Do condoms make FABMs more effective?
As a Certified FertilityCare Practitioner who teaches a modern, evidence-based method of fertility awareness, I often get the question:
Can we use condoms during our window of fertility to more effectively prevent pregnancy?
Great question!
For most couples asking this question, they are looking for whatever they can do to increase their effectiveness. They are using our method1 to avoid pregnancy, and they figure condoms will simply provide double the protection against the possibility. Maybe you’ve thought that, too?
Here’s the thing: even if you are using multiple methods to avoid pregnancy, your success in doing so can only be as high as your weakest method. This is true for natural methods, barrier methods, forms of contraception, etc.
When it comes to condoms vs. Creighton (the method of fertility awareness that I teach), it’s incredibly clear:
Condoms are far, far less effective than the Creighton Model System.
Studies measuring the effectiveness of the Creighton system show a 99.5% effectiveness at avoiding pregnancy. When we include user error (because ALL of our options have user error, even the Pill), Creighton still has a 96.8-98% use effectiveness!
Let’s compare this to the use effectiveness2 of condoms: 87%!
Keep in mind, too, that this 87% statistic comes from couples using condoms on days of fertility and infertility — meaning, its “effectiveness” was being “measured” on days when it’s actually physiologically impossible to conceive a pregnancy… Doesn’t build much confidence, does it? With this in mind, it’s possible condoms could have an even lower effectiveness when used exclusively on days of fertility.
So, does “doubling up” reduce the possibility of pregnancy? No!
Using condoms during days of fertility actually increases your possibility of pregnancy, since condoms are less effective than evidence-based fertility awareness based methods.
None of this is to say you can’t use condoms if you choose. It’s up to each and every couple what decisions they choose to make! But it’s important to have accurate information as you make these decisions — and effectiveness is a big one.
Other things that may influence your decision:
condoms can cause inflammation or irritation in some men and women
very few people (men or women) would say they enjoy condom use
they are irrelevant on days of infertility, when it’s impossible to conceive
you may have religious or moral concerns about condom use
So what should you do?
If condoms are something you have been using or were considering using, I suggest having an honest conversation with your spouse about your desire to prevent pregnancy. How strongly do you feel about it?
You may realize that you feel very strongly about not getting pregnant right now. If that’s the case, you may decide that you feel more comfortable choosing to abstain during the fertile window rather than settle for the reduced effectiveness of condoms. The most effective way to avoid pregnancy is to abstain from genital contact during the fertile window. (Thankfully, methods like Creighton make it easy to pinpoint the only days in which this is necessary each cycle!)
Or, you may find that you’re not so strongly opposed to pregnancy after all. You may feel a new invitation to enjoy being fully together as a couple when you feel so inspired, even during days of fertility.
As you have these conversations, be sure to invite God into the process. It could feel awkward initially — “I’m supposed to ask God about condom use?!” — but, guess what: He shows up. Whenever we submit our lives to God, he shows himself faithful to guide and provide. How may God be inviting you to submit even something like this to his good will for your life?
What do you think about condom use? There are certainly other factors to consider when deciding when and if to use condoms. What influences your decisions? Have you ever considered their influence on the effectiveness of a fertility awareness method before? As always, I look forward to your charitable engagement with myself and others!
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As a reminder, Fertile Faith is written by Caitlin Estes. Caitlin is the Owner and Certified FertilityCare Practitioner at Woven Natural Fertility Care, and feels passionate about providing empowering fertility education to women. Woven talks openly about the deep relationship between fertility and faith. As a Christian, Caitlin feels passionate about God’s good design of our bodies and fertility, and how this area of our lives can be incredibly fruitful, spiritually.
The Creighton Model System — learn more at wovenfertility.com
Condoms are unofficially known for having lots of potential for user error. The effectiveness can be further affected by things like
proper technique & use
the possibility the condom will break
expiration date, quality control, proper storage conditions, etc
destabilizing interactions with other products, like oil-based lubricants