Do Condoms Really Make Sex Safer?
Shout out to one of my longtime commenters Caribeza for this one. She’s been M.I.A. on the comments for a while (where you been?) but popped up the other day and shared her thoughts on my post, “Where Are All the Good Men & Women?” In her response, Caribeza left a link to a very interesting article from the Medical Institute that spoke on the potential risk factors involved in trusting condoms.
While the author breaks down a bunch of stats and information about why people shouldn’t blindly trust that their “protection” will actually protect them against STIs and pregnancy, the overall message is that condoms help but not as much as people would like to think. Sadly, there are some people still stupid enough to go raw or you have what my fellow blogger Says the Single Girl… likes to call “slippers.” That’s what she calls dirty dick havin’ dudes that actually slip off the rubber during sex without letting the girl know and either bustin’ inside of her or pulling out. (CLICK HERE to read her full post on it). However you slice it that’s just plain wrong and it’s because of people like this that the numbers on sexually transmitted diseases is steadily increasing.
I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again, people need to have themselves tested regularly—especially before entering any new physical relationships (CLICK HERE for a refresher on my last plea). If you do have something and know it but refuse to protect yourself or your partners, you’re just a spineless coward in my opinion. If you were man or woman enough to do the dirt that got your burned, at least have the decency to give your mates the option of whether or not they want to put their life at risk. In fact, another blogger by the name of DopeShhh put me on to this website InSpot.org where infected people can send anonymous emails to people they may have infected. The purpose is to give the guilty party the ability to keep their status private but at least warn people they’ve been with to get tested. I know I would bug the hell out of I got an anonymous email saying, “Someone may have given you the clap, so go get tested ASAP,” but at least I’d have that information and knowing is half the battle.
Okay, I’m off my soapbox for now. Peep the full article on the risks of condoms below and let me know your thoughts. Do you use a condom every time? What about for people in committed relationships? Do you go raw because you trust your mate or because she’s on birth control? Have you ever had any pregnancy or STD scares? If so, did it make you change your sexual habits or did you keep doing what you were doing? What would you do if you got an anonymous email saying that someone you slept with had an STD?
Speak your piece…
The Condom—Do They Make Sex Safer
The Condom: For years you’ve heard people say, “Use a condom every time you have sex.” You may think that condoms make sex safe, but research shows that’s not the case. Condoms used to prevent pregnancy fail in about 14% of couples during the first year of use. Even if used always, condoms just reduce your risk of getting a sexually transmitted infection (STI); they don’t eliminate it.
The truth is, even if you use a condom every time you have sex, you’re still at risk for both pregnancy and STIs. How serious is your risk? Keep reading.
Each year, there are about 19 million new infections; half of these are in people under 25. Many of these STIs have no cure. Untreated STIs can cause infertility, cancer and even death.
Oral Sex & Condoms: To date, there is no evidence that consistent use of condoms during oral sex reduces your chance of getting most STIs, including HIV. While one study shows decreased risk of gonorrhea with consistent condom use during oral sex, another shows increased risk of HIV.
Anal Sex & Condoms: To date, there is no evidence that consistent condom use reduces your chance of getting most STIs during anal sex. However, there is some evidence that consistent use of condoms for anal sex may cut your chance of getting HIV by up to half.
HPV (Human Papillomavirus): If you use condoms every time you have vaginal sex, you can cut your chance of getting HPV by up to half. HPV is a very common STI in the US. About half of all sexually active 18- to 22-year-old women are infected with it. Most people with HPV have no symptoms. If present, symptoms include genital warts. HPV can cause cervical, penile or anal cancer. In women, cervical cancer causes about the same number of deaths as HIV/AIDS every year.
Genital Herpes: If you use condoms every time you have vaginal sex, you can cut your chance of getting genital herpes in half. Genital herpes infects 1 out of 6 teens and adults. Once you’re infected, you have it for life. If you don’t stay on medication, sores can keep coming back. Even if you have no symptoms, you can still spread the infection to others. People with herpes are also at greater risk for becoming infected with HIV.
Chlamydia and Gonorrhea: If you use condoms every time you have vaginal sex, you can cut your chance of getting chlamydia or gonorrhea in half. Chlamydia is the most commonly reported STI. Most people with chlamydia or gonorrhea have no symptoms. Even without symptoms you can pass on these infections. If left untreated, both chlamydia and gonorrhea can cause long-term pelvic pain and pelvic inflammatory disease (PID). PID may interfere with your ability to get or stay pregnant.
HIV/AIDS: If you use condoms every time you have vaginal sex, you can cut your chance of getting HIV by 85%. That might sound pretty good, but that still leaves you at risk for infection. Every year, 40,000 Americans get an HIV infection. HIV/AIDS has killed nearly half a million Americans and the number is growing.
Do People Use Condoms All the Time? Only about two-thirds of sexually active 15- to 19-year-old males report having used condoms at their last sexual contact. And, as males get older, fewer use condoms every time they have sex. Even among couples where one partner has HIV, less than half use condoms every time they have sex. And not everyone who uses condoms uses them correctly. And, even if they are used correctly, they sometimes break or slip off.
The Bottom Line: Condoms don’t make sex safe, just less risky. Although condoms can reduce your risk for some STIs, they don’t eliminate it. You can still get an STI or get pregnant.
To completely reduce your risk for some STIs, you should avoid sexual activity (oral, vaginal or anal sex) until you are faithful to one partner. If you’ve already had sex, see a doctor about getting checked for STIs.
Waiting to have sex until you are in a faithful, lifelong relationship (such as marriage) is the only certain way to avoid being infected sexually.
CLICK HERE to see resources and footnotes for the article’s info at bottom of link.
. I’m still here and reading your blogs man 
“Do Condoms Really Make Sex Safer?”