We all know that condoms do a lot more than just help to prevent pregnancy – they also offer protection against STIs and STDs. Given that they're such an important part of many people's sex lives (which as we all know, can take a million different forms), it's actually pretty darn surprising it's taken so long for a condom to be approved as appropriate for anal sex.
Whilst the condom itself hasn't been newly designed or created specifically for anal, it is the first to be given the seal of approval from the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA), who oversee the safety of everything from baby food to lipsticks in America, and whose decisions can often inform ones made in the UK.
The FDA decided after much testing that ONE®'s Vanish Hyperthin, Super Sensitive and myONE Custom Fit condoms all meet the necessary criteria to be advertised as suitable for anal sex. An Emory University clinical study, which examined condom safety in a sample of over 500 men (evenly divided between men who have sex with men and men who have sex with women) found the ONE® Condom rate of failure (failure being defined as the condom breaking or not staying put during sex) was below than 1% during anal sex.
Typically, as reported via Health, the FDA states that a condom must have at least a 95% success rate during booty sex to be approved.
But why is it so important to have a condom that can be marketed as good for anal sex anyway? Research of over 10,000 people found that around 70% of men who have sex with men said they'd be more inclined to use a condom billed as safe for anal sex, meaning there's the potential for a drop in the spread of STIs and STDs. The move may also encourage people of all genders to consider using a condom for anal play, rather than just for vaginal intercourse or oral sex.
Speaking about the decision on their website, ONE® said, "Until [now], condom companies like ONE® were not allowed to list condoms are 'safe and effective' for sexual practices beyond vaginal sex [...] because no one had ever done a study to test and confirm condoms are safe for anal sex [before]. Emory University's study data made it possible for us to send a request to the FDA to allow us to market our condoms as safe for anal – and the FDA approved!"
ONE® add, "We truly believe that the sexual health needs of our community extend across all genders, expressions and identities [and] we know lots of people enjoy anal sex who don’t necessarily identify as men! That’s why we like the terms external condoms vs internal condoms – instead of male vs female condoms."
Jennifer Savin is Cosmopolitan UK's multiple award-winning Features Editor, who was crowned Digital Journalist of the Year for her work tackling the issues most important to young women. She regularly covers breaking news, cultural trends, health, the royals and more, using her esteemed connections to access the best experts along the way. She's grilled everyone from high-profile politicians to A-list celebrities, and has sensitively interviewed hundreds of people about their real life stories. In addition to this, Jennifer is widely known for her own undercover investigations and campaign work, which includes successfully petitioning the government for change around topics like abortion rights and image-based sexual abuse. Jennifer is also a published author, documentary consultant (helping to create BBC’s Deepfake Porn: Could You Be Next?) and a patron for Y.E.S. (a youth services charity). Alongside Cosmopolitan, Jennifer has written for The Times, Women’s Health, ELLE and numerous other publications, appeared on podcasts, and spoken on (and hosted) panels for the Women of the World Festival, the University of Manchester and more. In her spare time, Jennifer is a big fan of lipstick, leopard print and over-ordering at dinner. Follow Jennifer on Instagram, X or LinkedIn.
