Are Condoms 100% Effective?
Medically reviewed by: Lonna P. Gordon, MD
Do condoms always work?
No type of condom prevents pregnancy or sexually transmitted diseases (STDs) 100% of the time. For better protection from pregnancy, many couples use condoms along with another method of birth control, like birth control pills or an IUD.
Condoms are the best way to protect you from most STDs. They must be used correctly — every time you have sex. But even then, they won't protect against infections that can spread from a sore on the skin (such as during a genital herpes outbreak) if it's not covered by a condom.