What is the typical-use failure rate for male condoms?

• A. Approximately 13% per year.
• B. 1% per year.
• C. 25% per year.
• D. 40% per year.

Answer: (A)

Failure rate under typical use reflects real-world use, including mistakes people make when using condoms. For male condoms, typical-use failure is about 13% per year, meaning roughly 13 of 100 couples relying on condoms as their only method for a year will experience an unintended pregnancy. This higher rate compared with perfect use (which is around 2% per year) comes from common real-life issues such as improper application (not leaving space at the tip, not pinching the air out of the tip), potential breakage or slippage, using oil-based lubricants that can degrade latex, using expired or reused condoms, or not using a condom for every act of intercourse. The other options are not accurate because they under- or overestimate the failure rate for condoms in typical use.