- You leave it to chance, when you reach for the condom.
There are approximately 19 million new cases of STDs each year in the United States, about half of them among young people ages 15 to 24,1 many of these showing no signs or symptoms of infection.2 Even with the use of a condom every time you have sex you’re still at risk for pregnancy or STDs. Condoms only reduce the risk, they do not eliminate it.3
Condoms & Vaginal Intercourse:
Chlamydia and Gonorrhea: Even with the use of a condom every time, your risk of infection will only be cut in half.4 Long term effects if left untreated can cause pelvic inflamatory disease (PID), which could cause infertility.5
Genital Herpes: If a condom is used during every vaginal sex act, you can only cut your risk of genital herpes in half.6 While the symptoms of genital herpes can be treated, there is no cure. The infection can still be spread to others even if there are no symptoms present.7 Those infected with genital herpes are at an increased risk of being infected with HIV.8
HPV (HumanPapillomavirus): The use of a condom every time will cut your risk in half.9 No symptoms need to be present in order to pass the infection to another person. HPV can infect areas that are not covered by a condom, therefore, condoms may not fully protect against HPV.10 If left untreated you could end up with long term effects ranging from genital warts, to cancer depending on if you develop "low-risk" or "high-risk" HPV.11
Trichomoniasis: You may reduce your chance of trichominiasis with correct condoms use, how much your chance is reduced is not known.1 2
HIV/AIDS: Consistent condom use can reduce your risk of getting HIV by 85%.(13) While this statistic sounds good, keep in mind, that 40,000 Americans get an HIV infection every year and the number is rising. (16)
Condoms & Oral Sex:
Currently there is no evidence that regular use of condoms during oral sex reduces your risk of most STDs. There is one study that shows there is some decreased risk of gonorrhea when condoms are used correctly and consistently.(14) However, another study shows an increased risk of getting HIV.(13)
Condoms & Anal Sex:
Currently there is no evidence that regular use of condoms during anal sex reduces your risk of most STDs. However, there is some evidence that shows consistent and correct use may reduce your chance of getting HIV by up to 50%.(15)
The Bottom Line:
When it comes right down to it, condoms don’t make sex safe--just less risky. Even with correct use, during every sex act (vaginal intercourse, oral or anal sex), at best you are still at risk for most STDs 50% of the time. Those odds increase because of user failure and manufacturer failure. It is also shown that condom use decreases over time. Sex shouldn’t be “protected” by a condom, but protected by the commitment of a marriage.
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References:
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2 ibid.
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3 Medical Institute for Sexual Health (MISH), The Condom;Trussell J. The essentials of contraception: efficacy, safety, and personal considerations. In: Hatcher RA, Trussell J, Stewart F, et al, eds. Contraceptive Technology. 18th rev. ed. New York, NY: Ardent Media; 2004:221-240.
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4 MISH, The Condom; Ahmed S, Lutalo T, Wawer M, et al. HIV incidence and sexually transmitted disease prevalence associated with condom use: a population study in Rakai, Uganda. AIDS. 2001;15(16):2171-2179. Available at: http://www.aidsonline.com/pt/r/aid/pdfhandler.00002030-200111090-00013.pdf;jsessionid=Df45SnM7gkk38EFpMUFXzzHyP2uihj5eU4cX3Cl7zEEENny13OaW!1389088241!-949856145!9001!-1. Accessed November 27, 2006.
Baeten JM, Nyange PM, Richardson BA, et al. Hormonal contraception and risk of sexually transmitted disease acquisition: results from a prospective study. Am J Obstet Gynecol. 2001;185(2):380-385.
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5 MISH, The Condom; Westrom L, Eschenbach D. Pelvic inflammatory disease. In: Holmes KK, et al, eds. Sexually Transmitted Diseases. 3rd ed. New York: McGraw-Hill; 1999:783-809.
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6 MISH, The Condom; Shlay JC, McClung MW, Patnaik JL, Douglas JM Jr. Comparison of sexually transmitted disease prevalence by reported level of condom use among patients attending an urban sexually transmitted disease clinic. Sex Transm Dis. 2004;31(3):154-160.
Wald A, Langenberg AG, Krantz E, et al. The relationship between condom use and herpes simplex virus acquisition. Ann Intern Med. 2005;143(10):707-713.
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8 ibid.
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9 MISH, The Condom; Shlay JC, McClung MW, Patnaik JL, Douglas JM Jr. Comparison of sexually transmitted disease prevalence by reported level of condom use among patients attending an urban sexually transmitted disease clinic. Sex Transm Dis. 2004;31(3):154-160.
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11 ibid.
- 12 MISH; National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases. Workshop Summary: Scientific Evidence on Condom Effectiveness for Sexually Transmitted Disease (STD) Prevention. Bethesda, MD: National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases; 2001.
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13 MISH, The Condom; Celentano DD, Sifakis F, Hylton J, et al. Race/ethnic differences in HIV prevalence and risks among adolescent and young adult men who have sex with men. Journal of Urban Health: Bulletin of New York Academy of Medicine 2005;82(4):610-21. Weller S, Davis K. Condom effectiveness in reducing heterosexual HIV transmission. Cochrane Database Syst Rev. 2002;(1):CD003255. 22 Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. HIV/AIDS Surveillance Report, 2005. Vol. 17. Atlanta: U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention; 2006. Available online at: http://www.cdc.gov/hiv/topics/surveillance/resources/reports/.
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14 Wong ML, Chan RK. A prospective study of pharyngeal gonorrhoea and inconsistent condom use for oral sex among female brothel-based sex workers in Singapore. Int J STD AIDS. 1999;10(9):595-599.
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15 MISH, The Condom; Saracco A, Musicco M, Nicolosi A, et al. Man-to-woman sexual transmission of HIV: longitudinal study of 343 steady partners of infected men. J Acquir Immune Defic Syndr 1993;6(5):497-502.
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