I worry . . . Can you?

Key Messages

The top methods of steering clear of the sexual transmission of HIV are:

abstaining completely from intercourse;

Practicing sex that is non-penetrative

staying faithful whenever neither person is HIV-infected; and

Always condoms that are using intercourse.

Condoms are truly the only available way of steering clear of the sexual transmission of HIV plus some other sexually transmitted infections (STIs).

Condoms occur both for gents and ladies.

Simply because a condom’s pricing is low, or the condom is distributed free, it generally does not always imply that it really is of reduced quality than a condom offered in a pharmacy, market or shop. Low-cost, socially marketed or easily distributed condoms can also be of a high quality.

Condoms should not be re-used or used after the termination date regarding the package.

Facts

Due to increasing understanding about AIDS and STIs, people in longer-term relationships are changing their intimate behavior. Some individuals are abstaining from intercourse until once they are hitched; numerous are determined to stay faithful with their lovers, yet others have begun making use of condoms frequently and regularly for protection. Nevertheless, more and more folks have yet to look at safer intimate behavior through correct condom usage. The spread of AIDS could be slowed if more folks used condoms.

It’s estimated that between 6 and 9 billion condoms are distributed throughout the world on a yearly basis. Because the start of the AIDS epidemic, condom circulation has significantly increased. Generally in most cities, as well as in numerous rural communities, both women and men can acquire good-quality condoms free or at low, subsidized costs. Nevertheless, present analyses of condom use for HIV avoidance in developing nations reveal there is an ever growing but demand that is unmet male and female condoms. This means, the whole world’s populace of intimately active gents and ladies requires more condoms.

Quality-assured male latex condoms, whenever correctly utilized, are an established, effective method of steering clear of the intimate transmission of HIV, several other STIs and maternity. Male latex condoms cannot be properly used with oil-based lubricants because such lubricants can damage the condom, causing it to split. Male condoms are affordable, highly dependable, life-saving products without any negative effects. Nonetheless, for most people, access to male condoms is hard and, although condoms are fairly cheap, the price continues to be prohibitive for low-income teams.

Condoms made especially for ladies (feminine condoms), are made of polyurethane and that can consequently be properly used with both oil- and lubricants that are water-based. Nonetheless, these are typically higher priced than male latex condoms. They have been available these days to a small amount of people in a few 70 nations. Research indicates that they’re well accepted by men and women. The feminine condom is made to give females more control of condom usage. Additionally provides security against HIV disease, other STIs and pregnancy that is unwanted. One of many great disadvantages with all the feminine condom (aside from the proven fact that it really is maybe not easily available every-where) is it really is high priced. The price that is subsidized from nation to nation but is usually around US$1.

Simply because a condom’s pricing is low, or even the condom is distributed free, it generally does not always imply that it really is of reduced quality than a condom offered in a pharmacy, market or shop. Nor is high cost in itself an assurance of quality. The important things to try to find is a warranty of quality through the distributor. Many developing wapa nations manufacture exceptional cheap condoms.

Dilemmas

Hurdles to effective and extensive condom usage consist of:

Problems in getting condoms as a result of high costs, limited accessibility, and lack of privacy for the people condoms that are wanting the purpose of circulation.

Reluctance to make use of condoms because many people genuinely believe that condoms reduce pleasure or disrupt sex that is spontaneous.

Personal disapproval, including beliefs that are cultural norms that restrict or stigmatize condom usage. In certain cultures, condom usage is regarded as unmanly; in other people, it is extremely problematic for women to propose condom usage as it may imply question as for their spouse’s fidelity.

Inadequate, inaccessible or health that is inappropriate and facilities. In a lot of places, facilities for household preparation, along with counselling on, and remedy for, HIV along with other STIs, don’t occur. Instead, where facilities do exist, use of them are hard as a result of the negative attitudes of staff, deficiencies in discretion or anonymity, inconvenient places or opening hours, or perhaps the expenses included.

Not enough control of condom use, because of unequal energy relations between women and men, or not enough negotiating abilities between lovers whenever condom use that is discussing.

Anxiety about condoms being introduced into a relationship that is stable to your dilemmas of fidelity and trust that will develop between lovers, because of this.

Lack of understanding (especially among intimately active young adults) for the effectiveness of condoms in preventing the transmission of HIV/AIDS plus some other STIs, also maternity.

Poor-quality condoms, or condoms which have been improperly saved, are more inclined to break and present individuals a impression that is false condoms generally speaking.

Insufficiently condoms that are strong rectal intercourse.

Difficulties in sustaining safer intercourse techniques. Despite initial successes in lots of avoidance promotions, specific teams — specially men who possess intercourse with males — are exercising safer intercourse less regularly. It is partly because individuals are sick and tired of having safer intercourse and, with all the advent of antiretroviral treatment, they genuinely believe that a lower life expectancy viral load decreases the risk of transmitting HIV through non-safe sex. They could also believe, erroneously, that there’s you don’t need to have safer intercourse now that antiretroviral treatments are available.