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I was speaking to a friend that is an R2 here in Portland and they asked if I caught the CDC's announcments regarding condom use and effectiveness.  I hadn't, so he clued me in.

It seems as though I am the lone medical person on the board (unless there is a lurking doctor that I'm not aware of).  This is something of note that caught my eye.  So I am going to pass this important information along to friends. 

For years the mantra has been "use protection and you'll be okay" when it comes to sexual activity.  That might not be the case.

The CDC has come forward and stated that their previous stance on condoms and STD prevention might be incorrect.  Their stance on the big dog, HIV / AIDS remains the same:

Latex condoms, when used consistently and correctly, are highly effective in preventing the sexual transmission of HIV, the virus that causes AIDS.
(CDC, 2/06)

However - let's talk about "Discharge Diseases."  In other words; Gonorrhea, Chlamydia, and (on lower levels) Trichomoniasis. 

The official CDC stance, 2/06:

Latex condoms, when used consistently and correctly, can reduce the risk of transmission of gonorrhea, chlamydia, and trichomoniasis.

The official CDC stance in 2005:

Latex condoms, when used consistently and correctly,  are highly effective in preventing the risk of transmission of gonorrhea, chlamydia, and trichomoniasis.

Changing their stance from "are highly effective" to "can reduce" is a huge policy shift.  The CDC goes on to state:

Laboratory studies have demonstrated that latex condoms provide an essentially impermeable barrier to particles the size of STD pathogens.  The physical properties of latex condoms protect against discharge diseases such as gonorrhea, chlamydia, and trichomoniasis, by providing a barrier to the genital secretions that transmit STD-causing organisms.

The CDC states two things:

(1)  Epidemiologic studies that compare infection rates among condom users and nonusers provide evidence that latex condoms can protect against the transmission of chlamydia, gonorrhea and trichomoniasis.

However, here is the CDC's big red flag:

However, some other epidemiologic studies show little or no protection against these infections.

The second statment is:

Many of the available epidemiologic studies were not designed or conducted in ways that allow for accurate measurement of condom effectiveness against the discharge diseases. More research is needed to assess the degree of protection latex condoms provide for discharge diseases, other than HIV.

CDC, 2/06.

Other diseases, such as Genital ulcer diseases (including genital herpes, syphilis, and chancroid):

These diseases are transmitted primarily through “skin-to-skin” contact from sores/ulcers or infected skin that looks normal.  The CDC's stance remains the same on syphilis, herpes, etc:  condoms MIGHT protect you - but these are skin to skin dangers.

I hate to sound like a public service announcement, but this is fairly signifigant in my eyes.  Rarely will the CDC come forward and state that what they've been pushing for decades could be wrong.  Condoms, I'm sure ARE effective in preventing Discharge Diseases.  They very well may not be the sure bet you were told that they are.

If you are single - and dating - please be diligent.  The only true way to stay "clean" is to find a person you like and get tested together prior to starting physical activity.  Diligence is key, don't let a lapse in judgement affect your life down the road.

Luckly the married ones on this board (or people in long term relationships), don't have anything to worry about. 

Not to toss a moral decision at anyone, but in regards to maintaining a healthy body and avoidance of STD's in general, monogamous relationships are the way to go.  Like anything - open and honest communication!

My friend that is an R2 was flipping out over the information.  He's single and resident doctors...well, they are crazy. 

No one but me uses my blow up Catherine Bell doll, so I think I am safe from STDs.  :-*

Condoms are for sailors baby, yeah!!!

Seriously guys and girls...think about how scary that is.  For years you've been told to "wrap it and you're fine."  And now the CDC is saying "whoa, wait a second...we might have jumped the gun on that."

Please be careful out there!

(thank God I'm married and don't need to deal with this stuff...)

Condoms suck.  Get your girl on the pill.

I was always told they had an 85% success rate.

^^^ i think thats the pregnancy stat.

being responsible & getting tested is all well and good, but for those 1-nighters you just gotta wrap, pull & pray!!

I think that 85% effectiveness rate for preventing pregnancies is a little overblown as well.

I have been in the majorly stressful situation 5 times in my life where a woman (girlfriend/friend/acquaintence/random ho) told me that she was pregnant. Four of those times, I had used a condom. One of those times, I had used a condom AND the woman was on birth control pills. Either I have extremely resourceful sperm cells (I picture one of my tadpoles toting a blow torch and telling the little wiggler army behind him "it isn't her mouth this time...advance and conquer!"), or condoms are ridiculously overrated.

Wow, that is scary...

Maybe you should stop using the condoms you keep in your wallet for 18 months.

So how does the story end?  5 little strokes, 5 false alarms, 5 negative paternity tests?

...or 5 lying chicks...?

Trust me, Brian...back then, condoms never stay in the wallet anywhere near that long.

As far as how the story ended...I think one of the girls may have been lying to me, though I was never able to prove it. I paid for that procedure anyway...it was the first of the five (I was 17), and it terrified me. Three of the other four had abortions, two of which I took to the clinic and was there throughout (except during the procedure of course...yuck). The last one...she was in Germany, and she disappeared as soon as I told her that I would be glad to support the child if she had it, but had no real interest in marriage. For all I know, she went to Austria, had the kid and is living a happy life raising 'Stroke junior.

now that the wife is pregnant, I don't get any lovin anymore.

so this thread couldn't be farther away from applying to me.

Hmmm.  We're four months along and my wife basically looks at me every night like I'm on the menu.  How far along is your wife?

Congrats scar and Maine.  We're 2 months along and the near constant "morning" sickness is has the restaurant closed most of the time.  I do remember making up for lost time after this stage from the first time around. 

Trying to get the 3 year old to understand why mommy often doesn't feel well has been priceless.  About mommy having a baby in her tummy, "Why did mommy eat a baby?"

==========================

Okay, back on topic.  Am just a cold-hearted right-winger to think that unwanted pregnancy is a much more serious and long term problem than AIDS or any other social disease.

It's like a guy with a gun - if he shoots himself, it's sad.  If he shoots someone else it's tragic. 

Well - I'm not speaking of AIDS, actually.  Condoms are effective in that area, there are worlds of difference between spreading a virus versus bacteria. 

Certainly not going to get into unwanted pregnancy and I don't want this thread to go there. 

STD's - almost to a T - are asympomatic for most women as well as men.  I'd hate for someone here to think that they have no worries because they used condoms with their last girlfriend.  Some STDs, when unchecked for a long period of time, cause signifigant medical issues.  People date, they "try each other on."  The price for doing what humans do shouldn't be overall health.  Exactly your point about "shooting someone else."  It would be tragic if person "A" has practiced safe sex for ever, but contacted something and it went unchecked.  He / she unwittingly passed to person "B", who was also practicing safe sex.

Bottom line for single girls and guys out there - get tested.  Be sure.

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Congrats on the addition to your family, it's exciting.  VERY lucky with this pregnancy, outside of being tired a lot - no morning sickness.  Not even a blip.  My wife's Mom was the same way - easy peasy lemon squeezy on her first kid, morning sickness city on the second.  Looks as though that little trick might run from Mother to Daughter.

Oh baby i like it raw !

Being one of the Few lone single people on the board...I'm glad you posted this Maine.

I've only had a couple of preganancy scares,and 2 std scares.I've always believed that I was pretty safe with a LATEX condom.Back in the day,my buddy was using natural condoms,and ended up with TWINS!

I admit,Herpes and things like that scare me more than anything.Too me Herpes,was a 70's thing,that very few people discuss anymore.My Buddy was talking to his (Hot at the Time nieghbor) till she said she went to the doctor just to find out she had herpes.It was like 1997,she thought Herpes wasn't around anymore.

I Admit,I've only had one Aids test since the last time I've been sexually active(with a woman, :-[ how sad). I used to have one atleast once a year,just to be on the safe side.

Again thank you for passing this on...

Damn bro, get to the bunny ranch, quick ! You need to get laid.

That's the attitude that scares the hell out of me.

I live in area that has 6 colleges,an influx of people from all around the country.New women moving here constantly,but the same attitude about sex lingers.

MTV did a special...probably 1990,about how sex is viewed differently around america.They shot the country Bumpkin part of it 30 miles down the road,Aurora Mo. They showed how in Aurora,they don't think about STD's,they see it as a "big city" "gay " problem.Most people around here are clean,and disease free.
They don't see Aids,Herpes,Syphalis,most STDs,as a problem around here.They've slept with most guy's without a condom,as  long as they pull out....

They New York teens,freaked out...they wouldn't even think about sex without a condom.

HBO Did a show about a Suburb of Atlanta,where in a Fairly well to do area,A local STD epidemic broke out.When they talked to the teenagers,they were all having orgies.

Herpes is forever,there is no cure..

I also know that we have a lot of people with HIV here that have the,Coming Home Syndrome,one doctor told me after eading my Negative Results.

To Me,I've noticed since I've graduated high school (1993),Aids,has gotten less,and less Scarey,Thought about,Less media coverage,Less concerned about.I remember growing up,thinking you get HIV,then it turns to Aids,then you have like 6 months to live.

My Nephews,Thought on aids was,...Well you'll get this disease,You'll have it the rest of your life.It's like diabetes,you'll take medications for it,and you can still live for a long time.It's bad,it will probably kill you,but not for atleast 10 years.

I'm thinking I might be the only person here,that has slept with a Woman,then 5 years later find out she has AIDS? A woman that I slept with For about 5 months,(I wanted more,but I was too young to have a realtionship with) Went and Got Tested.She was HIV positive,more along the lines of full Blown Aids.When I found out,Hell,I wanted to be tested monthly.That was 1991,she was died in 1993.I've Come up Negative with Every test,No false positives,no scares for over 11 years.No Knock on wood necessary,I'm careful,there is no room for Error.

My only other scare STD scare,was Crabs...

STD's are one of the few types of diseases that we can have some control on if we get them or not...

She's three month's along... really huh? Hmmmmm... I may have to bring that up to her.

If you read the books that are made for us (the "your wife is pregnant, here is the bible on what NOT to do") they all say the same thing...the last trimester is when you should expect to get shut out. 

hmmm... her sexual drive is down to nill. Thanks for the advice Maine. I won't hijack your topic....