11/26/2025
What's the weirdest misinformation you were given about birth control?
Purity culture loves to push the idea that condoms don’t really work, so there’s no point in using them. The reasoning? “Abstinence is the only 100% effective way to prevent pregnancy and STIs.” And while that statement is technically true, it’s also a highly manipulative way to frame the conversation. Condoms are highly effective at protecting against both pregnancy and infections. There is a point to using them!
Here are the facts:
- Effectiveness Against Pregnancy:
- When used perfectly every time during s*x, male (external) condoms are 98% effective at preventing pregnancy.
- Due to human error, with typical use, condoms are about 87% effective, meaning approximately 13 out of 100 people using them as their sole birth control method will experience an unintended pregnancy each year.
- Protection Against STIs:
- Consistent and correct use of condoms significantly reduces the risk of HIV transmission by approximately 85%.
- Condoms are effective in reducing the transmission of other STIs, including gonorrhea, chlamydia, and syphilis.
It's essential to recognize that while no protective method outside of abstinence offers 100% certainty, condoms🍌📔 substantially decrease the risks of both unintended pregnancies and STIs. There is no autonomy without accurate information.
