Unfortunately, too many experts seem to obfuscate, to create a confusing haze around the reality of condoms. The facts though, are rather clear. The National Institutes of Health last year convened a panel to explore the scientific evidence determining whether male latex columns are effective in preventing sexually transmitted diseases (STD) - the report has just been released. Experts from around the world presented research to the panel. What the panelists heard paints a much less reassuring picture about condoms than the message kids and parents generally hear.

The panel found that condoms can reduce the risk of HIV by approximately 87 percent if they are used 100 percent of the time. Condoms can reduce the risk of gonorrhea in men, and may or may not reduce the risk of chlamydia in men. (Chlamydia is an STD that is a common cause of infertility in women and is common in sexually active adolescents.) The studies reviewed consistently reported that condoms had no impact on the risk of sexual transmission of human papillomavirus (HPV) infection in women, which is responsible for more than 98 percent of cervical cancers. Finally, they learned that there is no clear evidence that condoms reduce the risk of any other STD, including gonorrhea and chlamydia in women and HPV infection in men.

Download and read the NIH report:

Greetings, Mrs. Marian van Hofslot.

7/10/02:10:43:56 PM PST    comment

Me thinks soon. {wink}

7/10/02:10:11:36 PM PST    comment

This is true. There is not nearly enough education and research in sexuality and health.

"But there is ample evidence for abstinence programs' effectiveness, according to Heritage Foundation senior research fellow Robert Rector. In April, he wrote a report detailing the scientific evaluations of ten abstinence-only programs. Such curriculums, he concluded, "have repeatedly been shown to be effective in reducing sexual activity among their participants."

This is great! The more methods that work to slow the spread of disease and heartache the better. As long as one choice does not disallow another choice everyone should be happy.

"A 2001 study published in the American Journal of Sociology found that teens who make virginity pledges stay virgins 18 months longer than those who do not."

The subject of this study is the group called True Love Waits

"A study commissioned by Focus on the Family is due next year."

Rector writes, in The Effectiveness of Abstinence Education Programs in Reducing Sexual Activity Among Youth, "Not only do such programs, by their very nature, minimize the abstinence component of sex education, but many of these programs also implicitly encourage sexual activity among the youths they teach. Guidelines developed by SEICUS, for example, include teaching children aged five through eight about masturbation and teaching youths aged 9 through 12 about alternative sexual activities such as mutual masturbation, "outercourse," and oral sex. 16 In addition, the SEICUS guidelines suggest informing youths aged 16 through 18 that sexual activity can include bathing or showering together as well as oral, vaginal, or anal intercourse, and that they can use erotic photographs, movies, or literature to enhance their sexual fantasies when alone or with a partner. Not only do such activities carry their own risks for youth, but they are also likely to increase the incidence of sexual intercourse."

This seems to be pretty accurate for how the child's sexuality develops. The idea here should be that with firm parenting, community involvement, and a thorough education a child will grow up able to make the best decisions.

Studies Shows Most US Gay Men Don't Know They Have HIV: Increase Spending For Prevention Messages

And the result is 79% No and 21% Yes.

This is absurd. The best way to combat any illness or disease is to mitigate its vector. That only happens in prevention. The most cost effective way to deal with any disease is to stop it before it starts. So much money can be saved by doing that. So many lives, wives, husbands, fathers, daughters, sisters, brothers can be saved by stopping the disease from traveling from host to host.

I can't help but wonder if this ignorant stance come from the association HIV has with sex and the average folks fears of it? I mean with other diseases, like for instance smallpox, the world has spent billions of dollars in attempting to eradicate the disease by stopping it before it starts with vaccines and hygeine education.

Go ahead and vote and let em know what you think.

7/10/02:12:44:18 AM PST    comment