The Truth? Most "safe" condoms aren't actually that much safer
Lot's of people buy "Thick" or "Extra Safe" condoms because they are worried about condom breakage. Certain 'high-risk' groups like gay men are particularly drawn to the supposed benefits of using a thicker condom.
But it might surprise you to learn that little hard evidence exists to support the commonly held belief that extra thick condoms (also called extra safe condoms, and sometimes referred to as gay condoms) are any safer to use.
This might sound counter-intuitive, until you discover that:
1. The difference in latex thickness, between regular condoms and thick (or extra safe) condoms, is measured in microns. To help imagine this, the difference in latex thickness between regular condoms and "thick" condoms is approximately 1/3rd the thickness of an average human hair. It's a very small difference indeed.
2. A double-blind clinical study looked at the difference in both slippage and breakage rates for condoms when used by gay men and anal sex. This is some of the toughest stress that a latex condom can experience. The study compared regular condoms to thick condoms (extra safe condoms) across nearly 300 couples. It's conclusion?
"Conclusion: Breakage and slippage rates were low for both condom types. There is no evidence from the present investigation to support the use of stronger (thicker) condoms over standard strength condoms among gay men. The appropriate use of additional lubricant should be encouraged."
Not surprisingly it’s a controversial topic – not least because marketing condoms as thick or extra safe happens to be a really effective way of selling them to people who are worried that a regular condom might break.
So, why market condoms as Thick or Extra-safe, when they appear to be no safer than regular condoms?
But it might surprise you to learn that little hard evidence exists to support the commonly held belief that extra thick condoms (also called extra safe condoms, and sometimes referred to as gay condoms) are any safer to use.
This might sound counter-intuitive, until you discover that:
1. The difference in latex thickness, between regular condoms and thick (or extra safe) condoms, is measured in microns. To help imagine this, the difference in latex thickness between regular condoms and "thick" condoms is approximately 1/3rd the thickness of an average human hair. It's a very small difference indeed.
2. A double-blind clinical study looked at the difference in both slippage and breakage rates for condoms when used by gay men and anal sex. This is some of the toughest stress that a latex condom can experience. The study compared regular condoms to thick condoms (extra safe condoms) across nearly 300 couples. It's conclusion?
"Conclusion: Breakage and slippage rates were low for both condom types. There is no evidence from the present investigation to support the use of stronger (thicker) condoms over standard strength condoms among gay men. The appropriate use of additional lubricant should be encouraged."
Not surprisingly it’s a controversial topic – not least because marketing condoms as thick or extra safe happens to be a really effective way of selling them to people who are worried that a regular condom might break.
So, why market condoms as Thick or Extra-safe, when they appear to be no safer than regular condoms?