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  • With Mayo Clinic women's health nurse practitioner

    Lois McGuire, R.N., M.S.N., W.H.N.P.

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  • Safe sex blog

  • Nov. 1, 2008

    Condoms critical for protection from STDs

    By Lois McGuire, R.N., M.S.N., W.H.N.P.

6 comments posted

In taking a sexual history with my dating population, I ask whether they use condoms. Many times the answer is "No or sometimes." We talk about the importance of condoms, but how successful are we in stressing this information?

The 2007 Minnesota Student Survey showed:

  • In the 9th grade, 27 percent of males and 31 percent of females did not use a condom the last time they had intercourse. About 1 in 5 said they had had intercourse.
  • In the 12th grade, 34 percent of males and 41 percent of females did not use a condom the last time they had intercourse. About half said they had had intercourse.

According to the 2007 U.S. Department of Health and Human Services report "Adolescent Health in the United States," 50 percent to 60 percent of females ages 15-19 used a condom at the last act of intercourse.

"Condom Use and Consistency Among Male Adolescents in the United States" was just published by Manlove, Ikramullah and Terry-Humen. Here are some of the key findings:

  • 71 percent of males used a condom at first and last sexual intercourse.
  • African-American males were more likely to use condoms than their white counterparts.
  • Hispanic males were half as likely to use condoms as their white counterparts.
  • If the sex was casual or unplanned, they were less likely to use a condom.
  • Males who had a positive attitude towards condoms were more likely to use a condom consistently.
  • The most impressive finding was the fact that one in five had not received any type of sexual education prior to their first sexual experience. These males were 50 percent less likely to use a condom.

Unplanned sex is the most risky sex for many reasons. Not using a condom with unplanned sex seems counter intuitive. It is always a good idea to talk to your partner. Both of you should get STD screening done before beginning a new relationship.

Education is also an important factor in helping our adolescents to use a condom. Males who were taught in a positive environment about condoms were more likely to use them. Males who received no information about condoms were less likely to use them. If you know of someone who is not using a condom, talk to them.

We know that condoms protect both males and females. Next, I am going to address the importance of using condoms to protect our young women. When our young women are protected, the young men will be protected as well.

6 comments posted

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  • March 30, 2009 10:45 p.m.

    Ok so question, if someone has had Syphilis before, and they have been treated, can they still pass the disease to another partner? Say a guy wanted to get a girl pregnant, can he still pass the std to his partner even though he has been treated?

    - David H.

  • March 1, 2009 9:25 p.m.

    I must say that those statistics are shocking. I found some worldwide statistics here http://hubpages.com/hub/STD-Testing-Centers also.

    - Stephan

  • November 14, 2008 3:13 p.m.

    Lois - I am a health care worker and a high school health teacher. I like to use current data when planning any lesson for my classes. Would you share the sites that you use for the efficacy of condoms? I have many but the stats seem to be fairly inconsistent. I will be using your article about Adolescent Girls and STDs. I ask my students to research information before they engage in any activity - drugs, sex, smoking, etc - and to use trusted sites. Your information is based on science and I appreciate your articles. Keep them coming!!

    - Debby

  • November 11, 2008 9:44 a.m.

    Dear George and other readers, I want to address the effectiveness of condoms in protecting against STDs. Condoms do not guarantee that you will not contract an STD. They do greatly reduce your risk. A meta-analysis of condom protection against HIV reports that the condom protects by 80 to 95%. There is not good information about the percentage of protection from other diseases due to the inconsistencies of the studies. Studies do support that condoms do protect against other bacterial and viral infections. It is important that you use latex or other synthetic condoms such as urethane. Please do not use "Natural" condoms. They are made from the intestines of lambs and are porous, allowing the passage of viruses through the membrane.

    - Lois McGuire

  • November 9, 2008 7:01 a.m.

    Lois! pl check and tell us on the efficacy of rubber latex male condoms preventing spermatozoa and bacteria cocci and Viruses, in lab and in life. what we read is that it is only 80%,, good enuf for epidemiological and sales purposes.

    - George, India

  • November 5, 2008 12:55 p.m.

    As a retired teacher/prof I was postively impressed with the above article; well written and not biased or religious in "tone." I was surprised that hispanics use condoms least of all cultures. Would you please get statistics on their "HIV" and other STD's compared to other cultures. Thank you, Andre

    - Andre

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