> Dan Minette <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote: > From: "Deborah Harrell" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> > > [Of course, _incorrect_ use of condoms fails not > only > > at pregnancy prevention but STD prevention as > well, > > and engaging in oral sex without some kind of > barrier > > will allow transmission of various diseases like > > syphilis.] > > The information that I have is that a good faith > effort to use condoms will > significantly reduce but not eliminate the chance of > pregnancy and STD.
Of course -- nowhere did I attempt to imply that condom use was 100% effective for anything; I gave the %ages in last year's discussion about contraception - which are, as I recall, about the same as the #s you give below. When somebody says "not effective," however, that implies to me at least less than 50%, and I want to see numbers. IIRC, consistant correct condom use was roughly 85% effective in preventing HIV transmission -- that is not "not effective." > The numbers that I remember for pregnancy is that > the effectiveness of the > pill is in the high 90%s and the effectiveness of > condoms is around 90% in > preventing pregnancy. If you > want cites, I'm sure I can pull them. <grin> See the above! > I've taught sex education courses that included the > following. > > "The only way to be 100% sure of not catching a STD > is abstinence. Having > sex only with a single long term partner that you > know did not have an STD > is the next most effective. The use of condoms > greatly decreases the > chances of catching an STD, but sex with multiple > partners of unknown > health still poses a significant risk." Better add "and no French kissing" to the 'abstinence' sentence, as transmission of various STDs _can_ occur if oral lesions are present. :P I am not sure why people seem to have the impression that I am not in favor of teen abstinence; I have consistantly stated that it is much better from a medical and emotional standpoint to be an adult before engaging in sex -- last year (or the one before?) there was an entire discussion on 'how parentally-induced fear and guilt kept [us] safe until we were adults!' WRT sex. My discussions with young women [generally speaking, I refer young men to male medical personnel, as they tend to get embarrassed asking _me_ questions!] are _very_ frank yet laced with a bit of humor*, and I give my personal opinion with the proviso that 'I will help you from a medical standpoint whatever you choose, but there _are_ consequences and potential consequences of having sex at a younger age...' *I think I wrote on-list the bit about 'if he says it's like taking a shower in a raincoat, tell him he'll need his slicker to weather your hurricane...' Debbi plowing through a legal statement in order to respond to another post <sigh> __________________________________ Do you Yahoo!? Yahoo! Mail - More reliable, more storage, less spam http://mail.yahoo.com _______________________________________________ http://www.mccmedia.com/mailman/listinfo/brin-l
