From Mark Cichocki, R.N.,
Your Guide to AIDS / HIV.
FREE Newsletter. Sign Up Now!

About.com Health's Disease and Condition content is reviewed by Susan Olender, MD

With nearly 1 million Americans infected with HIV, most of them through sexual transmission, and an estimated 15 million cases of other sexually transmitted diseases (STDs) occurring each year in the United States, effective strategies for preventing these diseases are critical. Refraining from having unprotected sexual intercourse with an infected partner is the best way to prevent transmission of HIV and other STDs. Latex condoms are highly effective when used consistently and correctly. The (CDC) offers the following recommendation:

"Condoms are effective in preventing HIV and other STDs."

Facts About Condom Use and STD/HIV Prevention

• The correct and consistent use of latex condoms during sexual intercourse- vaginal, anal, or oral-can greatly reduce a person’ s risk of acquiring or transmitting most STDs, including HIV infection, gonorrhea, chlamydia, trichomonas, human papilloma virus infection (HPV), and hepatitis B.

  The Link Between HIV and STDs

• Protecting yourself and others against STDs is important because many of these diseases have serious complications. Protecting yourself and others against HIV is important because it is life threatening and has no cure.

  Facts About STDs

• Laboratory studies show that latex condoms are effective barriers to HIV and other STDs. In addition, several studies provide compelling evidence that latex condoms are highly effective in protecting against HIV infection when used for every act of intercourse. This protection is most evident from studies of couples in which one member is infected with HIV and the other is not, i.e., "discordant couples."

  Is There a Link Between HIV & STDs

• Several studies clearly show that condom breakage rates in this country are less than 2%. Most of the breakage and slippage likely is due to incorrect use rather than poor condom quality. Using oil-based lubricants can weaken latex, causing the condom to break. In addition, condoms can be weakened by exposure to heat or sunlight or by age, or they can be torn by teeth or fingernails. Studies also indicate that condoms slip off the penis in about 1-5% of acts of vaginal intercourse and slip down (but not off) about 3-13% of the time.

  What to do if the Condom Breaks

• Some persons have expressed concern about studies that report higher failure rates among couples using condoms for pregnancy prevention. Analysis of these studies indicates that the large range of efficacy rates is related to incorrect or inconsistent use. In fact, latex condoms are highly effective for pregnancy prevention, but only when they are used properly. Research indicates that only 30-60% of men who claim to use condoms for contraception actually use them for every act of intercourse. Further, even people who use condoms every time may not use them correctly from start to finish. Incorrect use contributes to the possibility that the condom could leak at the base or break.

  What is the Right Way to use a Condom?