Are condoms with spermicide a good idea?
Imagine that you are standing in the grocery store staring at the overwhelming selection of condoms. The last time you had sex there was an unfortunate incident involving breakage and you are eager to avoid the pregnancy panic and STD scare that ensued. You look at the condoms with spermicide thinking that extra-protection sounds like a good idea right now.
After all, condoms without spermicide reduce your chance of getting gonorrhea and chlamydia by almost 100%, reduce your risk of catching HIV by 87%, reduce your chance of getting HPV (the virus that causes cervical cancer and genital warts) by 70%, and reduce your chance of getting herpes by 30%. Condoms with spermicide must be even better, right?
Wrong. Condoms with spermicide are no more effective than condoms with regular lube at preventing STDs. Condoms with spermicide are also more expensive and have a shorter shelf-life. So as a factory, we don’t suggest our clients choose this type condom.