vaginapagina | condoms and STDs

Nope.. considering the failure rate of condoms and the fact that you can get HPV, herpes via oral sex and with open sores not covered by a condom. It worries me that people use condoms for the only method of STD/pregnancy prevention with a 5%!!! failure rate.

Maybe it's a good thing I'm not a lady, then. :)

You can still get STD's though, it goes both ways :P

What are you suggesting people do instead? I was under the impression that condoms (aside from dental dams) were pretty much the only STD precaution out there.

Using a (latex) condom consistently and correctly, each time, everytime, will significantly reduce the risk of contracting an STD. It's not infalliable. Most condom failures are however caused by human error.

If there are HPV or herpes sores that aren't covered by the condom, it's possible to contract either virus. Sores don't have to be visible for the virus to be present-viral shedding can occur preceeding or in between outbreaks. Herpes viruses are the ones that cause cold sores around the mouth as well, and it's possible to pass the virus mouth to mouth. (Cold sores are different from canker sores)So yes, it's true, condoms aren't perfect. One can reduce the risk by using condoms (or other barriers) as appropriate for any sex act-oral, anal, vaginal sex, or analingus.

The only one hundred percent way to guarantee you're not going to contract an STD is to not have sex. In the absence of that, your best bet is to protect yourself by talking about your history, and knowing your partners, and by using barriers each and every time.

Another delightful thing that you can still "catch" despite using condoms correctly every time is genital warts - it's simple skin to skin contact that will pass them on - and Condoms don't cover all that much if you think about it...not a nice thought!!

Genital warts is HPV...there are many varieties of HPV, and some are the ones that cause genital warts.

What's HPV stand for?

She was joking. The term lady vs. just a regular ol' gal... you know...

Human papilloma virus .

you can check out the

hpv community for more info, if you'd like.

It's still better than nothing.

yes i have them- hence the reason for my posting. sometimes it upsets me to see people talking about how they had a one night stand but don't worry everything is just fine because they used condoms. hah!

You and your partner should get tested before you engage and such activities.

Sure but better than nothing still has a pretty high failure rate. If you don't mind getting herpes or hpv go for it..

still can't get tested for HPV though. there is no test yet besides a pap smear. (which isn't really a test at all)

How to test for HPV (http://www.ivillagehealth.com/experts/womens/qas/0,11816,234287_127950,00.html)

And according to my doctor, current estimates are that about 50% of women have HPV, but the huge majority don't know it. It can be in the body for up to 10 years without manifesting itself, and even when it shows up, it's not always obvious. I just assume everyone's got HPV, and go with that.

I know - Condoms are marketed as the failsafe method of preventing STD transfer, but I don't think people realise that they're are some things that can't be prevented against - other that by completely abstaining!

They are also one of the most cringe making and embaressing STDs cos they're so visible - probably one that people would put off getting checked out because they're so stigmatised....

i agree that condoms are not perfect. however i'm getting the feeling that a few people here are taking condoms for granted. condoms have saved many people from contracting STDs other than HPV. HIV for example. and i'm sure many people have been protected from HPV as well(not to mention all the unwanted pregnancies that have been avoided with condom use). they are effective if you use them correctly and carefully. they're even more effective if you use another from of birth control.

i'm not trying to put anyone down or make anybody angry. just saying that condoms are one of the best and only thing people who chose to be sexually active have to protect themselves from STDs.

i was in no way saying that condoms should not be used, and are not wonderful. I was just mentioning that a lot of people have the false idea that condoms will protect against everything. expecially the younger and uneducated girls.

i didn't mean to start such a ruckus with this post hehe. sorry that i did.

xoxo wynken

you shouldn't be sorry! you're right, condoms don't protect you from everything and many people are ignorant to that.

i was just posting a pro-condom reply, i think they needed it!

...like having children?

i'm sorry i don't understand

50% of women or 50% of sexually active women?

The only one hundred percent way to guarantee you're not going to contract an STD is to not have sex.

Exactly! And yet, whenever anything resembling abstinence is mentioned or suggested, people get all upset.

I don't know...we get upset at work if we hear "abstinence only" but my job is doing HIV/STD and substance abuse prevention/education with adolescents and young adults and we never ever ever give a presentation without talking about abstinence. I sometimes wonder if we talk about it enough, but we certainly do talk about it.

with reason :P

condoms and STDs

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