Condoms were between 49% and 100% effective in preventing the spread of gonorrhea in men, but no effect was found for women. And an array of other serious diseases — chlamydia, chancroid, trichomoniasis, syphilis and genital herpes — showed no reduction with condom use. These diseases also increase the risk of contracting HIV. That's correct. It's also worth pointing out condoms aren't intended to prevent those diseases, but instead diseases such as the aforementioned gonorrhea. The prevention of many other diseases, such as syphilis or herpes, is of uncertain benefit. There have been studies that have found a reduction in risk, while others have not found significant benefit. So, it's dishonest spinning to state that there's absolutely no benefit to be had.
Human papillomavirus, or HPV, is the cause of more than 90% of all cases of cervical cancer, which kills more American women each year than AIDS.
Perspective: According to the American Cancer Society, about 4000 women died last year from cervical cancer (which, I might add, could be cut about in half by every woman getting a Pap smear regularly). AIDS deaths last year among US women were 3800 (CDC). Not a big difference, statistically.
Incidentally, about 90% of HPV infections clear themselves on their own. Some of the articles I've seen suggest that hands may be one of the major transmission vectors. So, wear a surgical glove, I guess.
Snidely
You know, I just wandered on to this thread. The subject came up for me in the late '80's because our niece living with us got AIDS and died way back then. Studies were already out then and had nothing to do with your assault on either decent Catholics or the Church.
It was just a no-brainer back then. A surgeon very early on learned the hard way that condoms and surgical gloves were no more protection against AIDS virus than a basketball hoop could stop a marble. It was so obvious to all that only the most blindly politically correct and those most in denial could still deny. That was in 1988. No question of morality, just of brains.
Put simply a water molecule is huge compared to a virus and is too big to pass through the pores. That stops water. That is all.
So when you say wear a surgical glove, try asking a surgeon who just isn't ready to die yet. No brainer since 1988.
Now, Snidley, WackyKat, what is your real motive for assaulting decent Catholics? And if you call yourself a Catholic, please give me your definition. It doesn't match anything I know.