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Condoms AdviceCondoms are a popular choice for preventing pregnancy and protecting against sexually transmitted diseases. A condom is a thin covering that is placed over an erect penis before any kind of sexual intercourse and can be made from latex, polyurethane and lambskin. There are many varieties of condoms currently available so it is important to pay attention to the box to find the condom that is right for you. It is particularly important to get a condom that fits correctly because a too small condom can break more easily and a too large condom may slip off the penis and not effectively protect against STDs. In addition, if you and your partner use a spermicidal cream or jelly (a substance that is placed into the vagina before intercourse to kill sperm or serve as a lubricant) with the condom, the risk of pregnancy is further decreased. When used correctly, condoms prevent the man’s semen from entering the vagina by trapping it inside the condom after he ejaculates. This also effectively prevents pregnancy since no semen enters the uterus. Condoms are able to protect against sexually transmitted diseases by preventing the exchange of bodily fluids that may be infected. Latex condoms are the most effective of the three types of condoms at providing protection from STDs so if you are not allergic to latex, this is the condom you should choose. When condoms are used consistently and placed on the penis correctly, they are highly effective at preventing the transmission of HIV, the virus that causes AIDS, and at reducing the risk of becoming infected with other STDs. Because of the spread of AIDS and other infectious STDs, it appears latex condoms are becoming more important for disease prevention than in the prevention of pregnancy. If you are in a non-exclusive relationship or if you do not know the HIV status of your partner, it is necessary to use a condom for any kind of sexual contact even if you are already using the pill or another form of contraception. Condoms are able to reduce the possibility that either partner will pass an STD or bacteria to their partner. They protect the man’s penis and urethra, which are the locations where infections begin after contact with an infected partner’s vagina, mouth or rectum. In turn, they protect a man’s partner from STDs that can be found in semen, pre-ejaculatory fluid or penile lesions. Polyurethane and lambskin condoms are not as effective at protecting against STDs as latex condoms. Therefore, read the label on the box before you buy them to see what the condoms are made of and whether they are labeled for disease prevention. If you have any worried about STD protection, use a latex condom because it will provide you with the best protection. |
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| STD Information | Herpes | Genital Warts | HPV | Syphilis | Chlamydia | Gonorrhea | Molluscum Contagiosum | Vaginitis | Birth Control | |||