Condom Effectiveness
ACOG NEWS RELEASEFor Release: July 25, 2001
Statement of The American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists on a Report on Condom Effectiveness
In June 2000, the National Institutes of Health, the Food and Drug Administration, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, and the US Agency for International Development convened experts to review evidence on the effectiveness of male latex condoms in preventing sexually transmissible infections (STIs) during vaginal intercourse. Their Workshop Summary (Scientific Evidence on Condom Effectiveness for Sexually Transmitted Disease Prevention, July 20, 2001), provides strong evidence that consistent and correct condom use protects both men and women against the most serious infection, human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), and protects men against the most easily transmissible STI, gonorrhea.
The report also indicated that the available data were not of sufficient quality to reach definitive conclusions about condom effectiveness in preventing other STIs, despite some studies providing a “strong probability” that the condom was effective in preventing certain STIs. Noting that the lack of definitive conclusions reflected inadequacies in the studies involved, rather than in the condom itself, the report called for more “robust research” from better-designed and ethically sound clinical studies.
STIs affect millions of Americans and millions more around the world. The HIV/AIDS epidemic remains the public health emergency of our lifetime. To cast doubt on condom effectiveness, as some have done in reaction to this report, is misleading and potentially dangerous. The condom if used properly not only reduces the risk of STIs — as well as the risk of unintended pregnancy — it is, as the report states, the only device currently available to reduce the risk of HIV infections and STIs. Misinformation about condom effectiveness will simply increase the likelihood that people will fail to use condoms, and put men and women at unnecessary risk.
Pending additional data, the public health community, health care providers and policy makers should take this report as strong reassurance that condoms are potentially life saving. We should increase our efforts to assure that condoms reach this potential.
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The American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG) is the national medical organization representing nearly 40,000 physicians who provide health care for women.
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