The Five Condommandments
Worldwide, men have been well acquainted with condoms. Condom availability in places of need around the world is increasing significantly, with 25.8 million female condoms provided through international and nongovernmental funding sources in 2009. Condom distribution increased by 10 million between 2008 and 2009 (UNAIDS, Report on the Global AIDS Epidemic 2010. Geneva: UNAIDS).
From the popular “raincoat”, they have already assigned numerous slangs to call and understate condoms—happy hat, magic rubber, jimmy cap, love sock, papa-stopper, skin, love glove. Clearly, men have presently tagged this rubber with witty code names to identify their familiarity with the product as well as to show their machismo during their fortunate moments with women.
Contrary to popular belief that condoms were only invented in the 19th century, they are in fact used thousands of years ago. Proof is shown in an illustration of a man using a condom in a 12,000–15,000-year-old painting on the wall of a cave in France (Parisot, Jeannette, Johnny Come Lately: A Short History of the Condom, 1985).
During the First World War, U.S. allies have distributed condoms to their troops to prevent sexually transmitted infection (STI), however, U.S. social hygienists adopted a chastity campaign opposing condom use to prevent STI. Unfortunately in 1919 alone, U.S. troops reported a yearly rate of 766.55 per 1000 for STI (Brandt, Allan M., No Magic Bullet: a social history of venereal diseases in the United States since 1880, 1985).
The Five CONDOMmandments
Looking for the most inexpensive form of birth control? Condoms indeed is the right answer. They are not only economical, they are also effective. According to the Contraceptive Efficacy study by James Trussell in 1998, 18 out of 100 women are likely to become pregnant if their partners have used condoms inconsistently and imperfectly. In addition, only 2 gets impregnated if their partners used condoms properly—showing a 98 percent effectivity versus other contraceptive means.
Plus, they are not only cheap and effective, they can also be easily purchased everywhere, easily disposed, have the least side effects and prolong sexual intimacy between partners.
2. Thou shall use condom to protect fertility
Believe it or not, condoms help protect fertility by preventing transmission of gonorrhea and chlamydia. These two STIs have been known to cause infertility. Gonorrhea and chlamydia can potentially cause scarring and damage to the fallopian tubes. Scarred and damaged fallopian tubes can prevent sperm from reaching and fertilizing the egg.
Even if the egg gets fertilized, the blocked tubes can impede fertilized egg from reaching the uterus, which is a known cause of ectopic pregnancy—a dangerous and potentially fatal case for women. Women whose partners have high familiarity with condom usage tend to have lower risk of this pelvic inflammatory disease than those who do not. According to a study in 1987 titled “The Relationship of Tubal Infertility to Barrier Method and Oral Contraceptive Use”, women whose partners use condoms have 30 percent less risk of infertility due to STI.
3. Thou shall use condom to avoid STI
Condoms are really effective. Undeniably, its efficacy comes it blocks contact with bodily fluids that cause sexually transmitted infection. Most people attest to its failure because of their inconsistency and improper condom usage and not because it breaks. Fluids—semen, infectious secretions and genital discharge—are the most common means of transmission.
Some would even contest that taking contraceptive pills does not only prevent pregnancy but also STI transmission. Well, the only methods of contraception that will help protect people from passing and getting STI for vaginal, anal or even oral intimacy are condoms. However, in order to be effective, they must be used consistently and correctly before and all throughout contact.
4. Thou shall use condom to protect against Bacterial and Viral Infections
Well isn’t that a notable indication? Condoms do not only protect you from Bacterial infections such as chlamydia, gonorrhea, syphilis, trichomoniasis but also protect against viral infections. Condoms are effective against human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), hepatitis B, herpes simplex virus 2 and cytomegalovirus. Of course, the most reliable ways to avoid transmission of these infections is to abstain from sexual activity, or to be in a long-term mutually monogamous relationship with an uninfected partner.
5. Thou shall be smart when using condoms
Condoms already pave the way to a safer sex. It is in our utmost effort to be smart when using one. First rule is to store them in a cool, dry place and always check the expiration dates. Use the easy-tear edges when opening the pack and don’t even think of using your teeth, fingernails, knives and scissors to avoid accidental breakage and tears. Third rule is to dispose them hygienically and discreetly. Do not just throw them away wherever you feel like. Tie open end with a knot and wrap it inside a tissue before tossing into the rubbish bin. And lastly, never reuse, reduce or recycle them. The thought alone is entirely unhygienic and unhealthy.
Now you don’t have to keep making excuses for not using a condom. Remember that it is the only contraceptive method that protects against pregnancy, infertility and sexually transmitted infections. The typical use of male condoms, which is the average way most people use them, still has a failure rate of 14-15%. Spermicidal agents increase the effectiveness to over 95% when used correctly and consistently. Syphilis transmission is reduced for up to 71%, Gonorrhea and Chlamydia for approximately 50% and HIV for up to 85%. (“Scientific Evidence on Condom Effectiveness for Sexually Transmitted Disease (STD) Prevention,” July 2001, The National Institute of Health and the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases report).
In order to benefit from this protection, you must use it consistently and correctly, which means using it with every act of sexual intercourse, from start to finish, including penile-vaginal intercourse as well as oral and anal intercourse.
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