Condoms Do Well In Tests

More than 15,500 condoms were subjected to inflating, bursting, and submerging

By James Limbach
ConsumerAffairs.com

November 6, 2009
Some good news from Consumer Reports Health that you can take right to the bedroom -- once you make a stop at the drug store.

In its latest tests of 20 latex condoms, Consumer Reports Health found that all of the condoms -- with one exception -- are a fine choice. Consumer Reports Health tested the condoms for strength, reliability, leakage, and package integrity.

Seven condoms achieved a perfect score of 100, a somewhat rare occurrence for Consumer Reports' stringent lab tests. Those condoms include the following models: Durex Performax; Lifestyles Ultra Sensitive Lubricated; Lifestyles Warming Pleasure; Trojan Her Pleasure Ecstasy; Trojan Magnum Lubricated; Trojan Ultra Ribbed Ecstasy; and Trojan Ultra Thin.

Consumer Reports Health purchased more than 15,500 condoms in order to test between five hundred and six hundred samples of each model. The tests for reliability and strength are conducted by inflating condoms with air until they burst.

Performance is assessed against two criteria: how many samples meet or exceed the specified requirements for pressure and volume at burst, and in its more stringent criterion, counting the number of samples that can hold 25 liters or more of air, a measure that's been correlated with lower rates of condom failure in actual use.

Consumer Reports Health also performed two submersion tests to look for possible leaks in the condom and its packaging. The Night Light Glow in the Dark condom exceeded the organization's criterion for the number of samples with holes; however, this model did live up to its illumination claim.

Consumer Reports Health notes that consumers will get the most protection with any condom by using it properly.

An ease of use test was not conducted on the condoms.