Condom effectivness?

[creativexangst.livejournal.com]

I searched where I could think and I couldn't find an answer.

A friend posted to her facebook the following: "I just got a flyer about birth control from my doctor. it says condoms are only 85% reliable! when did this happen?"

I've always heard that they were 98% effective, female condoms a little less so. I used to be a sex educator and this was also the information we were passing on. I know that the 85% isn't arbitrary, there's a reason behind it but I'm blanking on what it is. Could someone help?

Thanks!