Uses of Condoms
Made from thin sheaths of elastic latex rubber or polyurethane plastic used during sexual intercourse, condoms are the most commonly used form of birth control and sexually transmitted diseases protection. Condoms are now available for both males and females.
Condoms prevent unwanted pregnancy and protect a person from sexually transmitted diseases such as HIV/AIDS and syphilis. To ensure the safety and quality of condoms, they are tried and tested before they are made available in a country. Testing for condom quality vary according to the safety requirements implemented by a specific country. In the United States, the Food and Drug Administration is responsible for the testing of condoms.
The use of condoms is a part of sex education delivered to teenagers and students. Organizers of sex education courses are mostly medical associations, parent groups, teachers, and public health agencies. In the United States, all students receive sex education in the fifth to seventh grades.
There are two forms of sex education – comprehensive and abstinence-only. Comprehensive sex education recognize that sex in during puberty is an already common practice and turn to educating young people about safe sex to prevent early pregnancy and HIV/AIDS infection. Abstinence-only sex education, on the other hand, argues that the only way to prevent early pregnancy and HIV/AIDS infection is to teach moral behavior.
Condoms can also prevent transmission of HIV/AIDS during oral and anal sexual intercourse by preventing sexual fluids from coming in direct contact with a sexual partner’s body parts.