Recently released statistics show that the condom is now an equally popular method of contraception as the pill in women under the age of 50. The Office of National Statistics surveyed 1,093 women under the age of 50 and approximately 25% of all young women (a total of 50%) now use each method. This follows a Department of Health campaign aimed at encouraging them to carry a condom. An additional 11% use partner sterilisation, 6% use self sterilisation and 11% long acting hormonal contraception.

The use of NHS community contraception clinics is also on the increase, being used by 1.3 million people last year, which is an increase of 7% on the previous year.

The other advantage, noted by the head of policy at the Terrence Higgins Trust, is that a condom also offers protection against sexually transmitted infections (STI's). The reliability of condoms is heavily dependent on them being used consistently and correctly and for this reason, women should not become complacent. There is some evidence that, if used correctly, the condom is actually just as reliable as the pill with the chance of becoming pregnant in one year assessed at around 2%.

The fact that the condom offers increased protection against STI's is the main reason cited for the increase in condom use, although half of young single people said that the publicity had not changed their behaviours regarding condom use or one-night stands. The Office of National Statistics also showed that a third of men said that their use of condoms was increasing and 6% were taking fewer risks by having vey short relationships with women that they did not know well.

The male condom is more reliable than the female version in preventing STI's but even the male version is not 100% safe in preventing exposure to some sores such as those associated with herpes caused by the HPV virus. The male condom also has the advantage that there are few side effects apart from possibly an allergic reaction to the latex from which it is made. The pill, on the other hand, does have a number of known side effects such as nausea, vomiting and diarrhoea. In rare cases it can cause blood clots in the legs or lungs. In its favour, the Royal College of General Practitioners have reported that the contraceptive pill reduces the risk of developing cancer by up to 12%.

However you approach the subject, the real decision is down to you as an individual. Whilst the available evidence is that the use of condoms has significantly increased, mainly down to the fear of STI's and other infections, the real attraction of the pill is that it allows real contact between sexual partners and also allows the man to ejaculate inside his partner. If this attraction is greater than the fear of sexually transmitted diseases then ultimately the pill will win favour and return to prominence as a method of contraception.