Holes in latex condoms

These are answers from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) to questions concerning reports of holes in latex condoms.

  1. There have been recent reports of naturally occurring holes in latex that are big enough for HIV to pass through. Why does CDC still recommend condoms to prevent HIV infection?

    The reports of holes in latex appear to have originated from an article in Science Magazine about latex gloves, not condoms. Holes as large as 5 microns in diameter were evidently identified in latex used in gloves. However, gloves are only dipped in latex once when they are made, condoms are dipped twice in latex. Gloves are allowed to fail the water leak test at a rate of 40 per thousand, while condoms are only allowed 4 failures of the water leak test per thousand condoms before the entire batch is rejected. While holes large enough for HIV to pass through have been found in natural membrane condoms, latex condoms do not allow the HIV to pass through the condom unless the condom has been damaged or torn. Used properly, latex condoms are effective in reducing the risk of HIV infection.

(Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, HIV/AIDS Prevention Training Bulletin, July 1, 1992.)

Leaking through latex condoms

These are answers from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) to questions concerning the possibility of HIV "leaking" through latex condoms.

  1. Can HIV leak through microscopic holes in latex condoms?

    The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) published a study in the July-August 1992 issue of "STD" which examined whether HIV-sized glass beads could be forced through latex condoms under stressful laboratory conditions. These conditions included higher concentrations of the "virus" (glass beads) than in semen, a fluid that doesn't stick together as much as semen, and forces that simulated 10 minutes of thrusting AFTER ejaculation. Most latex condoms leaked absolutely nothing. The worst condom found would still reduce exposure risk by 10,000-fold, i.e., only 1 HIV virus might "leak" through only 1 of every 90 condoms. Other tests have shown that under "normal" conditions, HIV does not pass through a latex condom that is not torn or broken.

  2. How often do condoms break?

    The studies do not agree on an exact rate of breakage. Many studies of condom effectiveness have counted how often women whose partners used condoms for birth control have gotten pregnant. This "failure rate" includes cases where the couple did not use a condom every time they had sex or used the condoms incorrectly. Some studies have included the times the condom was torn accidently by the people using it. Studies in other countries of breakage caused by defects in the condom itself show a breakage rate ranging from 0% to 7%. In the United States, most studies show the breakage rate is less than 2 out of every 100 condoms, probably less than 1 out of every 100.

    (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, HIV/AIDS Prevention Training Bulletin, January 28, 1993.)

    [email protected] (Thu Sep 1 11:33:50 1994)
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