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BBC News Chemical Condoms WPTV, FL - The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) regulates condoms, which are available in a variety of types; however, only latex and polyurethane kinds have been ... AssociatedPress New Study Raises Estimate of HIV Infections in US New York Times Comment by Julie Davids Executive Director, CHAMP AllAfrica.com - MiamiHerald.com all 1,246 news articles » The Female Health Company Schedules Third Quarter Conference Call ... MarketWatch - The Female Health Company (FHC), headquartered in Chicago, IL, is the maker of the FC Female Condom (FC1 and FC2), a revolutionary option offering women ...FHC Xinhua Access to Female Condoms is Denied to the Women in Countries Most ... Common Dreams (press release), ME - NGOs join together in international campaign to expand access to female condoms to stem the spread of HIV. MEXICO CITY, Mexico - August 5 - Women leaders ... AIDS Conference Brings Together Diverse Community Voice of America Faith-based groups look for unified fight against effects of HIV Catholic Weekly Sex report stirs controversy at AIDS conference ABC Online Aidsmap - Catholic Online all 468 news articles » TheMedGuru UK Africans In Deeper HIV Troubles TheMedGuru, India - Aug 3, 2008 While, many respondents were against the idea of using condoms, those reported using condoms, experienced episodes of tearing and slipping of condom during ... AlJazeeraEnglish Gay, bisexual men still at high risk for HIV-study Reuters UK all 446 news articles » New Study Shows Condoms 95 Times More Cost-Effective than ... PR-USA.net (press release), Bulgaria - Even if circumcision does offer some protection against heterosexually transmitted HIV, condoms clearly provide more protection, at a much lower cost,? says ... Reuters No "frangers", no "frozen" at somber athletes' camp Reuters - Boxes of free condoms had to be handed out at the 2004 Athens Olympics after contraception ran out at the previous Games in Sydney, where sparks first flew ... 'Profane' condom campaign irks Mexican church France24, France - A Catholic youth group is quoting the Bible's "Song of Solomon" in a pro-condom campaign at the world AIDS Conference in Mexico. ... Miley Cyrus offered $1m to endorse condoms Times of India, India - Aug 3, 2008 Hannah Montana star Miley Cyrus has been offered 1 million dollars to become the face of a US condom firm. Even though there have been a lot of ... Swiss statement that ?undetectable equals uninfectious? creates ... Aidsmap, UK - She also argued that individuals could potentially have better adherence [to treatment] than to condoms and that the synergistic effect of treatment and ... Rekindle Condom Kink Daily Californian, CA - Aug 4, 2008 By Louis Peitzman Condoms probably don't rank on most people's lists of "Things That Are Sexy," but as far as I'm concerned, they should be way up ...

Condoms and Contraception

Condoms are a widely used means of contraception because they provide protection against pregnancy as well as against many sexually transmitted diseases. For hundreds of years, condoms have been used as birth control. Fortunately, their shapes, materials, and effectiveness have drastically improved over time. For many years, the condom was shaped like a cap that fit over the head of the penis and was made of materials such as linen or sheepskin. Over time, several versions of this cap were created with various lengths, designs, and styles. Today, there are hundreds of styles and types to choose from. Most modern condoms have a sheath that covers the penis and catches the sperm in its tip. Some condoms have a nipple-shaped tip to hold the semen while others do not. The condom will probably continue to improve in terms of effectiveness, sensitivity, and design.

Types of Condoms
Depending on your preference, you can choose condoms that are rippled, studded, dry, powdered, lubricated, tinted, transparent, treated with spermicide, and various combinations of these types. In addition, they also come in different sizes, which may or may not be marked on the package. The best way to discover which condom you prefer is to try them out. Some brands are longer, wider, or thicker than others, so you may need to try a few brands before you find one that is comfortable for you. Condoms usually come with three or twelve per package. They can cost as little as a quarter each and as much as $2.50. The lubricated condoms are more expensive, as are specialty condoms made from animal tissue or polyurethane. Polyurethane or plastic condoms should only be used if you are allergic to latex, as breakage rates may be higher in non-latex condoms. Make sure to read the labels on the more unusual condoms to determine whether they protect against pregnancy and sexually transmitted diseases. Also, pay attention to the expiration dates because condoms do lose their effectiveness with age. Condoms are available in drugstores, drug sections of larger stores, and family planning centers. They are also available on the Internet.

How to Use a Condom
Condoms need to be used properly in order to provide protection against pregnancy and sexually transmitted diseases. The most important thing to remember is to handle condoms carefully. They are easily broken and are ineffective when damaged. Condoms should be stored in a dry, cool place. Do not stash them continually in a back pocket, wallet, or glove compartment. Be sure that there is adequate lubrication when using a condom. Lubrication increases sensitivity and prevents tears. Do not use oil-based lubricants with latex condoms. They can deteriorate latex and lead to breakage.

The best way to put on a condom is to place it over the tip of the erect penis and make sure to leave space at the tip as you unroll the condom over the penis. Unroll the condom all the way to the base of the penis. Use additional lubrication if the condom is not already lubricated. After orgasm, when the man is pulling out of his partner's vagina, the condom needs to be held in place so that is doesn't come off. For maximal effectiveness, the penis should still be erect when it is removed from the vagina. Only when the penis is completely outside of the vagina should the condom be removed. It is also recommended that the penis be thoroughly cleansed after the condom comes off. In the event that a condom breaks, it is important to consult your physician about obtaining protection against pregnancy (the morning-after pill) and against sexually transmitted diseases. The good news is that studies clearly show that the condom breakage rate in the United States is less than two percent. If condoms are used consistently and correctly, the pregnancy rate should be less than five percent per year. Unfortunately, many couples don't use the condom each and every time and, in these cases, the pregnancy rate will be higher.

Anal sex
It is important to remember that it is possible for either sex partner to become infected with HIV and other infections during anal sex. In general, the person receiving the semen is at greater risk of getting HIV because the lining of the rectum is thin and may allow the virus to enter the body during anal sex. However, a person who inserts his penis into an infected partner also is at risk because HIV can enter through the urethra or through small cuts or open sores on the penis.

Having unprotected (without a condom) heterosexual or homosexual anal sex is considered to be very risky behavior. If people choose to have anal sex, they should always use a latex condom. While condoms work well most of the time, they are more likely to break during anal sex than during vaginal sex. Thus, even with a condom, anal sex can be risky. A person should use a water-based lubricant in addition to the condom to reduce the chances of the condom breaking.

Protection Against Sexually Transmitted Diseases
The best way to protect yourself against contracting an STD while having sex is to properly use a latex condom. There is not much research data to show how effective plastic and animal-tissue condoms are for protection against sexually transmitted infections. Some viruses, such as hepatitis B and HIV, may be small enough to pass through the pores of animal tissue. Latex condoms have been shown to provide protection against pelvic inflammatory disease (PID), gonorrhea, chlamydia, syphilis, human immunodeficiency virus, vaginitis caused by infections like trichomoniasis, and vaginitis caused by changes in the pH balance of the vagina that can be triggered by semen chancroid.

Spermacide-containing condoms are no longer recommended for protection against STD's and HIV, because spermacides can cause vaginal irritation which can actually increase the risk of HIV transmission. If you do not know your partner's HIV status, or if your partner is HIV-positive, you should not use spermacide-lubricated condoms.

The Female Condom
The female condom came out in the early 1990s. It is a latex sheath with a ring at each end. The female inserts the latex sheath with a ring at the top into the vagina, like a diaphragm, to fit around the cervix. The ring at the other end hangs outside the vagina. One advantage of this contraceptive method is that the female partner wears the condom so the male does not need to maintain an erection before pulling out. Another advantage of the female condom is that it also protects women's outer genitalia. The disadvantages are that the female condom is not as effective in preventing pregnancy or sexually transmitted diseases. The condom is also fragile and can have holes, or tear easily. When having intercourse the couple needs to be sure that the man's penis is actually inside the female condom and not accidentally outside of it, and that the outer ring stays outside of the vagina. The female condom contains lubricant and should not be used along with the male condom.

The sensation may be unusual at first, and it can take several tries before many couples become comfortable with the device. Some women report that it makes a little noise as it moves around during intercourse. This does not mean that the female condom is not working. Some women report that the ring provides additional clitoral stimulation during intercourse, which can increase pleasure. Female condoms cost approximately $2.50 each. They are available at women's health centers and drugstores.

Conclusion
The male condom is a good option for preventing pregnancy and sexually transmitted diseases. Although it is the most proven and effective barrier, the condom may not prevent all cases of pregnancy, nor all cases of HIV, and people should be extremely careful even during protected intercourse. That said, government-sponsored studies have shown that using a condom is 10,000 times safer than not using one in protecting against HIV. My recommendation to a couple using male condoms is to use a latex condom. For optimal pregnancy protection, add a hormonal method such as the birth control pill. This combination of contraception will provide you and your partner excellent protection from an unwanted pregnancy and/or sexually transmitted disease.