Condoms are actually rather oversold both as means of contraception and prevention of sexually transmitted disease.
I did some research on the topic a few years ago following a conversation with a very pregnant young mother of two lively little boys. Her husband had had an appointment for a vasectomy and they had decided to use condoms in the meantime. She assured me that they had been very careful in their use, as they really didn't think they could afford another child (she was a stay-at-home mom and they were trying to live within their means on one paycheck). Well, surprise! Number three was on his way.
I researched on the internet and used sites including the CDC, Planned Parenthood itself, and other pro-condom websites.
What I found was that condoms, with perfect use every single time, have about a 3% failure rate. (How many people are motivated enough to use them perfectly every single time, particularly teenagers, or those under the influence of drugs or alcohol, etc.?)
Not only that, you will not find any place that makes the statement that condom use actually does prevent disease. The statement I found (the last time I looked) is that if used correctly condoms may prevent sexually transmitted diseases.
What's more, anyone familiar with sexually transmitted diseases realizes that at least some of these, such as herpes and human papilloma virus (both viral) can be shed from parts of the body not covered by a condom, and can be shed when there are no visible lesions (sores or warts, etc) visible.
That's the kind of information that's not really shared by the "Here, have a condom and have fun" Happy Condom Week folks.
Yes. I work with teens. Hooking up is an epidemic — the more the better!!
They have the message that sex is ‘just something to do.”
Hate to be so blunt but I work with teens, have for over 20 years and this is what I see in teen-directed media and read in their journals and essays.
Research certainly shows that teens are unlikely to use condoms correctly, if at all and the more they have sex, the LESS likely they are to use one every single time they have sex. A lot of boys refuse to wear condoms. Period.
Teens are tidal-waved with the message from the media: “Sex is OK anytime with anyone, the more the better!!” And “Your body belongs to you, you can do whatever you want with it!!”
Imagine telling uneducated, young naive teens with little to no life experience that “All is OK!” If it feels good DO IT!!
I work with the results which include severe depression, a jaded attitude about male-female relationships,especially from young females “All Men are Lairs, Cheaters, Jerks!!”, and a nihilistic attitude about life in general.
The doctors around here tell me STI rates are epidemic, especially incurable HPV responsible for increasing rates of cervical cancers in women and throat and mouth cancers in YOUNG people (you connect the dots).
And then there’s this from the CDC:
“Cephalosporin Susceptibility Among Neisseria gonorrhoeae Isolates - United States, 2000-2010,” which signaled the potential for resistance to the cephalosporins, the last line of defense for treating gonorrhea.”
Translation: Gonorrhea is quickly becoming resistant to all known anti-biotics and therefore untreatable.
Parents: Teach your children well!! They need some defense against the relentless media saturation that “Mindless Sex is OK!”