Journal article
Assessing Male Condom Failure and Incorrect Use
Sexually transmitted diseases, Vol.38(7), pp.580-586
07/01/2011
DOI: 10.1097/OLQ.0b013e3182096b62
PMID: 21278626
Abstract
Background: It has not been well established whether common indices of male condom failure are valid predictors of biologically meaningful exposure during condom use.
Methods: To address this gap, the authors compared self-reported condom malfunctions (i.e., breakage and slippage) and incorrect condom practices to 2 following objective measures of failure: prostate-specific antigen (PSA) detected in vaginal swabs collected after condom use and structural integrity of used condoms. The study, conducted in 2000-2001, evaluated 635 male condoms used by 77 women attending an outpatient, reproductive-health clinic in Birmingham, AL.
Results: Women reported breakage or slippage for 7.9% of condoms; 3.5% of postcoital swabs had moderate or high levels of PSA; and laboratory testing of used condoms revealed breaks (1.1%) and leaks (2.0%). Self-reported breakage and slippage was associated with moderate/high PSA concentrations in postcoital swabs only when the malfunctions were not accompanied by reports of corrective actions to reduce exposure (adjusted odds ratio [aOR], 6.9; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.8-26.2). Defects observed in postcoital laboratory testing were related to PSA detection (aOR, 8.0; 95% CI, 1.5-42.6). Incorrect practices defined on the condom label were frequent, but not all types were associated with semen exposure. Furthermore, other practices not currently label-defined were associated with semen exposure: touching the tip of the penis with his hands (aOR, 6.2; 95% CI, 2.3-17.0) or with her hands (aOR, 2.8; 95% CI, 1.1-72) before donning the condom.
Conclusions: Used correctly, male condoms afforded good protection based on objective measures of failure.
Details
- Title: Subtitle
- Assessing Male Condom Failure and Incorrect Use
- Creators
- Ann Duerr - Fred Hutch Cancer CenterMaria F. Gallo - Ctr Dis Control & Prevent, Div Reprod Hlth, Atlanta, GA 30341 USALee Warner - Ctr Dis Control & Prevent, Div Reprod Hlth, Atlanta, GA 30341 USADenise J. Jamieson - Ctr Dis Control & Prevent, Div Reprod Hlth, Atlanta, GA 30341 USAAndrzej Kulczycki - University of AlabamaMaurizio Macaluso - Ctr Dis Control & Prevent, Div Reprod Hlth, Atlanta, GA 30341 USA
- Resource Type
- Journal article
- Publication Details
- Sexually transmitted diseases, Vol.38(7), pp.580-586
- Publisher
- Lippincott Williams & Wilkins
- DOI
- 10.1097/OLQ.0b013e3182096b62
- PMID
- 21278626
- ISSN
- 0148-5717
- eISSN
- 1537-4521
- Number of pages
- 7
- Grant note
- Centers for Disease Control and Prevention; United States Department of Health & Human Services; Centers for Disease Control & Prevention - USA S0747-18/19 / Association of Schools of Public Health
- Language
- English
- Date published
- 07/01/2011
- Academic Unit
- Obstetrics and Gynecology; VPMA - Administration
- Record Identifier
- 9984446431302771
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