk of sexual activity for men and women who have anal sex is unprotected anal sex with a person who has HIV or some other STI, or does not know their STI or HIV status. The use of male latex condoms with a water-based lubricant lowers the risk of tearing tissue and skin, as well as the risk of disease transmission during anal sex. Even with lube, male condoms still fail more often during anal sex than during vaginal or oral sex. Female condoms should not be used for anal sex as they do not protect as effectively.
During vaginal sex, HIV can be transmitted when HIV in semen, vaginal secretions or menstrual blood comes into contact with mucous membranes of the vagina or penis. Some STIs (such as trichomonas, chlamydia or gonorrhoea) can be transmitted in the same manner as HIV. The use of a latex male condom or a female condom reduces the risk of transmitting HIV and STIs during vaginal sex.
Yes. People living with HIV still need protection from STIs and may wish to avoid pregnancy. Condoms also prevent exposure to other strains of HIV and to other STIs, which could complicate management. Reinfection or superinfection of a new strain of HIV may lead to faster disease progression and lead to treatment with medications that may differ from the medications used to treat the initial strain.
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