Condoms
A condom is a soft, thin, flexible sheath that covers the penis, or in the case of the female condom, fits into the vaginal opening, during intercourse. It is designed to capture and hold semen, keeping it from entering a sexual partner's body. It is also designed to provide a barrier against the spread of sexually transmitted diseases. Condoms are typically made out of synthetic material called latex.
Common Problems
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leakage, which means sperm do get past the condom
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high failure rates due to breakage and incorrect use
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they may or may not provide the user and the user's partner from gonorrhea, chlamydia, genital herpes, AIDS, and other strains of venereal STD's
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particles of talc found on some condoms can enter the body of the woman and irritate her tissues, potentially causing infertility or cancer
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a condom is softened when used with a spermicide; the ability of sperm or viral infections to penetrate the condom is increased, making the condom less effective
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if condoms are not stored at recommended temperature, they will not work
Condom Statistics
Teens
Only about one half of sexually active adolescents report having used a condom the last time they had sex.
Between 5 and 40 percent of sexually active adolescents report that they use condoms every time they have sex.
When given a basic list of procedures of how to use a condom, less than half of sexually active teens report that they use condoms correctly.
Pregnancy
It is generally accepted that 14 to 16 percent of couples using condoms to avoid pregnancy will conceive within 12 months.
STD's
Studies suggest that the risk of transmitting HIV while using condoms can be reduced by about 55 to 90 percent.
Condoms appear to provide little, if any, protection against HPV.
Condoms reduce the risk of gonorrhea by about 40 to 60 percent.
Condoms do not provide complete protection from STD's spread through skin-to-skin contact, such as syphilis, HPV, and herpes. This is due to the fact that the infected area is sometimes not covered by the condom.
Resources: The Medical Institute, Heritage House '76, American Life League |
