What makes male condoms better than other contraceptive methods

The male condom is a barrier contraceptive method that only blocks sperm from entering the vagina. It does not interfere with the function of the hypothalamus-pituitary-gonadal axis, so it does not affect female ovulation and menstruation, nor does it affect male spermatogenesis, insemination and ejaculation. Conception can be achieved by stopping contraception, and it has no effect on the fetus. It is safe to use, has a wide range of applications, and with proper use, the contraceptive effect can reach 95% or more.

At present, most families in my country have only one child, so sterilization measures are rarely used. Intrauterine devices and birth control pills are the more commonly used contraceptive measures. Their advantages are that they are easy to use, reliable in effect, some measures are long-lasting, and they are all reversible birth control measures. However, heavy menstrual flow, pink leucorrhea, intermenstrual bleeding, low back pain and pelvic infection are common side effects of intrauterine devices; and device shedding or pregnancy while wearing the device are the main causes of its failure. Therefore, women with heavy menstrual flow, or suffering from uterine fibroids, endometriosis, malformed uterus, internal os relaxation, chronic pelvic inflammatory disease, or combined heart disease, diabetes, etc., as well as those who have failed to use the device multiple times, should not use the intrauterine device.

There are many types of contraceptives, and the short-acting oral contraceptive 18-methylnorgestrel is the most widely used. However, it may have side effects such as early pregnancy reactions, breakthrough bleeding, scanty menstruation, amenorrhea, and weight gain. Missed doses are often the cause of its failure. Therefore, it is not suitable for women with infrequent or scanty menstruation, smoking, advanced age (>35 years old), obesity, or combined cardiovascular disease, diabetes, etc. It is generally required to stop taking the medicine for half a year before getting pregnant.

To sum up, there are many women who need birth control who cannot use the above contraceptive measures, and using male condoms is the only feasible way. Condoms are also suitable for newlyweds and especially for older middle-aged couples. For couples who have been separated for a long time and are reuniting, using condoms may not be realistic.