Advantages and disadvantages of male condoms

Advantages

When used consistently and correctly with every act of sexual intercourse, male condoms can prevent pregnancy and STDs, including HIV/ AIDS. They are safe, and have no hormonal side-effects. They can be stopped at any time, and fertility returns shortly after each use. They are very easy to find and use without seeing a healthcare provider first. Moreover, men of any age can use them, and using a condom enables a man to take responsibility for preventing pregnancy and sexually transmitted infections.

Disadvantages and side-effects

Condoms do have some disadvantages. The common ones are as follows:

• Women have to rely on the man's cooperation to protect themselves from pregnancy and disease.
• Some people connect condoms with immoral sex, sex outside marriage, or sex with prostitutes, and do not want to use them.
• Some people are too embarrassed to buy, ask a partner to use, put on, take off, or throw away condoms.
• Latex condoms may cause itching for a few people who are allergic to latex and/or lubricants.
• There is a small possibility that a condom will slip off during sex.
• Condoms can weaken and may break during use if stored for too long or in too much heat, sunlight or humidity, or if used with oil-based lubricants, such as vaseline or edible oils.