Is it
preferable to use two external condoms during sex than one? This is one of the
most often asked questions regarding condom use. In a similar vein, many people
also ponder about preventing pregnancy by using both an external and interior
condom.
Wearing Two Condoms May Seem Like a Good Idea
Double bagged condoms, often known as wearing two external condoms simultaneously, may
make sense when you give it some thought. But it's not really advised to engage
in this practise. There is no scientific proof that using two external condoms
is more effective than using one external condom when using an external condom
correctly. This indicates that it is acceptable to use one external condom as
your sole method of birth control. After all, exterior condoms have a
pregnancy-prevention success rate of 85% to 98%.
Keep
in mind that an internal condom and an exterior condom should never be used
together. Internal condoms are 79% to 95% effective when used alone. In
addition, condoms are the only form of birth control that may both prevent
sexually transmitted illnesses and prevent them from occurring.
Why Double Bagging Isn't
Recommended
Wearing
two external condoms simultaneously raises the risk of the condoms rubbing
against one other during sex, according to health care specialists (such as
OB/GYNs, nurse practitioners, etc.). They might be more liable to tear or rip
as a result. There isn't a lot of scientific literature that explains why using
two condoms is unsafe because it is challenging to perform research studies
that examine the practise of double bagging external condoms.
However,
the majority of medical professionals concur that wearing two external condoms
simultaneously is likely to cause excessive friction, which can raise the
likelihood that one or both of the condoms will break.
What Else Does the Medical Community Say?
- Numerous
condom manufacturers also caution against this approach because external condoms are not intended for double bagging. Here are some quotes from
other trustworthy organisations:
- The National Health Service, the largest publicly financed healthcare system in the
world, advises against using more than one condom at once, whether
external or inside, and that using two external condoms is "a
extremely poor idea."
- Don't use an
internal and an exterior condom at the same time, the U.S. Department of
Health & Human Services warns, "since this could cause both
condoms to crack or tear."
Scientific Research
There
has been minimal medical research on this subject, as was already indicated.
The findings of three separate studies that looked into the practise of using
two exterior condoms are as follows:
- According to
a research in The Journal of Human Sexuality, using two external condoms
simultaneously might increase friction, which increases the risk of a
condom ripping.
- Another
study's researchers came to the conclusion that wearing two external
condoms simultaneously had a 3.4% chance of breaking, and when this
happens, most tears occur close to the external condom's tip.
- The final
study asserts that it is unknown whether double-bagging external condoms
are effective or acceptable. According to the study's findings, 19.3% (1
in 5) of the 83 participants with penises who double-bagged condoms
claimed that doing so resulted in the condom breaking. The researchers add
that although while the overall breakage rates were somewhat greater when
using two condoms as opposed to one, it was highly uncommon for both
condoms to break when double-bagging was employed.
Why Be Concerned About This?
It
might be more beneficial to concentrate your thoughts on the reasons you feel
the need to use two external condoms when having sex. Do you think that using
two bags of condoms will provide better protection? You might consider using an
additional birth control technique if you are concerned about solely using
external or internal condoms. How about using a condom (external or internal)
in conjunction with a hormonal contraception method like:
Using
a condom with spermicide can also boost the effectiveness of an external or
internal condom if hormonal birth control is not an option. There are other
over-the-counter spermicides available. Spermicide is between 72% and 82%
effective when taken alone, however it works best when combined with another
form of birth control (like a condom). A person who has a vagina may also think
about using a diaphragm or cervical cap together with an exterior or internal
condom.
The
likelihood that your condom may break can be decreased by using a personallubricant, which also helps to reduce exterior condom friction. Select a brand
of lubricant that is water soluble rather than one that is oil-based. With silicone-based
lubricants, many couples express immense delight. These can be used with both
external and internal condoms and tend to stay slippery longer than water-based
products. If you have sensitive skin, silicone-based lubricants are also a
fantastic alternative because they normally do not result in allergic reactions
or skin irritations.
Bottom Line
For
some reason or another, the use of double bagged external condoms is not being
properly investigated by researchers. As a result, there is a dearth of
reliable medical information on this subject. Even though there isn't much
information available, keep in mind that both the medical community and condom producers advise against wearing two condoms (external or internal) at once. We
acknowledge that there isn't any solid scientific evidence to support the idea
that you shouldn't wear two condoms at once, but there is also no evidence to
refute the use of double-bagging external condoms.
The
habit of not double bagging exterior condoms, in conclusion, is more
appropriately described as a "recommended practise" than as
"scientific proof." Additionally, there is really no need to wear two
condoms if you are effectively utilising one—one would enough. The CDC reports
that 2 out of every 100 condoms break during use (2% breakage rate), hence the
likelihood of one condom breaking during sex is rather low.
Based
on scant research and what is known about condom failure, doctors and health
educators have developed their best suggestions on this subject. And based on
what we already know, it makes sense to assume that wearing two condoms will
increase friction due to the rubber on rubber action (or the plastic on rubber
with external and internal condoms). Additionally, we are aware that increased
friction has been connected to condom tears, which can reduce a condom's
effectiveness. Therefore, common sense provides an excellent rationale as to
why double bagging external condoms may not be a wonderful practise, especially
in the absence of reliable "science data" to support this.
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