Condoms - Facing Facts by Kathy McCoy
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 The Centers for Disease Control, in Atlonto, reports that roughly one in seven teenogers currently has o sexually transmitted disease (STD) and that one in three hundred college students may already be infected with the AIDS virus. In addition, the human popilloma virus which causes genital warts and is common among teenagers-is being linked with increasing cases of cervical cancer in young women. And who doesn't know by now that more than one million teenage girls get pregnont each year?
Condoms have been proven to offer protection against a number of STDs and against unplanned pregnancy, vet most sexually active teenagers are not using them. Why? Some may not think they really need them. Others may not know how to use them, or they may be too embarrassed to bring the subject up.
The fact is, if you're having sex, you are at risk. And the best way to reduce that risk is to use condoms. Here's what you need to know.
What are condoms?
A condom is a thin sheath of latex or lambskin that fits tightly over a man's erect penis and is worn during intercourse. It works as a barrier, preventing his semen from reaching the woman's vagina and keeping one partner from infecting the other with any of a number of STDs. Although condoms can't protect against all STDs all the time, latex condoms (mode of synthetic rubber) have been found to be the most effective in stopping their transmission. To be even more effective against STDs and pregnancy, condoms should be used in combination with o spermicide (jelly, cream, or foam) containing nonoxynol-9.
Latex condoms are very thin and transmit body heat, so they interfere very little, if at all, with sexual pleasure.
How eftective are condoms?
For pregnancy prevention, their effectiveness is generally reported to be 80 to 90 percent. But the 10 to 20 percent failure rate includes cases where people said they used condoms but weren't consistent about it, where they used them incorrectly, and where they used old or damaged condoms. Experts say that when a couple uses o fresh, intact condom correctly, with spermicide, eveży time they have sex, condoms' effectiveness in preventing pregnancy improves significantly. Preliminory studies indicate that fresh, intact lotex condoms can work equally well against a variety of STDs.
The most effective condom, ultimately, is the one that's most convenient to use. Look for those that have spermicide already on them, such as Sheik Elite with Spermicidol Lubricant, Ramses Extra with Spermicidal Lubricant, Mentor, Today Condom with Spermicidal Lubricant, Trojan for Women, Ramses for Her, and Ramses Extra. (When condom brands say "For Her" or "For Women," they are still for men to wear. It's simply a marketing device to make women feel more comfortable buying them.) The price for twelve ranges from about six to eight dollars.
Condom brands can vary, so it's best to use only those that are mode in the U.S. and have proven effectiveness, such as those mentioned above. Gimmicky condoms (the ones that come in colors or are marketed with wacky themes) may not be as reliable.
How do you buy them?
Condoms are available in all sorts of places, including vending machines in some rest rooms. However, the condoms you buy at drugstores and supermarkets are likeIy to be fresher and of better quality. Condoms are displayed on open racks in many stores, so you don't have to ask for them, though in other stores they are still kept behind the counter. You don't need a porent's permission or a prescription to buy them.
The condoms themselves are generally mode in just one size and sold three, twelve, or thirty-six to a package. You can get them plain or with a lubricant, with spermicide (which also acts asa lubricant) or without. Some are textured (often called ribbed), which is supposed to add to the woman's sensation but does not make the condom any more or less effective. Most have a "reservoir tip," which means there is a small space left for semen ot the end.
Keep in mind that more people of all ages and both sexes are buying condoms these days, so most clerks won't think twice about your boyfriend or you buying them. As you get used to buying condoms, it will get easier, too.
How do you use a condom?
Condoms come rolled up and wrapped in individual packages. The condom must be unrolled over the erect penis before intercourse or any genital contact takes place. If the condom doesn't have an added tip for semen, it's important to leave a space at the end and to squeeze out any air before unrolling it to the base of the penis. A condom that has been pulled too tight over the head of the penis is more likely to break.
You must use a fresh, recently purchased condom whenever you have sex; it's better not to leave them moldering in a wallet or glove compartment for months. They cannot be reused. And if a condom is sticky or brittle or damaged in any way, it should be thrown away. If a condom breaks, the penis should be withdrawn immediately and another condom put on.
After the man ejaculates, or comes, he must withdraw his penis before he loses his erection, holding on to the condom at the base to keep it from slipping off or spilling. Once he has withdrawn, further genital contact must be avoided.
Another important safety note: Never use an oil-based lubricant, like Vaseline, with a condom, as it can damage the rubber. One study found that Vaseline Intensive Core Lotion can destroy a condom in live minutes; mineral oil and baby oil can destroy one in a minute or less.
How do you bring the subject up?
The best time to talk is before you're ready to have sex. Ideally, if you're thinking about having sex, you're in a stable, loving, monogamous relationship in which you can comfortably discuss birth control and STD prevention, and neither you nor your boyfriend would take a chance with your health or well-being.
But it may not be that simple. Some guys soy they don't like condoms, even if they've never used them. Some guys aren't willing to talk about it or may make you feel like a jerk for worrying obout it. A guy moy even act offended. There's no excuse for any of this. Your concerns are legitimate; his objections are not. If you can't talk obout it or he won't cooperate, then for both your sakes, don't have sex. It's not easy to be firm on this, but you don't really have a choice. Make sure he knows he doesn't, either.
Source: Seventeen Magazine
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