 |
|
 |
FDA Home Page | Search
FDA Site | FDA A-Z Index | Contact
FDA
Human Immunodeficiency
Virus and
Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome
December 1990
This booklet is to help you understand why it's important to use condoms (rubbers, prophylactics) to help reduce the spread of sexually transmitted diseases. These diseases include AIDS, chlamydia, genital herpers, genital warts, gonorrhea, hepatitis B, and syphilis. You can get them through having sex -- vaginal, anal, or oral.
The surest way to avoid these diseases is to not have sex altogether (abstinence). Another way is to limit sex to one partner who also limits his or her sex in the same way (monogamy). Condoms are not 100% safe, but if used properly, will reduce the risk of sexually transmitted diseases, including AIDS. Protecting yourself against the AIDS virus is of special concern becuase this disease is fatal and has no cure.
About two-thirds of the people with AIDS in the United States got the disease during sexual intercourse with an infected partner. Experts believe that many of these people could have avoided the disease by using condoms.
Condoms are used for both birth control and reducing the risk of disease. That's why some people think that other forms of birth control -- such as the IUD, diaphragm, cervical cap or pill -- will protect them against diseases, too. But that's not true. So if you use any other form of birth control, you still need a condom in addition to reduce the risk of getting sexually transmitted diseases.
A condom is especially important when an uninfected pregnant woman has sex, because it can also help protect her and her unborn child from a sexually transmitted disease.
Note well: Condoms are not 100% safe, but if used properly, will reduce the risk of sexually transmitted diseases, including AIDS.
Sexually transmitted diseases can cause:
See a doctor if you have any of these symptoms of STDs:
You can get more information about preventing sexually transmitted diseases by calling the National AIDS Hotline, the National Sexually Transmitted Diseases Hotline, or your state or local hotlines. (See For more information for free hotline numbers.)
A person who takes part in risky sexual behavior should always use a condom.
The highest risk comes from having intercourse -- vaginal, anal, or oral -- with a person who has a sexually transmitted disease. If you have sex with an infected person, you're taking a big chance. If you know your partner is infected, the best rule is to avoid intercourse (including oral sex). If you do decide to have sex with an infected partner, you should always be sure a condom is used from start to finish, every time.
And it's risky to have sex with someone who has shared needles with an infected person.
It's also risky to have sex with someone who had sex with an infected person in the past. If your partner had intercourse with a person infected with HIV (the AIDS virus), he or she could pass it on to you. That can happen even if the intercourse was a long time ago and even if you partner seems perfectly healthy.
With sexually transmitted diseases, you often can't tell whether your partner has been infected. If you're not sure about yourself or your partner, you should choose to not have sex at all. But if you do have sex, be sure to use a condom that covers the entire penis to reduce your risk of being infected. This includes oral sex where the penis is in contact with the mouth.
If you think you and your partner should be using condoms but your partner refuses, then you should say NO to sex with that person.
In other words, sex with condoms isn't totally "safe sex," but it is "less risky" sex.
A condom acts as a barrier or wall to keep blood, or semen, or vaginal fluids from passing from one person to the other during intercourse.
These fluids can harbor germs such as HIV (the AIDS virus). If no condom is used, the germs can pass from the infected partner to the uninfected partner.
Always read the label. Look for two things:
1. The condoms should be made of latex (rubber). Tests have shown that latex condoms can prevent the passage of the AIDS, hepatitis and herpes viruses. But natural (lambskin) condoms may not do this.
In the future, manufacturers may offer condoms of other materials and designs for disease prevention. As with all new products that make medical claims, such as "prevention of sexually transmitted disease," these new condoms would have to be reviewed by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) before they are allowed to be sold.
2. The package should say that the condoms are to prevent disease. If the package doesn't say anything about preventing disease, the condoms may not provide the protection you want, even though they may be the most expensive ones you can buy.
Novelty condoms will not say anything about either disease prevention or pregnancy prevention on the package. They are intended only for sexual stimulation, not protection.
Condoms which do not cover the entire penis are not labeled for disease prevention and should not be used for this purpose. For proper protection, a condom must unroll to cover the entire penis. This is another good reason to read the label carefully.
The FDA is working with condom manufacturers to help ensure that the latex condoms you buy are not damaged.
Manufacturers "spot check" their condoms using a "water-leak" test. FDA inspectors do a smilar test on sample condoms they take from warehouses. The condoms are filled with water and checked for leaks. An average of 996 of 1000 condoms must pass this test.
(Don't try the water-leak test on condoms you plan to use, because this kind of testing weakens condoms.)
Government testing can not guarantee that condoms will always prevent the spread of sexually transmitted diseases. How well you are protected will also depend a great deal on which condoms you choose and how you store, handle and use them.
The Surgeon General (C. Everett Koop, Surgeon General 1982-1989) has said, "Condoms provide some protection, but anal intercouse is simply too dangerous to practice"
Condoms may be more likely to break during anal intercourse than during other types of sex because of the greater amount of friction and other stresses involved.
Even if the condom doesn't break, anal intercourse is very risky because it can cause tissue in the rectum to tear and bleed. These tears allow disease germs to pass more easily from one partner to the other.
The active ingredient in all of the over-the-counter (OTC) vaginal contraceptive drug products (spermicides) available in the U.S. is nonoxynol 9 (N-9). N-9 vaginal contraceptive drug products are used alone to prevent pregnancy, or with barrier methods such as diaphragms or cervical caps. Some condoms include a spermicidal lubricant containing N-9.
Recent clinical studies show that N-9 spermicides do not prevent or reduce the risk of getting HIV, the virus that causes AIDS, from an infected partner, or against getting other STDs. Thus, N-9 spermicides should not be used for HIV/STD prevention or protection. Clinical studies also show that use of N-9 spermicides can cause vaginal and rectal irritation which could increase the risk of getting HIV/AIDS from an infected partner.
FDA still considers N-9 safe as a contraceptive for women at low risk for HIV and other STDs. However, FDA is proposing new labeling warning statements (PDF 74KB) for all OTC vaginal contraceptive drug products (spermicides) containing N-9. These proposed warning statements advise users that vaginal contraceptives containing N-9 do not protect against getting HIV/AIDS, or other STDs from an infected partner. The proposed warnings also advise consumers that use of N-9 can increase vaginal irritation. Increased vaginal irritation from use of N-9 may increase the risk of getting HIV/AIDS from an infected partner.
The applicability of these warning statements to condoms that contain spermicide
is being considered, and the response to this question is currently under revision.
[This section, "Should spermicides be used with condoms," was revised
in 2005 to reflect new data about the potential impact of N-9 on transmission
of HIV.]
Some condoms are already lubricated with dry silicone, jellies, or creams. If you buy condoms not already lubricated, it's a good idea to apply some yourself. Lubricants may help prevent condoms from breaking during use and may prevent irritation, which might increase the chance of infection.
If you use a separate lubricant, be sure to use one that's water-based and made for this purpose. If you're not sure which to choose, ask your pharmacist.
Never use a lubricant that contains oils, fats, or greases such as petroleum-based jelly (like Vaseline brand), baby oil or lotion, hand or body lotions, cooking shortenings, or oily cosmetics like cold cream. They can seriously weaken latex, causing a condom to tear easily.
It's most important to choose latex condoms that say "disease prevention" on the package. Other features are a matter of personal choice.
Some packages show "DATE MFG." This tells you when the condoms were made. It is not an expiration date.
Other packages may show an expiration date. The condoms should not be purchased or used after that date.
It depends. Vending machine condoms may be OK:
You should store condoms in a cool, dry place out of direct sunlight, perhaps in a drawer or closet. If you want to keep one with you, put it in a loose pocket, wallet, or purse for no more than a few hours at a time.
Extreme temperature -- especially heat -- can make latex brittle or gummy (like an old balloon). So don't keep these latex products in a hot place like a glove compartment
Gently! When opening the packet, don't use your teeth, scissors or sharp nails. Make sure you can see what you're doing.
If the condom material sticks to itself or is gummy, the condom is no good. Also check the condom tip for other damage that is obvious (brittleness, tears, and holes). Don't unroll the condom to check it because this could cause damage.
Never use a damaged condom
Follow these guidelines
Learn the facts so that you can protect yourself and others from getting infected. Condoms are not 100% safe, but if used properly, will reduce the risk of sexually transmitted diseases, including AIDS. If you have unprotected sex now, you can contract sexually transmitted diseases. Later, if you decide to have children, you might pass the disease on to them.
If you would like more information about condoms and how to prevent sexually transmitted diseases, talk with your doctor or call:
The National AIDS Hotline. It's open 24 hours a day. Trained operators will answer your questions and can send you more information.
The National STD Hotline, (800) 227-8922 or (800) 342-2437
En Español (800) 344-7432
Use this handy shopping guide as a reminder of what to look for when buying condoms and lubricants.
Be sure to choose:
[X] Latex
[X] Disease prevention claim on package label
Also consider:
[ ] With lubricant
[ ] Separate lubricant (Select only water-based lubricants made for this purpose.)