Official websites use. Share sensitive information only on official, secure websites. The amount of protection that condoms provide for HIV and other sexually transmitted infections is unknown. Condom effectiveness is the proportionate reduction in disease due to the use of condoms. The objective of this review is to estimate condom effectiveness in reducing heterosexual transmission of HIV.
Studies identified through the above search strategy that met the inclusion criteria were reviewed for inclusion in the analysis. Duplicate reports on the same cohort and studies with incomplete or nonsepecific information were excluded. HIV incidence was estimated from the cohorts of "always" users and for the cohorts of "never" users. Effectiveness was estimated from these two incidence estimates.
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Of the references that were initially identified, 14 were included in the final analysis. There were 13 cohorts of "always" users that yielded an homogeneous HIV incidence estimate of 1. There were 10 cohorts of "never" users that appeared to be heterogeneous. Consistent use is defined as using a condom for all acts of penetrative vaginal intercourse. Because the studies used in this review did not report on the "correctness" of use, namely whether condoms were used correctly and perfectly for each and every act of intercourse, effectiveness and not efficacy is estimated.
Also, this estimate refers in general to the male condom and not specifically to the latex condom, since studies also tended not to specify the type of condom that was used. Thus, condom effectiveness is similar to, although lower than, that for contraception. Sexual intercourse and contact with contaminated blood products e. The wearing of condoms during sexual intercourse has been promoted to reduce the infection and spread of sexually transmitted infections STIs such as HIV.
The review of studies found that condoms, when used consistently, substantially reduced HIV infection but did not totally eliminate the risk of infection. Heterosexual intercourse is the primary mode of HIV infection worldwide. In the U. The use of condoms is recommended for individuals who have multiple partners, who have a primary partner who is infected, or whose partner's serostatus is unknown CDC ; Surgeon General ; CDC However, the amount of protection condoms provide against HIV and other sexually transmitted infections STIs is unknown.
