Condom use and errors among college students (infographic)

Condoms are a highly effective tool in preventing unwanted pregnancy and the spread of sexually transmitted infections. In fact, when used correctly, condoms are 98% effective in preventing pregnancy. However, the benefits of condoms are only realized if they are used as intended and without user error. Unfortunately, this is not always the case.

Many studies have examined the incidence of condom errors and found alarmingly high error rates. A new study involving a sample of 1,584 participants at six U.S. universities is published in sexual behavior archives Provides insight into the scope of today’s issues. Check out the infographic below for some of the study’s key highlights, including the different ways students report condom misuse and where college students are most likely to obtain condoms.

Some key findings include:

• Although condoms are available on most college campuses, many students say they feel embarrassed to obtain them this way. Most students go off campus to get them. Therefore, they do not always have condoms when they need them.
• A high proportion of young men say they lose an erection at least sometimes when wearing condoms, which may be a key factor in why condoms are not always used consistently.
• Students often use condoms incorrectly, which increases the risk of sexually transmitted infections and unwanted pregnancy. There is still much work to be done in educating young people on the correct use and use of condoms.

Interested in learning more? Be sure to check out the full study here.

Data source: Butler, SM, Oswalt, SB, Hughes, CML, Robbins, CP, & Sandstrom, B. (2024). Condom acquisition, errors, and breakage among cisgender college students in the United States. sexual behavior archives.

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Infographic created using Canva