Condom

出典: Wikipedio

Template:About Template:Sprotect

Template:Infobox Birth control A condom (Template:Pron-en (US) or Template:IPA (UK)) is a barrier device most commonly used during sexual intercourse to reduce the likelihood of pregnancy and spreading sexually transmitted diseases (STDs—such as gonorrhea, syphilis, and HIV). It is put on a man's erect penis and physically blocks ejaculated semen from entering the body of a sexual partner. Because condoms are waterproof, elastic, and durable, they are also used in a variety of secondary applications. These include collection of semen for use in infertility treatment as well as non-sexual uses such as creating waterproof microphones and protecting rifle barrels from clogging.

In the modern age, condoms are most often made from latex, but some are made from other materials such as polyurethane, polyisoprene, or lamb intestine. A female condom is also available, most often made of polyurethane. As a method of birth control, male condoms have the advantage of being inexpensive, easy to use, having few side effects, and of offering protection against sexually transmitted diseases. With proper knowledge and application technique—and use at every act of intercourse—women whose partners use male condoms experience a 2% per-year pregnancy rate.

Condoms have been used for at least 400 years. Since the nineteenth century, they have been one of the most popular methods of contraception in the world. While widely accepted in modern times, condoms have generated some controversy, primarily over what role they should play in sex education classes.

目次 1 History 1.1 Before the 19th century 1.2 1800 through 1920s 1.3 Rubber and manufacturing advances 1.4 1930 to present 2 Etymology and other terms 3 Varieties 3.1 Materials 3.1.1 Natural latex 3.1.2 Synthetic 3.1.3 Lambskin 3.2 Spermicidal 3.3 Textured 3.4 Other 4 Female condom 5 Effectiveness 5.1 In preventing pregnancy 5.2 In preventing STDs 5.3 Causes of failure 6 Prevalence 7 Use 7.1 Role in sex education 7.2 Infertility treatment Template:Anchor 7.3 Other uses 8 Debate and criticism 8.1 Disposal and environmental impact 8.2 Position of the Roman Catholic Church 8.3 Health issues 9 Cultural factors 10 Major manufacturers 11 Research 12 References 13 Further reading 14 External links

History

thumb|A page from De Morbo Gallico (The French Disease), Gabriele Falloppio's treatise on syphilis. Published in 1564, it describes what is possibly the first use of condoms. Template:Main

Before the 19th century

Whether condoms were used in ancient civilizations is debated by archaeologists and historians.<ref name="collier"></ref>Template:Rp In ancient Egypt, Greece, and Rome, pregnancy prevention was generally seen as a woman's responsibility, and the only well documented contraception methods were female-controlled devices.<ref name="collier"/>Template:Rp In Asia before the fifteenth century, some use of glans condoms (devices covering only the head of the penis) is recorded. Condoms seem to have been used for contraception, and to have been known only by members of the upper classes. In China, glans condoms may have been made of oiled silk paper, or of lamb intestines. In Japan, they were made of tortoise shell or animal horn.<ref name="collier"/>Template:Rp

In 16th century Italy, Gabriele Falloppio wrote a treatise on syphilis.<ref name="collier"/>Template:Rp The earliest documented strain of syphilis, first appearing in Europe in a 1490s outbreak, caused severe symptoms and often death within a few months of contracting the disease.<ref name=Scars_of_Venus></ref><ref name=Diamond1></ref> Falloppio's treatise is the earliest uncontested description of condom use: it describes linen sheaths soaked in a chemical solution and allowed to dry before use. The cloths he described were sized to cover the glans of the penis, and were held on with a ribbon.<ref name="collier"/>Template:Rp<ref name=pai>Template:Cite web</ref> Falloppio claimed that an experimental trial of the linen sheath demonstrated protection against syphilis.<ref name="youssef">Template:Cite journal</ref>

After this, the use of penis coverings to protect from disease is described in a wide variety of literature throughout Europe. The first indication that these devices were used for birth control, rather than disease prevention, is the 1605 theological publication De iustitia et iure (On justice and law) by Catholic theologian Leonardus Lessius, who condemned them as immoral.<ref name="collier"/>Template:Rp In 1666, the English Birth Rate Commission attributed a recent downward fertility rate to use of "condons", the first documented use of that word (or any similar spelling).<ref name="collier"/>Template:Rp

left|thumb|A condom made from animal intestine circa 1900. In addition to linen, condoms during the Renaissance were made out of intestines and bladder. In the late 15th century, Dutch traders introduced condoms made from "fine leather" to Japan. Unlike the horn condoms used previously, these leather condoms covered the entire penis.<ref name="collier"/>Template:Rp

[[File:Condoomgebruik in de 19e eeuw.png|right|thumb|170px|Giacomo Casanova tests his condom for holes by inflating it]]

Casanova in the 18th century was one of the first reported using "assurance caps" to prevent impregnating his mistresses.<ref>Fryer P. (1965) 'the Birth controllers', London: Secker and Warburg and Dingwall EJ. (1953) 'Early contraceptive sheaths' BMJ, Jan 1: 40-1 in Lewis M. 'A Brief history of condoms' in Mindel A. (2000) 'Condoms', BMJ books</ref>

From at least the 18th century, condom use was opposed in some legal, religious, and medical circles for essentially the same reasons that are given today: condoms reduce the likelihood of pregnancy, which some thought immoral or undesirable for the nation; they do not provide full protection against sexually transmitted infections, while belief in their protective powers was thought to encourage sexual promiscuity; and they are not used consistently due to inconvenience, expense, or loss of sensation.<ref name="collier"/>Template:Rp

Despite some opposition, the condom market grew rapidly. In the 18th century, condoms were available in a variety of qualities and sizes, made from either linen treated with chemicals, or "skin" (bladder or intestine softened by treatment with sulfur and lye).<ref name="collier"/>Template:Rp They were sold at pubs, barbershops, chemist shops, open-air markets, and at the theater throughout Europe and Russia.<ref name="collier"/>Template:Rp They later spread to America, although in every place there were generally used only by the middle and upper classes, due to both expense and lack of sex education.<ref name="collier"/>Template:Rp

1800 through 1920s

The early nineteenth century saw contraceptives promoted to the poorer classes for the first time. Writers on contraception tended to prefer other methods of birth control. Feminists of this time period wanted birth control to be exclusively in the hands of women, and disapproved of male-controlled methods such as the condom.<ref name="collier"/>Template:Rp Other writers cited both the expense of condoms and their unreliability (they were often riddled with holes, and often fell off or broke), but they discussed condoms as a good option for some, and as the only contraceptive that also protected from disease.<ref name="collier"/>Template:Rp

Many countries passed laws impeding the manufacture and promotion of contraceptives.<ref name="collier"/>Template:Rp In spite of these restrictions, condoms were promoted by traveling lecturers and in newspaper advertisements, using euphemisms in places where such ads were illegal.<ref name="collier"/>Template:Rp Instructions on how to make condoms at home were distributed in the United States and Europe.<ref name="collier"/>Template:Rp Despite social and legal opposition, at the end of the nineteenth century the condom was the Western world's most popular birth control method.<ref name="collier"/>Template:Rp

thumb|During World War I, the U.S. military was the only one that did not promote condom use. Posters such as these were intended to promote abstinence. Beginning in the second half of the nineteenth century, American rates of sexually transmitted diseases skyrocketed. Causes cited by historians include effects of the American Civil War, and the ignorance of prevention methods promoted by the Comstock laws.<ref name="collier"/>Template:Rp To fight the growing epidemic, sex education classes were introduced to public schools for the first time, teaching about venereal diseases and how they were transmitted. They generally taught that abstinence was the only way to avoid sexually transmitted diseases.<ref name="collier"/>Template:Rp Condoms were not promoted for disease prevention because the medical community and moral watchdogs considered STDs to be punishment for sexual misbehavior. The stigma against victims of these diseases was so great that many hospitals refused to treat people who had syphilis.<ref name="collier"/>Template:Rp

The German military was the first to promote condom use among its soldiers, beginning in the later 1800s.<ref name="collier"/>Template:Rp Early twentieth century experiments by the American military concluded that providing condoms to soldiers significantly lowered rates of sexually transmitted diseases.<ref name="collier"/>Template:Rp During World War I, the United States and (at the beginning of the war only) Britain were the only countries with soldiers in Europe who did not provide condoms and promote their use.<ref name="collier"/>Template:Rp

In the decades after World War I, there remained social and legal obstacles to condom use throughout the U.S. and Europe.<ref name="collier"/>Template:Rp Founder of psychoanalysis Sigmund Freud opposed all methods of birth control on the grounds that their failure rates were too high. Freud was especially opposed to the condom because he thought it cut down on sexual pleasure. Some feminists continued to oppose male-controlled contraceptives such as condoms. In 1920 the Church of England's Lambeth Conference condemned all "unnatural means of conception avoidance." London's Bishop Arthur Winnington-Ingram complained of the huge number of condoms discarded in alleyways and parks, especially after weekends and holidays.<ref name="collier"/>Template:Rp

However, European militaries continued to provide condoms to their members for disease protection, even in countries where they were illegal for the general population.<ref name="collier"/>Template:Rp Through the 1920s, catchy names and slick packaging became an increasingly important marketing technique for many consumer items, including condoms and cigarettes.<ref name="collier"/>Template:Rp Quality testing became more common, involving filling each condom with air followed by one of several methods intended to detect loss of pressure.<ref name="collier"/>Template:Rp Worldwide, condom sales doubled in the 1920s.<ref name="collier"/>Template:Rp

Rubber and manufacturing advances

In 1839, Charles Goodyear discovered a way of processing natural rubber, which is too stiff when cold and too soft when warm, in such a way as to make it elastic. This proved to have advantages for the manufacture of condoms; unlike the sheeps' gut condoms, they could stretch and did not tear quickly when used. The rubber vulcanization process was patented by Goodyear in 1844.<ref>Template:Cite journal
Template:Cite journal</ref> The first rubber condom was produced in 1855.<ref name=billy>Template:Cite web</ref> The earliest rubber condoms had a seam and were as thick as a bicycle inner tube. Besides this type, small rubber condoms covering only the glans were often used in England and the United States. There was more risk of losing them and if the rubber ring was too tight, it would constrict the penis. This type of condom was the original "capote" (French for condom), perhaps because of its resemblance to a woman's bonnet worn at that time, also called a capote.

For many decades, rubber condoms were manufactured by wrapping strips of raw rubber around penis-shaped molds, then dipping the wrapped molds in a chemical solution to cure the rubber.<ref name="collier"/>Template:Rp In 1912, a German named Julius Fromm developed a new, improved manufacturing technique for condoms: dipping glass molds into a raw rubber solution.<ref name="billy" /> Called cement dipping, this method required adding gasoline or benzene to the rubber to make it liquid.<ref name="collier"/>Template:Rp Latex, rubber suspended in water, was invented in 1920. Latex condoms required less labor to produce than cement-dipped rubber condoms, which had to be smoothed by rubbing and trimming. The use of water to suspend the rubber instead of gasoline and benzene eliminated the fire hazard previously associated with all condom factories. Latex condoms also performed better for the consumer: they were stronger and thinner than rubber condoms, and had a shelf life of five years (compared to three months for rubber).<ref name="collier"/>Template:Rp

Until the twenties, all condoms were individually hand-dipped by semiskilled workers. Throughout the decade of the 1920s, advances in the automation of the condom assembly line were made. The first fully automated line was patented in 1930. Major condom manufacturers bought or leased conveyor systems, and small manufacturers were driven out of business.<ref name="collier"/>Template:Rp The skin condom, now significantly more expensive than the latex variety, became restricted to a niche high-end market.<ref name="collier"/>Template:Rp

1930 to present

In 1930 the Anglican Church's Lambeth Conference sanctioned the use of birth control by married couples. In 1931 the Federal Council of Churches in the U.S. issued a similar statement.<ref name="collier"/>Template:Rp The Roman Catholic Church responded by issuing the encyclical Casti Connubii affirming its opposition to all contraceptives, a stance it has never reversed.<ref name="collier"/>Template:Rp

In the 1930s, legal restrictions on condoms began to be relaxed.<ref name="collier"/>Template:Rp<ref name="note">Template:Cite web</ref> But during this period Fascist Italy and Nazi Germany increased restrictions on condoms (limited sales as disease preventatives were still allowed).<ref name="collier"/>Template:Rp During the Depression, condom lines by Schmid gained in popularity. Schmid still used the cement-dipping method of manufacture which had two advantages over the latex variety. Firstly, cement-dipped condoms could be safely used with oil-based lubricants. Secondly, while less comfortable, these older-style rubber condoms could be reused and so were more economical, a valued feature in hard times.<ref name="collier"/>Template:Rp More attention was brought to quality issues in the 1930s, and the U.S. Food and Drug Administration began to regulate the quality of condoms sold in the United States.<ref name="collier"/>Template:Rp

Throughout World War II, condoms were not only distributed to male U.S. military members, but also heavily promoted with films, posters, and lectures.<ref name="collier"/>Template:Rp European and Asian militaries on both sides of the conflict also provided condoms to their troops throughout the war, even Germany which outlawed all civilian use of condoms in 1941.<ref name="collier"/>Template:Rp In part because condoms were readily available, soldiers found a number of non-sexual uses for the devices, many of which continue to this day.

After the war, condom sales continued to grow. From 1955–1965, 42% of Americans of reproductive age relied on condoms for birth control. In Britain from 1950–1960, 60% of married couples used condoms. The birth control pill became the world's most popular method of birth control in the years after its 1960 début, but condoms remained a strong second. The U.S. Agency for International Development pushed condom use in developing countries to help solve the "world population crises": by 1970 hundreds of millions of condoms were being used each year in India alone.<ref name="collier"/>Template:Rp (This number has grown in recent decades: in 2004, the government of India purchased 1.9 billion condoms for distribution at family planning clinics.)<ref>Template:Cite paper</ref>

In the 20th century the invention of plastic and other man-made materials did not lead to an improvement in the quality of condoms. However the deterioration of the rubber became less rapid. Condoms became not only thinner but also more reliable. In 1995, plastic condoms went on the market in the USA.

In the 1960s and 1970s quality regulations tightened,<ref>Collier, pp.267,285</ref> and more legal barriers to condom use were removed.<ref name="collier"/>Template:Rp In Ireland, legal condom sales were allowed for the first time in 1978.<ref name="collier"/>Template:Rp Advertising, however was one area that continued to have legal restrictions. In the late 1950s, the American National Association of Broadcasters banned condom advertisements from national television: this policy remained in place until 1979.<ref name="collier"/>Template:Rp

After learning in the early 1980s that AIDS can be a sexually transmitted infection,<ref>Template:Cite journal</ref> the use of condoms was encouraged to prevent transmission of HIV. Despite opposition by some political, religious, and other figures, national condom promotion campaigns occurred in the U.S. and Europe.<ref name="collier"/>Template:Rp These campaigns increased condom use significantly.<ref name="collier"/>Template:Rp

Due to increased demand and greater social acceptance, condoms began to be sold in a wider variety of retail outlets, including in supermarkets and in discount department stores such as Wal-Mart.<ref name="collier"/>Template:Rp Condom sales increased every year until 1994, when media attention to the AIDS pandemic began to decline.<ref name="collier"/>Template:Rp The phenomenon of decreasing use of condoms as disease preventatives has been called prevention fatigue or condom fatigue. Observers have cited condom fatigue in both Europe and North America.<ref>Template:Cite journal</ref><ref>Template:Cite web
Template:Cite web</ref> As one response, manufacturers have changed the tone of their advertisements from scary to humorous.<ref name="collier"/>Template:Rp New developments continue to occur in the condom market, with the first polyurethane condom—branded Avanti and produced by the manufacturer of Durex—introduced in the 1990s,<ref name="collier"/>Template:Rp and the first custom sized-to-fit condom, called TheyFit, introduced in 2003.<ref name="cbstheyfit">Template:Cite web</ref> Worldwide condom use is expected to continue to grow: one study predicted that developing nations would need 18.6 billion condoms by 2015.<ref name="collier"/>Template:Rp Condoms have become an integral part of modern societies.

In March 2010, Switzerland announced that its government was planning to manufacture smaller condoms meant for boys of 12–14 years old. Called the Hotshot, the condom has been produced after government research showed 12 to 14-year-olds did not use sufficient protection when having sex. A standard condom has a diameter of 2 inches (5.2 cm) in comparison with the Hotshot's diameter of 1.7 inches (4.5 cm). Both are the same length – 7.4 inches (19 cm). According to a German study of 12,970 13 to 20-year-olds, a quarter of those surveyed said a standard condom was too large. Family planning groups and the Swiss Aids Federation campaigned to have the Hotshot produced after a number of studies, including the government study researched at the Centre for Development and Personality Psychology at Basel University<ref>Template:Cite news</ref>

Etymology and other terms

The term condom first appears in the early 18th century. Its etymology is unknown. In popular tradition, the invention and naming of the condom came to be attributed to an associate of England's King Charles II, one "Dr. Condom" or "Earl of Condom". There is however no evidence of the existence of such a person, and condoms had been used for over one hundred years before King Charles II ascended to the throne.<ref name="collier"/>Template:Rp

A variety of Latin etymologies have been proposed, including condon (receptacle),<ref name=condon>Template:Cite journal</ref> condamina (house),<ref>Template:Cite journal</ref> and cumdum (scabbard or case).<ref name="collier"/>Template:Rp It has also been speculated to be from the Italian word guantone, derived from guanto, meaning glove.<ref name="oetyd">Template:Cite web</ref> William E. Kruck wrote an article in 1981 concluding that, "As for the word 'condom', I need state only that its origin remains completely unknown, and there ends this search for an etymology."<ref>Template:Cite journal</ref> Modern dictionaries may also list the etymology as "unknown".<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

Other terms are also commonly used to describe condoms. In North America condoms are also commonly known as prophylactics, or rubbers. In Britain they may be called French letters.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> Additionally, condoms may be referred to using the manufacturer's name.

Varieties

Most condoms have a reservoir tip or teat end, making it easier to accommodate the man's ejaculate. Condoms come in different sizes, from oversized to snug and they also come in a variety of surfaces intended to stimulate the user's partner. Condoms are usually supplied with a lubricant coating to facilitate penetration, while flavored condoms are principally used for oral sex. As mentioned above, most condoms are made of latex, but polyurethane and lambskin condoms are also widely available.

Materials

Natural latex

thumb|375px|An unrolled latex condom

Latex has outstanding elastic properties: Its tensile strength exceeds 30 MPa, and latex condoms may be stretched in excess of 800% before breaking.<ref>Template:Cite journal</ref> In 1990 the ISO set standards for condom production (ISO 4074, Natural latex rubber condoms), and the EU followed suit with its CEN standard (Directive 93/42/EEC concerning medical devices). Every latex condom is tested for holes with an electrical current. If the condom passes, it is rolled and packaged. In addition, a portion of each batch of condoms is subject to water leak and air burst testing.<ref name="badnews">Template:Cite journal</ref>

While the advantages of latex have made it the most popular condom material, it does have some drawbacks. Latex condoms used with oil-based lubricants such as petroleum jelly are likely to break or slip off due to loss of elasticity caused by the oils.<ref name="fhi3">Template:Cite journal</ref> Additionally, latex allergy precludes use of latex condoms and is one of the principal reasons for the use of other materials. In May 2009 the U.S. Food and Drug Administration granted approval for the production of condoms composed of Vytex,<ref>Template:Cite press release</ref> latex that has been treated to remove 90% of the proteins responsible for allergic reactions.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> An allergen-free condom made of synthetic latex (polyisoprene) is also available.<ref name="isoprenepr" />

Synthetic

The most common non-latex condoms are made from polyurethane. Condoms may also be made from other synthetic materials, such as AT-10 resin, and most recently polyisoprene.<ref name="isoprenepr">Template:Cite press release</ref>

Polyurethane condoms tend to be the same width and thickness as latex condoms, with most polyurethane condoms between 0.04 mm and 0.07 mm thick.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> Polyurethane is also the material of many female condoms.

Polyurethane can be considered better than latex in several ways: it conducts heat better than latex, is not as sensitive to temperature and ultraviolet light (and so has less rigid storage requirements and a longer shelf life), can be used with oil-based lubricants, is less allergenic than latex, and does not have an odor.<ref name="nonlatex">Template:Cite journal</ref> Polyurethane condoms have gained FDA approval for sale in the United States as an effective method of contraception and HIV prevention, and under laboratory conditions have been shown to be just as effective as latex for these purposes.<ref name="AlicePolyLatex">Template:Cite web</ref>

However, polyurethane condoms are less elastic than latex ones, and may be more likely to slip or break than latex,<ref name="nonlatex" /><ref name="AlicePoly">Template:Cite web</ref> and are more expensive.

Polyisoprene is a synthetic version of natural rubber latex. While significantly more expensive,<ref name="isopreneglove">Template:Cite web</ref> it has the advantages of latex (such as being softer and more elastic than polyurethane condoms)<ref name="isoprenepr" /> without the protein which is responsible for latex allergies.<ref name="isopreneglove" />

Lambskin

Condoms made from sheep intestines, labeled "lambskin", are also available. They provide more sensation and are less allergenic than latex. However, there is an increased risk of transmitting STDs compared to latex because of pores in the material, which are thought to be large enough to allow infectious agents to pass through, albeit blocking the passage of sperm.<ref></ref> Lambskin condoms are also significantly more expensive than other types.

Spermicidal

Some latex condoms are lubricated at the manufacturer with a small amount of a nonoxynol-9, a spermicidal chemical. According to Consumer Reports, condoms lubricated with spermicide have no additional benefit in preventing pregnancy, have a shorter shelf life, and may cause urinary-tract infections in women.<ref>Template:Cite web Template:Dead link</ref> In contrast, application of separately packaged spermicide is believed to increase the contraceptive efficacy of condoms.<ref name="simultaneous" />

Nonoxynol-9 was once believed to offer additional protection against STDs (including HIV) but recent studies have shown that, with frequent use, nonoxynol-9 may increase the risk of HIV transmission.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> The World Health Organization says that spermicidally lubricated condoms should no longer be promoted. However, it recommends using a nonoxynol-9 lubricated condom over no condom at all.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> As of 2005, nine condom manufacturers have stopped manufacturing condoms with nonoxynol-9 and Planned Parenthood has discontinued the distribution of condoms so lubricated.<ref>Template:Cite journal</ref>

Textured

Textured condoms include studded and ribbed condoms which can provide extra sensations to both partners. The studs or ribs can be located on the inside, outside, or both; alternatively, they are located in specific sections to provide directed stimulation to either the g-spot or frenulum. Many textured condoms which advertise "mutual pleasure" also are bulb-shaped at the top, to provide extra stimulation to the male.<ref name="about">Template:Cite web</ref> Studded condoms should be avoided with anal intercourse as they can irritate and possibly tear the walls of the anus. Some women experience irritation during vaginal intercourse with studded condoms.

Other

The anti-rape condom is another variation designed to be worn by women. It is designed to cause pain to the attacker, hopefully allowing the victim a chance to escape.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

A collection condom is used to collect semen for fertility treatments or sperm analysis. These condoms are designed to maximize sperm life.

Some condom-like devices are intended for entertainment only, such novelty condoms may not provide protection against pregnancy and STDs.<ref name="planned parenthood"/>

Female condom

thumb|right|Female condom Template:Main

Male condoms have a tight ring to form a seal around the penis while female condoms typically have a large stiff ring to keep them from slipping into the body orifice. The Female Health Company produced a female condom that was initially made of polyurethane, but newer versions are made of nitrile. Medtech Products produces a female condom made of latex.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

Effectiveness

In preventing pregnancy

Template:Seealso The effectiveness of condoms, as of most forms of contraception, can be assessed two ways. Perfect use or method effectiveness rates only include people who use condoms properly and consistently. Actual use, or typical use effectiveness rates are of all condom users, including those who use condoms incorrectly or do not use condoms at every act of intercourse. Rates are generally presented for the first year of use.<ref name="hatcher"></ref> Most commonly the Pearl Index is used to calculate effectiveness rates, but some studies use decrement tables.<ref name="kippley"></ref>Template:Rp

The typical use pregnancy rate among condom users varies depending on the population being studied, ranging from 10–18% per year.<ref name="Kippley1996">, which cites:

Template:Cite journal</ref> The perfect use pregnancy rate of condoms is 2% per year.<ref name="hatcher" /> Condoms may be combined with other forms of contraception (such as spermicide) for greater protection.<ref name="simultaneous">Template:Cite journal</ref>

In preventing STDs

[[File:Condom on Obelisk, Buenos Aires.jpg|thumb|right|200px|A giant condom on the Obelisk of Buenos Aires, Argentina, part of an awareness campaign for the 2005 World AIDS Day]] Template:Seealso Condoms are widely recommended for the prevention of sexually transmitted diseases (STDs). They have been shown to be effective in reducing infection rates in both men and women. While not perfect, the condom is effective at reducing the transmission of organisms that cause AIDS, genital herpes, cervical cancer, genital warts, syphilis, chlamydia, gonorrhea, and other diseases.<ref name="planned parenthood">Template:Cite web</ref> Condoms are often recommended as an adjunct to more effective birth control methods (such as IUD) in situations where STD protection is also desired.<ref name=DualProtection>Template:Cite journal</ref>

According to a 2000 report by the National Institutes of Health (NIH), correct and consistent use of latex condoms reduces the risk of HIV/AIDS transmission by approximately 85% relative to risk when unprotected, putting the seroconversion rate (infection rate) at 0.9 per 100 person-years with condom, down from 6.7 per 100 person-years.<ref name="workshop">Template:Cite conference Template:Dead link</ref> Analysis published in 2007 from the University of Texas Medical Branch <ref>Template:Cite paper</ref> and the World Health Organization<ref></ref> found similar risk reductions of 80–95%.

The 2000 NIH review concluded that condom use significantly reduces the risk of gonorrhea for men.<ref name="workshop"/> A 2006 study reports that proper condom use decreases the risk of transmission of human papillomavirus to women by approximately 70%.<ref>Template:Cite journal</ref> Another study in the same year found consistent condom use was effective at reducing transmission of herpes simplex virus-2 also known as genital herpes, in both men and women.<ref>Template:Cite journal</ref>

Although a condom is effective in limiting exposure, some disease transmission may occur even with a condom. Infectious areas of the genitals, especially when symptoms are present, may not be covered by a condom, and as a result, some diseases can be transmitted by direct contact.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> The primary effectiveness issue with using condoms to prevent STDs, however, is inconsistent use.<ref name="badnews" />

Condoms may also be useful in treating potentially precancerous cervical changes. Exposure to human papillomavirus, even in individuals already infected with the virus, appears to increase the risk of precancerous changes. The use of condoms helps promote regression of these changes.<ref name="Hogewoning2003">Template:Cite journal</ref> In addition, researchers in the UK suggest that a hormone in semen can aggravate existing cervical cancer, condom use during sex can prevent exposure to the hormone.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref>

Causes of failure

Template:Wikibooks Condoms may slip off the penis after ejaculation,<ref>Template:Cite journal</ref> break due to improper application or physical damage (such as tears caused when opening the package), or break or slip due to latex degradation (typically from usage past the expiration date, improper storage, or exposure to oils). The rate of breakage is between 0.4% and 2.3%, while the rate of slippage is between 0.6% and 1.3%.<ref name="workshop" /> Even if no breakage or slippage is observed, 1–2% of women will test positive for semen residue after intercourse with a condom.<ref>Template:Cite journal</ref><ref name="pinhole">Template:Cite journal</ref> "Double bagging," using two condoms at once, also increases the risk of condom failure.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

Different modes of condom failure result in different levels of semen exposure. If a failure occurs during application, the damaged condom may be disposed of and a new condom applied before intercourse begins — such failures generally pose no risk to the user.<ref>Template:Cite journal</ref> One study found that semen exposure from a broken condom was about half that of unprotected intercourse; semen exposure from a slipped condom was about one-fifth that of unprotected intercourse.<ref>Template:Cite journal</ref>

Standard condoms will fit almost any penis, although many condom manufacturers offer "snug" or "magnum" sizes. Some manufacturers also offer custom sized-to-fit condoms, with claims that they are more reliable and offer improved sensation/comfort.<ref name="cbstheyfit" /><ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite web Template:Dead link</ref> Some studies have associated larger penises and smaller condoms with increased breakage and decreased slippage rates (and vice versa), but other studies have been inconclusive.<ref name="fhi3" />

Condom thickness is not associated with condom breakage, thinner condoms are as effective as thicker ones.<ref>Template:Cite journal</ref> Nevertheless, it is recommended for condoms manufactures to avoid very thick, or very thin condoms, because they are both considered less effective.<ref></ref> Some authors even encourage users to choose thinner condoms "for greater durability, sensation, and comfort"<ref></ref>, but others warn that "the thinner the condom, the smaller the force required to break it".<ref>Template:Cite paper</ref>

Experienced condom users are significantly less likely to have a condom slip or break compared to first-time users, although users who experience one slippage or breakage are more likely to suffer a second such failure.<ref>Template:Cite journal
Template:Cite journal</ref> An article in Population Reports suggests that education on condom use reduces behaviors that increase the risk of breakage and slippage.<ref>Template:Cite journal</ref> A Family Health International publication also offers the view that education can reduce the risk of breakage and slippage, but emphasizes that more research needs to be done to determine all of the causes of breakage and slippage.<ref name="fhi3" />

Among people who intend condoms to be their form of birth control, pregnancy may occur when the user has sex without a condom. The person may have run out of condoms, or be traveling and not have a condom with them, or simply dislike the feel of condoms and decide to "take a chance." This type of behavior is the primary cause of typical use failure (as opposed to method or perfect use failure).<ref>Template:Cite journal</ref>

Another possible cause of condom failure is sabotage. One motive is to have a child against a partner's wishes or consent.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> Some commercial sex workers from Nigeria reported clients sabotaging condoms in retaliation for being coerced into condom use.<ref>Template:Cite paper</ref> Using a fine needle to make several pinholes at the tip of the condom is believed to significantly impact their effectiveness.<ref name="kippley"/>Template:Rp<ref name="pinhole" />

Prevalence

The prevalence of condom use varies greatly between countries. Most surveys of contraceptive use are among married women, or women in informal unions. Japan has the highest rate of condom usage in the world: in that country, condoms account for almost 80% of contraceptive use by married women. On average, in developed countries, condoms are the most popular method of birth control: 28% of married contraceptive users rely on condoms. In the average less-developed country, condoms are less common: only 6-8% of married contraceptive users choose condoms.<ref name="factsheet">Template:Cite paper Data from surveys 1997–2007.</ref>

Condom use for disease prevention also varies. Among gay men in the United States, one survey found that 35% had used two condoms at the same time, a practice called "double bagging".<ref>Template:Cite journal</ref> While intended to provide extra protection, double bagging actually increases the risk of condom failure.

Use

thumb|How to put on a condom Male condoms are usually packaged inside a foil wrapper, in a rolled-up form, and are designed to be applied to the tip of the penis and then unrolled over the erect penis. It is important that some space be left in the tip of the condom so that semen has a place to collect; otherwise it may be forced out of the base of the device. After use, it is recommended the condom be wrapped in tissue or tied in a knot, then disposed of in a trash receptacle.<ref name="AliceDisposal" />

Some couples find that putting on a condom interrupts sex, although others incorporate condom application as part of their foreplay. Some men and women find the physical barrier of a condom dulls sensation. Advantages of dulled sensation can include prolonged erection and delayed ejaculation; disadvantages might include a loss of some sexual excitement.<ref name="planned parenthood" /> Advocates of condom use also cite their advantages of being inexpensive, easy to use, and having few side effects.<ref name="planned parenthood" /><ref name="fwhc">Template:Cite web</ref>

Role in sex education

Condoms are often used in sex education programs, because they have the capability to reduce the chances of pregnancy and the spread of some sexually transmitted diseases when used correctly. A recent American Psychological Association (APA) press release supported the inclusion of information about condoms in sex education, saying "comprehensive sexuality education programs... discuss the appropriate use of condoms", and "promote condom use for those who are sexually active."<ref>Template:Cite press release</ref>

In the United States, teaching about condoms in public schools is opposed by some religious organizations.<ref>Template:Cite paper</ref> Planned Parenthood, which advocates family planning and sex education, argues that no studies have shown abstinence-only programs to result in delayed intercourse, and cites surveys showing that 76% of American parents want their children to receive comprehensive sexuality education including condom use.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

Infertility treatment Template:Anchor

Common procedures in infertility treatment such as semen analysis and intrauterine insemination (IUI) require collection of semen samples. These are most commonly obtained through masturbation, but an alternative to masturbation is use of a special collection condom to collect semen during sexual intercourse.

Collection condoms are made from silicone or polyurethane, as latex is somewhat harmful to sperm. Many men prefer collection condoms to masturbation, and some religions prohibit masturbation entirely. Also, compared with samples obtained from masturbation, semen samples from collection condoms have higher total sperm counts, sperm motility, and percentage of sperm with normal morphology. For this reason, they are believed to give more accurate results when used for semen analysis, and to improve the chances of pregnancy when used in procedures such as intracervical or intrauterine insemination.<ref>Template:Cite paper, which references:

Template:Cite journal

Template:Cite journal</ref> Adherents of religions that prohibit contraception, such as Catholicism, may use collection condoms with holes pricked in them.<ref name="kippley"/>Template:Rp

Condom therapy is sometimes prescribed to infertile couples when the female has high levels of antisperm antibodies. The theory is that preventing exposure to her partner's semen will lower her level of antisperm antibodies, and thus increase her chances of pregnancy when condom therapy is discontinued. However, condom therapy has not been shown to increase subsequent pregnancy rates.<ref>Template:Cite journal
Template:Cite journal
Template:Cite journal</ref>

Other uses

Condoms excel as multipurpose containers because they are waterproof, elastic, durable, and will not arouse suspicion if found. Ongoing military utilization begun during World War II includes:

• Tying a non-lubricated condom over the muzzle of the rifle barrel in order to prevent barrel fouling by keeping out detritus.<ref name="dday"></ref>
• The OSS used condoms for a plethora of applications, from storing corrosive fuel additives and wire garrotes (with the T-handles removed) to holding the acid component of a self-destructing film canister, to finding use in improvised explosives.<ref>OSS Product Catalog, 1944</ref>
• Navy SEALs have used doubled condoms, sealed with neoprene cement, to protect non-electric firing assemblies for underwater demolitions—leading to the term "Dual Waterproof Firing Assemblies."<ref>Couch, D (2001). The Warrior Elite: The forging of SEAL Class 228. ISBN 0-609-60710-3</ref>

Other uses of condoms include:

• Covers for endovaginal ultrasound probes.<ref>Template:Cite journal</ref> Covering the probe with a condom reduces the amount of blood and vaginal fluids that the technician must clean off between patients.
• Condoms can be used to hold water in emergency survival situations.<ref>A broken photo probably of a condom carrying waterTemplate:Deadlink</ref>
• Condoms have also been used to smuggle cocaine, heroin, and other drugs across borders and into prisons by filling the condom with drugs, tying it in a knot and then either swallowing it or inserting it into the rectum. These methods are very dangerous and potentially lethal; if the condom breaks, the drugs inside become absorbed into the bloodstream and can cause an overdose.<ref>"A 41-year-old man has been remanded in custody after being stopped on Saturday by customs officials at the Norwegian border at Svinesund. He had a kilo of cocaine in his stomach." Smuggler hospitalized as cocaine condom bursts</ref>
• In Soviet gulags, condoms were used to smuggle alcohol into the camps by prisoners who worked outside during daylight. While outside, the prisoner would ingest an empty condom attached to a thin piece of rubber tubing, the end of which was wedged between his teeth. The smuggler would then use a syringe to fill the tubing and condom with up to three liters of raw alcohol, which the prisoner would then smuggle back into the camp. When back in the barracks, the other prisoners would suspend him upside down until all the spirit had been drained out. Aleksandr Solzhenitsyn records that the three liters of raw fluid would be diluted to make seven liters of crude vodka, and that although such prisoners risked an extremely painful and unpleasant death if the condom burst inside them, the rewards granted them by other prisoners encouraged them to run the risk.<ref></ref>
• In his book entitled Last Chance to See, Douglas Adams reported having used a condom to protect a microphone he used to make an underwater recording. According to one of his traveling companions, this is standard BBC practice when a waterproof microphone is needed but cannot be procured.<ref name="adams"></ref>
• Condoms are used by engineers to keep soil samples dry during soil tests.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref>
• Condoms are used in the field by engineers to initially protect sensors embedded in the steel or aluminum nose-cones of Cone Penetration Test (CPT) probes when entering the surface to conduct soil resistance tests to determine the bearing strength of soil.<ref>personal experience of L. Gow working on Chek Lap Kok airport platform/reclamation project 1992-94.</ref>
• Condoms are used as a one-way valve by paramedics when performing a chest decompression in the field. The decompression needle is inserted through the condom, and inserted into the chest. The condom folds over the hub allowing air to exit the chest, but preventing it from entering.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

Debate and criticism

While condom use has many proven benefits, a few detractors—notably the Roman Catholic Church—believe condoms cause negative social effects that outweigh the protection they provide to individuals who use them. Some researchers have expressed concern over certain ingredients sometimes added to condoms, notably talc and nitrosamines. In addition, the large-scale use of disposable condoms has resulted in concerns over their environmental impact.

Disposal and environmental impact

thumb| Used condom thrown on the street Experts, such as AVERT, recommend condoms be disposed of in a garbage receptacle, as flushing them down the toilet may cause plumbing blockages and other problems.<ref name="AliceDisposal">Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

While biodegradable,<ref name="AliceDisposal" /> latex condoms damage the environment when disposed of improperly. According to the Ocean Conservancy, condoms, along with certain other types of trash, cover the coral reefs and smother sea grass and other bottom dwellers. The United States Environmental Protection Agency also has expressed concerns that many animals might mistake the litter for food.<ref>Template:Cite journal</ref>

Condoms made of polyurethane, a plastic material, do not break down at all. The plastic and foil wrappers condoms are packaged in are also not biodegradable. However, the benefits condoms offer are widely considered to offset their small landfill mass.<ref name="AliceDisposal" /> Frequent condom or wrapper disposal in public areas such as a parks have been seen as a persistent litter problem.<ref name="power">Template:Cite web</ref>

Position of the Roman Catholic Church

Template:Seealso The Roman Catholic Church opposes all sexual acts outside of marriage, as well as any sexual act in which the chance of successful conception has been reduced by direct and intentional acts (e.g., surgery to prevent conception) or foreign objects (e.g., condoms).<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

The use of condoms to prevent STD transmission is not specifically addressed by Catholic doctrine, and is currently a topic of debate among theologians and high-ranking Catholic authorities. A few, such as Belgian Cardinal Godfried Danneels, believe the Catholic Church should actively support condoms used to prevent disease, especially serious diseases such as AIDS.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> However, the majority view—including all statements from the Vatican—is that condom-promotion programs encourage promiscuity, thereby actually increasing STD transmission.<ref name="catholicafrica">Template:Cite journal</ref><ref name="vatican">Template:Cite web</ref> This view was most recently reiterated in 2009 by Pope Benedict XVI.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref>

The Roman Catholic Church is the largest organized body of any world religion.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> This church has hundreds of programs dedicated to fighting the AIDS epidemic in Africa,<ref>Template:Cite journal</ref> but its opposition to condom use in these programs has been highly controversial.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref>

Health issues

Dry dusting powders are applied to latex condoms before packaging to prevent the condom from sticking to itself when rolled up. Previously, talc was used by most manufacturers, but cornstarch is currently the most popular dusting powder.<ref name="fhi4">Template:Cite journal</ref> Talc is known to be toxic if it enters the abdominal cavity (i.e. via the vagina). Cornstarch is generally believed to be safe, however some researchers have raised concerns over its use.<ref name="fhi4" /><ref>Template:Cite journal</ref>

Nitrosamines, which are potentially carcinogenic in humans,<ref>Template:Cite journal</ref> are believed to be present in a substance used to improve elasticity in latex condoms.<ref name="dw">Template:Cite news</ref> A 2001 review stated that humans regularly receive 1,000 to 10,000 times greater nitrosamine exposure from food and tobacco than from condom use and concluded that the risk of cancer from condom use is very low.<ref>Template:Cite journal</ref> However, a 2004 study in Germany detected nitrosamines in 29 out of 32 condom brands tested, and concluded that exposure from condoms might exceed the exposure from food by 1.5- to 3-fold.<ref name="dw" /><ref>Template:Cite journal</ref>

Cultural factors

Cultural attitudes toward gender, contraception, and sex affect condom use and perceptions about condoms around the world. In less-developed countries and among less-educated populations, misperceptions about how disease transmission and conception work may negatively affect the use of condoms. In cultures with more traditional gender roles, women may feel uncomfortable demanding that their partners use condoms.

Latino immigrants in the United States often face barriers to condom use. A study on female HIV prevention published in the Journal of Sex Health Research asserts that Latino women often lack the attitudes needed to negotiate safe sex due to traditional gender-role norms in the Latino community, and may be afraid to bring up the subject of condom use with their partners. Women who participated in the study often reported that their male partners would be angry or possibly violent at the suggestion that they use condoms.<ref>Template:Cite journal</ref> A similar phenomenon has been noted in a survey of low-income African-American women; the women in this study also reported a fear of violence at the suggestion that condoms be used.<ref>Template:Cite journal</ref>

A telephone survey conducted by Rand Corporation and Oregon State University and published in the Journal of Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndromes showed that belief in AIDS conspiracy theories among black men is linked to rates of condom use; as conspiracy beliefs grew, consistent condom use dropped. Female use of condoms was not similarly affected.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

In Africa, condom promotion in some areas has been impeded by anti-condom campaigns by some Muslim<ref name="northeast kenya"/> and Catholic clerics.<ref name="catholicafrica"/> Some women in Africa believe that condoms are "for prostitutes" and that respectable women should not use them.<ref name="northeast kenya">Template:Cite web</ref> A few clerics even promote the idea that condoms are deliberately laced with HIV.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

Among the Massai in Tanzania, condom use is hampered by an aversion to "wasting" sperm, which is given sociocultural importance beyond reproduction. Sperm is believed to be an "elixir" to women and to have beneficial health effects. Massai women believe that, after conceiving a child, they must have sexual intercourse repeatedly so that the additional sperm aids the child's development. Frequent condom use is also considered by some Massai to cause impotence.<ref>Template:Cite journal</ref>

In much of the Western world, the introduction of the pill in the 1960s was associated with a decline in condom use.<ref name="collier"/>Template:Rp In Japan, oral contraceptives were not approved for use until September 1999, and even then access was more restricted than in other industrialized nations.<ref name="cbs">Template:Cite news</ref> Perhaps because of this restricted access to hormonal contraception, Japan has the highest rate of condom usage in the world: in 2008, 80% of contraceptive users relied on condoms.<ref name="factsheet"/>

Major manufacturers

Template:Seealso One analyst described the size of the condom market as something that "boggles the mind". Numerous small manufacturers, nonprofit groups, and government-run manufacturing plants exist around the world.<ref name="collier"/>Template:Rp Within the condom market, there are several major contributors, among them both for-profit businesses and philanthropic organizations. Most large manufacturers have ties to the business that reach back to the end of the 19th century.

• Julius Schmid, Inc. was founded in 1882 and began the Sheik and Ramses brands of condoms.<ref name="collier"/>Template:Rp The London Rubber Company began manufacturing latex condoms in 1932, under the Durex brand.<ref name="collier"/>Template:Rp Both companies are now part of Seton Scholl Limited.<ref name="collier"/>Template:Rp
• Youngs Rubber Company, founded by Merle Youngs in late nineteenth century America, introduced the Trojan line of condoms<ref name="collier"/>Template:Rp now owned by Church and Dwight.<ref name="collier"/>Template:Rp
• Dunlop Rubber began manufacturing condoms in Australia in the 1890s. In 1905, Dunlop sold its condom-making equipment to one of its employees, Eric Ansell, who founded Ansell Rubber. In 1969, Ansell was sold back to Dunlop.<ref name="collier"/>Template:Rp In 1987, English business magnate Richard Branson contracted with Ansell to help in a campaign against HIV and AIDS. Ansell agreed to manufacture the Mates brand of condom, to be sold at little or no profit in order to encourage condom use. Branson soon sold the Mates brand to Ansell, with royalty payments made annually to the charity Virgin Unite.<ref name="collier"/>Template:Rp<ref>The Healthcare Foundation, started by Virgin Group, changed names in 2004.</ref> In addition to its Mates brand, Ansell currently manufactures Lifestyles for the U.S. market.<ref name="collier"/>Template:Rp
• In 1934 the Kokusia Rubber Company was founded in Japan. It is now known as the Okamoto Rubber Manufacturing Company.<ref name="collier"/>Template:Rp
• In 1970 Tim Black and Philip Harvey founded Population Planning Associates (now known as Adam & Eve). Population Planning Associates was a mail-order business that marketed condoms to American college students. Black and Harvey used the profits from their company to start a non-profit organization Population Services International,<ref name="collier"/>Template:Rp and Harvey later also founded another nonprofit company, DKT International, that annually sells millions of condoms at discounted rates in developing countries around the world.<ref name="collier"/>Template:Rp

Research

Template:Seealso

A spray-on condom made of latex is intended to be easier to apply and more successful in preventing the transmission of diseases. As of 2009, the spray-on condom was not going to market because the drying time could not be reduced below two to three minutes.<ref name="time">Template:Cite news</ref><ref name="spraytv">Template:Cite web</ref><ref name="spray">Template:Cite web</ref>

The Invisible Condom, developed at Université Laval in Québec, Canada, is a gel that hardens upon increased temperature after insertion into the vagina or rectum. In the lab, it has been shown to effectively block HIV and herpes simplex virus. The barrier breaks down and liquefies after several hours. As of 2005, the invisible condom is in the clinical trial phase, and has not yet been approved for use.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

Also developed in 2005 is a condom treated with an erectogenic compound. The drug-treated condom is intended to help the wearer maintain his erection, which should also help reduce slippage. If approved, the condom would be marketed under the Durex brand. As of 2007, it was still in clinical trials.<ref name="collier"/>Template:Rp In 2009, Ansell Healthcare, the makers of Lifestyle condoms, introduced the X2 condom lubricated with "Excite Gel" which contains the amino acid l-arginine and is intended to improve the strength of the erectile response. <ref>http://www.lifestyles.com/condoms.php</ref>

References

Template:Reflist

Further reading

External links

Template:Commonscat

• Male Latex Condoms and Sexually Transmitted Diseases — from the US Center for Disease Control.
• How To Put On A Condom — from VideoJug

Template:Condom Template:Birth control methods Template:Sex

Template:Good articlear:عازل ذكري bn:কনডম zh-min-nan:Sak-khuh bo:སྲུང་ཤུབས། br:Stevell bg:Презерватив ca:Preservatiu cs:Kondom cy:Condom da:Kondom de:Kondom et:Kondoom el:Προφυλακτικό es:Preservativo eo:Kondomo eu:Kondoi fa:کاندوم fr:Préservatif fy:Kondoom ga:Coiscín gl:Preservativo ko:콘돔 hi:निरोध hr:Prezervativ id:Kondom ia:Preservativo is:Smokkur it:Profilattico he:קונדום kk:Үрпекқап kg:Kapoti ku:Kondom la:Praeservativum lv:Prezervatīvs lb:Kapëttchen lt:Prezervatyvas ln:Kapɔ́ti hu:Óvszer mk:Презерватив mr:निरोध ms:Kondom my:ကွန်ဒုံ nl:Condoom ja:コンドーム no:Kondom pl:Prezerwatywa pt:Preservativo ksh:Kondom ro:Prezervativ qu:Ullu islampu ru:Презерватив scn:Prisirvativu si:කොන්ඩම් simple:Condom sk:Prezervatív sl:Kondom sr:Кондом sh:Kondom fi:Kondomi sv:Kondom tl:Panlalaking kondom ta:ஆணுறை te:తొడుగు th:ถุงยางอนามัย tr:Prezervatif uk:Презерватив vi:Bao cao su yi:קאנדאם zh-yue:避孕套 zh:避孕套