Is condoms safe enough to prevent aids??
822492
Using condoms every time you have sex will offer significant protection from STD's including HIV, the virus that causes AIDS. Keep in mind that condoms are not 100% effective, only abstaining from sex ensures no risk of infection. Condoms are designed for both pregnancy prevention/birth control and infection proection. The idea that condoms only offer protection for birth control and not infection or vice versa is false. Always use lubricated latex or lubricated polyurethane condoms. Never use unlubricated condoms, they are more likely to break. Never use natural skin/lamb skin/ membrane condoms, they will help prevent pregnancy but will not offer any protection from infections.
677725
No, because condoms are only good for like 15 minutes...and then are only 98% effective.  \n\nA combinations of condoms (when used properly) and the pill are your best bet, because that provides protection from STD's as well as birth control.
221249
yes it will cause AIDS be careful
799753
A condom is 99.98% effective in protecting you against std's.  They other contraceptive that beets the comdom is abstanance so it is all up to you.  Please though don't have sex without a comdom it is by far the stupid thing anybody could do,
43431
There's always a small chance of STD transmission, even if the condom was used properly. But if it was a latex condom and it wasn't broken by teeth or fingernails, the chance is fairly small. Still, if you are worried or if you have any symptoms, it couldn't hurt to go to a doctor or public health clinic to get checked out.
460364
Sorry to tell you, but going oral w/o a latex condom puts you at risk of contracting HIV, specially if you are in the receptive [sucking] position. You may have microscopic lacerations in your mouth that you may not be aware of, and since HIV is abundant in semen, the virus will get into your system through any oral laceration or scrape, no matter how minute. On the other way around, if you are the one being fellated, HIV is present in saliva, too [though in smaller concentrations than it is in semen or blood]. Any irritation, scrape or laceration [even if not visually detectable] that may be present in the penis is an open door for the virus to enter. So, to minimize the risk of contracting HIV, NEVER, ever have any kind of sexual contact w/o using a latex condom. Good luck, and take proper measures when having sex of any kind.
1012769
You never know who has AIDS or some other STD's, so the best thing to do is to use condoms. NEVER have unprotected sex!! Even if the person is young or looks healthy. Be careful!
832088
Absolutely NOT! All the pill protects you from is pregnancy. It doesn't do squat to prevent STD's. It's quite likely that you have something that may not have even shown up yet, so before you get to your next partner be sure to get tested. Unless you're in a completely monogomous and trusted relationship, you have to use condoms. You'll be more than sorry if you don't. Believe me.
229556
I have two friends who are both HIV positive both are gay males. One had full blown aids when I first met him and the other had just found out.This was about 4 years ago. I myself just found out 2 years ago that I am HIV. I always thought I was very careful sexually. I almost always used condoms. I suspect I got it from sharing needles(very stupid, I know)while shooting up cocaine which I'm happy to say I have not touched in a year.
641597
condoms and being regularly tested
1058024
Yes, but wearing a condom will greatly eliminate the risk.
476784
Yes, unprotected sex of any kind (apart from oral) leaves you open to catching the HIV virus, and thus eventually AIDS. Of course, if your partner does not have HIV then you'll be fine....
167705
While condoms are excellent (keep using them, no question), they're not infallible, and neither are the people using them.  Mistakes happen.  The virus still has to get out and then enterthe other person's system, but once it does, you have an infection.\n\nMake sure you and your partner(s) are honest with each other, and get tested if you have any doubts.
134203
It's by no means safe.  They say wearing a condom makes it 99% safer, I highly question that number.  CDC or whatever department might say 99% but the reality is there is no such thing as safe sex.  Hence at least 1 out of four women has Genital herpes, at least 1 in five men has genital herpes.  Chlamydia is rampant most people don't even know they have it.  If you wear a condom and a drip of vaginal liquid pours on ure testicals its bad news.  The only safe sex is no sex.  The word "safe" as a way to prime people, if they said "safer" the masses would disregard that word and bypass condoms and other contraceptives.  In our society pleasure is more important than anything.
884122
"Consistent use of condoms provides protection from HIV. The level of protection approximates 87%, with a range depending upon the incidence among condom nonusers. Thus, the condom's efficacy at reducing heterosexual transmission may be comparable to or slightly lower than its effectiveness at preventing pregnancy." \n\n" the chance that HIV will be transmitted during a single unprotected sexual act is much lower -- ranging from 1 chance in 500 for vaginal sex to 3 chances in 100 for anal sex -- than the risk that a single act of unprotected vaginal sex will lead to pregnancy. "\n\nAlso;\n\n"The use of a spermacide can make sex with condoms even safer. Laboratory studies have shown that one spermacide, nonoxynol-9, effectively kills all of the HIV that is present in a condom."
568971
Here's an answer from a 56 yo born and raised Catholic woman. \n\nFirst off, contraception and STDs are two entirely different issues. One is about population/procreation; the other is about prevention of disease. And yet they too often get linked together.\n\nIn order to prevent pregnancy, the best, safest way is to avoid having intercourse. Period. End of statement. Fooling around with something that is designed to produce offspring is playing with fire. No artificial barrier (condom) is gonna prevent that if it is meant to be. And human error certainly figures in on that!  Ask anyone who knows someone who "accidentally" got pregnant!  \n\nAs far as STD/HIV, the incidence of that grows with multiple partners. And the sad fact is that it may not show up for years. One indiscriminate encounter with an infected person will probably haunt you the rest of your life. Thus I believe in monogamy although I did have multiple partners before I married. But we won't go into that in this answer. \n\nPutting yourself at risk is foolish. Why not just stand before a firing squad? Or get run over by a car? Or expose yourself to some deadly virus that kills on contact?  Obviously we want self-preservation. So they came up with condoms, gels, etc. Because human nature is such that we take risks, and these risks can be deadly. \n\nAnd then there are the social issues of the disease or the pregnancy. People seem to think that playing with fire and creating life or contracting a deadly disease is all part of the human condition. Well, I guess my God has given me ways to avoid being in situations that may be harmful to me. So I don't take risks that could harm the life He gave me. \n\nHope this helps.
242562
YES NO NO YES Condoms should always be used, birth control or not. No if you are on birth control you do not have to use them, that is the reason they were invented. NO, it is not worth the risk. There is nothing to say the pill won't quit working. Yes, there is a perpetual risk of any kind of STD (more than 132 have been found). As far as I am concerned all the protection you can get is worth it.