Condom Use and the Spread of Sexually Transmitted Diseases

The University of Colorado Health Sciences Center in Denver conducted a comprehensive study pertaining to condom use and the spread of sexually transmitted diseases.  Interestingly, the group that was most effected by the spread of sexually transmitted diseases as the result of condom error was heterosexual men.  Homosexual men and heterosexual women did not seem to be effected particularly when it came to condom error.  The reason for this result was not entirely clear from the study itself.

The net results of the study demonstrate that even with consistent use, condoms cannot prevent sexually transmitted diseases in all instances.  However, condoms still remain the best line of defense short of abstinence when it comes to preventing the spread of sexually transmitted diseases.  The bottom line of the study was that the spread of sexually transmitted disease depends not only on consistent condom use but correct condom use.

Amongst heterosexual men who saw the biggest increase in the spread of disease due to condom failure, the diseases that they were most likely to contract were gonorrhea and chlamydia.  In addition, there was an up tick in the number of cases of genital warts as well.

The study actually involved 26,291 homosexual men, heterosexual men and heterosexual women who visited the University of Colorado’s clinic in Denver over a two year period of time.  Interestingly, only thirteen percent of this group of over 26,000 people indicated that they use condoms consistently.

The participants in the study indicated that the heterosexual men reported thirteen sexual partners throughout their lifetimes, homosexual men reported thirty sexual partners over their lifetimes and the heterosexual women reported seven sexual partners over the course of their lifetimes.

The same study reported that fifty-seven percent of the women involved reported condom error, forty-eight percent of the heterosexual men reported condom error and thirty-three percent of the homosexual men reported condom error as well.

For heterosexual men, according to the study, condom mishaps increased their chances of contracting gonorrhea by 5.5 times and chlamydia by 3.2 times.  In addition, these same men ran a risk of contracting a urinary tract infection as the result of a condom mishap by two hundred percent.

In the final analysis, three factors need to be emphasized as a result of this comprehensive study.  First, the only sure defense (no matter how unrealistic) against the transmission of sexually transmitted disease is abstinence.  Second, while condoms are the best line of defense against sexually transmitted disease, condoms are not one hundred percent effective in this regard.  Third, in order to be of maximum effect in the fight against sexually transmitted disease, condoms must be used consistently and correctly.

If you have any more additional questions about condoms, sexually transmitted disease and your sexual habits, you should consult with a qualified health care professional.  You need to remember that making sure you are well educated about condoms and sexually transmitted disease can make the difference between life and death in the final analysis.