Member-only story
Hey Dr Sue — As Long as a Condom is Put on Correctly, Does Brand Really Matter?
The simple answer is no, as long as the condom meets the FDA standards than one brand is just as safe as another.
The FDA is the Food and Drug Administration and it’s the responsibility of this government agency to make sure that food, cosmetics, drugs (for humans and animals) and medical devices are safe and effective. So where do condoms fit in? They’re considered Class II medical devices by the FDA. Contact lenses, blood pressure cuffs and pregnancy test kits are also considered Class II medical devices.
In order to determine if a condom is effective, there are several criteria that need to be met, and tests they must pass. Condoms need to be a minimum of a certain length and thickness. Then at least 1,000 condoms are filled with water. The condoms are left filled with water for 2 minutes, and then they’re checked for leaks. If less than 4 in 1,000 leaked, than those condoms receive FDA approval.
Other tests include the air burst test where the condoms are filled with air to see if they burst. There’s also a test where they try to see if the condom can conduct electricity (a latex condom shouldn’t be able to).
Once a US made condom receives approval, they’re good to go.