If they just taught people how to use a condom and then sent them off to their merry romps, and then checked how many of them got pregnant after a few months, then the statistic is highly suspicious - after all, it could just be from misuse (put it on the wrong way, then remembered how to use a condom and put it on the right way) or just omitting to use them (and then lying about it).
In this case, that would mean that the 2% statistic just indicates that 2% of the participants were not capable or willing to use a condom.
If that's not the way they did it - then how did they do it? Because beyond having every participant followed around by a man with a clipboard, I don't see any ways to reduce the chance of misuse or lying...
The failure rate for 'typical use' (which always involves too much cases) is 15%. These statistics come from wikipedia [1], but I knew some rough numbers from sexual education at my school and were around that. For casual sex, yes, condom is the way to go (both for birth control and STDs).
That's a big bummer, because that usually means involving hormone birth control methods in stable relationships, and I hate them and the effect that can have on my partner.
I am looking forward to see the advances in male contraception [2]. But I am afraid it will be something for the next generation.
[1]: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Comparison_of_birth_control_met...
[2]: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Reversible_inhibition_of_sperm_...
Alcohol has an extremely low risk of death (overdose), but alcohol misuse (driving, etc) is much mor common, and that is critically important when assessing the risk.
I've never had a condom break or leak in 20 years of sexual activity. I tend to think of them as pretty much unbreakable. Maybe I've luckily chosen only good quality condoms in all that time? (Mostly Durex Extra Sensitive, but I try new ones all the time, in hopes of finding something better.)
- Comes in few sizes, beyond that, you're in 'specialty shops' territory. (Really, I don't care about shapes, flavours, bells and whistles, I care that it fits!)
This is absolutely valid criticism. Fit makes a big difference in how pleasurable their use is, and also whether there is risk of the condom slipping off (and probably poor fit increases risk of breakage).