I’m not entirely sure where this belongs, but GQ seems like a good place to start. If a mod thinks it belongs elsewhere, go for it.
The local news said that the president has asked for more money next year for AIDS research. This is a good thing in principle. But paired with abstinence-only sex ed programs in schools, what’s the point in the end?
I mention this to my stepdad. (I should know better than to bring up anything politically-related with him.) He says condoms do nothing for AIDS anyway. ??? I’ve been taught that they cut the chances way down. Where would his idea come from? Are there a bunch of people out there who think that so they don’t even use a basic precaution like a condom? That sounds fairly scary to me.
I won’t argue with his contention that some things ought to be a family job. That’s a whole other argument. But the condom thing? WTF?
Condoms are NOT 100% effective, and their effectiveness generally varies widely based on how they are used. It is fairly easy to completely negate the effectiveness of a condom by user error - but as stated, they are generally regarded as the best way - by far - of preventing the spread of STDs like AIDS. I’m sure a doctor-type can explain more, but that is something every person should know, flat out, along with how to use a condom if they choose to engage in intercourse.
LATEX condoms are effective against the transmission of AIDS. “Natural” condoms, like lambskin, are NOT. Latex is non-porous, whereas natural fibers have spaces between molecules as “big as the Holland Tunnel” in relation to the size of the AIDS virus.
Microscopic holes in latex condoms may be too small to allow sperm to escape, but large enough to allow millions of virii to escape or enter, so always try to keep a fresh, unadulterated supply, and throw away that one you’ve been carrying in your wallet for six months.
You know, the abstinence-only program at my high school only applied to birth control. You couldn’t say to use condoms to prevent pregnancy; you could, however, say to use condoms to protect from STDs. My health teacher thought this was really stupid, but basically gave us a wink and told us to “do the math.”
My sex ed teacher told us that blue balls doesn’t exist we just make it up so that the girl will finish us off. :mad:
As a hijack, is there a page somewhere outlining exactly what condom user errors are, and how much they increase risk?
And, since I’m here, in addition to a condom with spermicidal lubricant, what’s the best way to prevent pregnancy, besides the pill (assuming the pill is #1)?
FWIW one of the anti-condom arguments I have seen (in Ireland about 10 years back) was stickers showing the size of the virus, compared to the size of the latex pores.
As I have understood it, and if I am wrong somone will be in to correct me, the pores are indeed larger than the virus, but the virus is always “connected to” a cell of some type which is much larger than the pores.
The Pill can be VERY good, IF you remember to take them. Depo-Provera and similar things are statistically slightly more effective because there’s no way to mess up using them. However, I have a close friend who got pregnant on Depo, so there’s no way I’m trying that. Besides, I don’t need a possible three months of hormonal hell.
Thanks all. Should the topic come up again, I will argue the point. And I knew that latex is okay while the “natural” ones aren’t, but I wouldn’t use anything but the latex or the other synthetics anyway. And I wouldn’t use them at all without other backup anyway.
