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How Good Are Condoms? Do
they really protect people from sexually transmitted diseases? Infections can be spread by sexual activity in a number of ways. Not surprisingly, those that travel in bodily fluids are relatively well screened by condoms. The AIDS virus and hepatitis are a couple of examples. Likewise, condoms form an effective barrier against organisms that exist in sores directly on the genitals—syphilis, for example. Other infections, however, don't restrict themselves exclusively to the genitals. Herpes and condyloma are two prime examples of viruses that can sneak around a condom and from one partner to another. Likewise, not all condoms are created equal. Two types of condoms are not intended for disease prevention. So-called natural condoms are effective for birth control but are too porous to protect against small particles such as viruses. And novelty condoms are not necessarily manufactured to the same standards as those intended for disease prevention. It's also come to light recently that there may be variations in quality among condom manufacturers. A controversial study done by the Mariposa Foundation in California tested a number of brands against particles about the size of the AIDS virus and found significant differences in the products' ability to block the particles. Leakage occurred in less than 1 percent of one brand and in almost 23 percent of another. Some experts have criticized the study, but at the very least, it has made manufacturers and government inspectors more vigilant. And it should make you wary. Even if there are quality variations, improper use is probably a far more important factor. No large studies of user-related condom failure in disease prevention are available. But we do know that about 15 percent of couples who use condoms for birth control get pregnant within the first year, and only about 2 percent of those failures are the result of breakage. By contrast, when people are well informed and highly motivated, condoms have been shown to be quite effective. Studies of couples where one partner has contracted the AIDS virus have shown that condoms can provide significant protection to the uninfected partner. People who don't use them are 7 to 10 times more likely to become infected. One number you won't see assigned to condoms, however, is 100 percent. A condom is far better than no condom, but monogamous sex with an uninfected partner is the only truly safe sex.
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