Estimating the chance of contracting an STD while wearing a condom is not as simple as quoting a statistic. There are many different factors that can affect your chances of contracting an STD, even if you use a condom.
Latex condoms have been found to provide an effective protective barrier against STDs. However, to benefit from this protection, condoms must be used consistently and correctly.
Correct practices include:
- using a new condom for each vaginal, anal and oral sex action throughout the act.
- put on the condom before any genital contact.
- carefully withdraw the condom and throw it away so that others cannot touch it.
- promptly replacing a broken condom at any time during sexual activity.
- using a water-based lubricant with latex condoms, as an oil-based lubricant can cause the latex to deteriorate.
You may practice all of these correct condom-use behaviors and still be at risk for some STDs. Several STDs are transmitted through skin-to-skin contact and sexual intercourse. Condoms won’t do much to prevent these infections because parts of you and your partner’s bodies outside the condom are likely to come into contact with each other as well.
However, regardless of perfect condom use, there are some STDs that you can get from wearing a condom because they can be transmitted in ways that don’t require condom use. Certain STDs require only skin-to-skin contact, not sexual intercourse (although most can often be transmitted through sexual intercourse as well). As such, condoms won’t do much to prevent the transmission of these infections, as it’s likely that parts of you and your partner’s bodies outside the condom will also come into contact with each other.
Some of these STDs include:
Herpes
Both oral and genital herpes can be transmitted regardless of condom use. Transmission of herpes occurs through skin-to-skin contact with an infected area, as well as through saliva and other bodily fluids. Herpes symptoms do not have to be noticeable for the disease to spread.
HPV
HPV can be transmitted regardless of condom use because it can also be transmitted through skin-to-skin contact in areas not covered by a condom. Strains of HPV that masquerade as genital warts can be transmitted through contact with the genital warts, which can often be located in areas not covered by a condom.
Syphilis
Like herpes and HPV, syphilis can be spread through sexual contact and through contact with sores caused by the bacteria Treponema pallidum.
Pubic lice (crabs)
Crabs, or pubic lice, are small parasitic insects that feed on your blood. As the name suggests, pubic lice usually live in pubic hair that is not covered by condoms. Coming into contact with infected pubic hair will likely result in transmission of the lice, regardless of condom use.
Even with infections that can usually be prevented by condom use, there is still a chance of transmission outside of oral, anal, or vaginal sex. When it comes to an infection that is passed through sexual fluids, such as semen, precum, or vaginal fluid, any sexual act that involves these fluids or anything that comes into contact with them can result in the transmission of STDs. Use caution when performing sexual acts where these fluids are present and avoid reusing or sharing unwashed sex toys.
Knowing your chances of getting an STD with a condom is almost impossible to say, even with the information available in this blog. Even with perfect condom use, some STDs can still be transmitted from one person to another. However, that does not mean that you should completely abandon condom use. Condoms are still an essential tool to help prevent pregnancy and practice safer sex.