• Between 1975-1995, condom use among 17-19 year old boys has tripled (gone from 21% to 67%).



• During the same time period, rates of STIs have grown to epidemic proportions.



• 100% condom use does NOT eliminate the risk of contracting ANY STI.



• Condom effectiveness in reducing the risk of STIs (findings apply only when condoms are used correctly 100% of the time):



• Chlamydia: Condoms reduce the risk of infection by 50%, leaving a 50% risk of contracting the disease.



• Gonorrhea: Condoms reduce the risk of infection by 50%, leaving a 50% risk of contracting the disease.



• HIV/AIDS: Condoms reduce the risk of infection by 85%, leaving a 15% risk of contracting the disease.



• HPV (Human Papilloma Virus): There is no scientific evidence that condoms reduce the risk of HPV infection in women and men, leaving a 100% risk of contracting the disease.



• Genital Herpes Virus: Condoms reduce the risk of infection by 40%, leaving a 60% risk of contracting the disease.

BOTTOM LINE: If you have sex and use a condom (correctly) 100% of the time, you have a fifty-fifty chance of contracting chlamydia or gonorrhea, and are at 100% risk of contracting HPV, for which there is no cure. Are you willing to take that gamble with your health?

• "Our Voices, Our Lives, Our Futures: Youth and Sexually Transmitted Diseases", School of Journalism and Mass Communications, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill; February 2004
• "Sex, Condoms and STDS: What We Know Now", The Medical Institute of Sexual Health; 2002
• Report to Congress, Prevention of Genital Human Papilloma Virus Infection; Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Department of Health and Human Services; January 2004
• Epidemic, How Teen Sex is Killing Our Kids; Meg Meeker, M.D.; Lifeline Press 2002
• NIH Condom Report: National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases. Workshop Summary: Scientific Evidence on Condom Effectiveness for Sexually Transmitted Disease (STD) Prevention: July 2001
• "Sex--What You Don't Know Can Kill You." Joe S. McIlhaney, Jr., M.D. 1997
• "Sexuality and Sexually Transmitted Diseases." Joe S. McIlhaney, Jr., M.D. 1992