"Prevention is better than cure" - though as HIV doesn't appear to have a cure, perhaps it should be re-worded: "Prevention is better". But there is a device that prevents sexually transmitted infections (STIs), HIV and pregnancy.
That ingenious device is tiny, inexpensive, widely available and often given away free in nightclubs and doctors' surgeries. Designed several hundred years ago, it has become increasingly sophisticated. The Chinese made a version from oiled silk paper, the Egyptians used papyrus soaked in water, and the fragrant Europeans used fish bladders. Though we baby boomers know them as "rubbers", it wasn't until 1843 that the latex condom was born. And condoms, archaic and embarrassing as they may be, are still what the doctor orders for safer sex.
The majority of modern condoms are now made from latex (rubber) though polyurethane (plastic) versions are increasingly popular - though they are quite noisy. Because penis size varies, so do condoms and choosing the right size can increase sensitivity. Choosing "extra large" may boost the ego but a snug fit provides better protection because it prevents slippage.
Condoms are pre- lubricated but they can be used with additional water- based lubrication. Most people are shy about buying proper lubricant so they tend to use bathroom products instead. The problem is that most of those products are oil-based and as oil erodes latex they are an unsafe substitute. Tentative lubricant shoppers may not be aware that water- based lubricants (like condoms) can be picked up in the toiletries section of the supermarket. If you must use household lubricants, go for polyurethane condoms, which are okay with oil.
So what's our excuse for the dramatic increases in STIs, HIV and pregnancy? It's easy to blame teenagers. Statistically we can see that they are starting to have sex earlier, and nearly 50 per cent of sexually active teenagers admit that they did not use contraception the first time. We have the highest teenage pregnancy rate in Europe. More than 90,000 teenagers get pregnant every year and 7,700 of those are under 16.
We know that teenagers are lousy about protection. Lots of them get pregnant, and they show the highest rates of STIs and HIV too. Yet as girls get older, pregnancy rates go down but STI and HIV rates stay high. Many teenagers are more scared of pregnancy than STIs and once they have dealt with contraception, which is often the Pill, they feel they are safe. The trouble is, guys too are only worried about pregnancy. They don't take STIs seriously either, and if a girl is on the Pill they are unlikely to pull out a condom and insist on safe sex.
Basically, none of us seems to understand the fact that sexually transmitted infections can happen to anyone. Just one act of unprotected sex with a chlamydia carrier gives you a 50 per cent chance of catching it. That carrier probably doesn't know they have it and probably doesn't have any symptoms. HIV can be in someone's system for years before any symptoms show. You will be even more concerned about pregnancy when you find that the lovely guy you've been having casual sex with for 12 months has left you infertile - one of the possible consequences of contracting chlamydia.
Teenagers can at least plead ignorance, but what about the rest of us? The Family Planning Association is concerned about the fact that STIs are on the increase in people aged 35-45+. The increase in separation and divorce has meant that many people find themselves single after long-term monogamous relationships, and they just aren't aware of the risks of STIs and HIV.
So how can we make using condoms as integral to having sex as tampons are to periods? Putting them under the "health and safety" umbrella doesn't seem to work because people seldom take any notice. That said, some genius will now probably spend millions enlisting the help of fashion designers and soap stars to make us appreciate the little rubber life-saver.
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