From: ae642@yfn.ysu.edu (Kelley Miller)
Subject: Re: Just a thought on Condoms.
Reply-To: ae642@yfn.ysu.edu (Kelley Miller)
Organization: St. Elizabeth Hospital, Youngstown, OH
Date: Wed, 18 Nov 1992 09:40:32 GMT


In a previous article, enor@woods.ulowell.edu () says:

>Just a thought.
>
>If condoms fail approx. 25% of the time when used in the prevention of 
>pregnancy, and
>due to the biological functions of a woman's body she can only get pregnant for
>a short period of time during any particular month.  What is the TRUE failure
>rate for condoms.  
>
>If this failure rate is so great how come AIDS advocacy groups seem to be
>saying that if condoms are used it will prevent the SPREAD(notice not
>transmission) of HIV.  
>

Are they saying "Prevent"?  I've always seen and heard "reduce the 
likelihood"

And why, by the way, the distinction between "Spread" and "Transmission" in
this context?

>If the TRUE failure rate of condoms could be proven to be in the approx. 50%
>range wouldn't the SAFETY be taken out of "safeR sex".  And if this is so
>aren't AIDS advocacy groups possibly increasing the likelyhood of transmission
>by giving people a false sense of security.

Not at all.  All literature I've seen says that abstenance and monogamy are
the only sure way to prevent the sexual spread of HIV, HOWEVER, they go on
to say that if you are going to ignor this sound advice, whatever limited
protection a PROPERLY USED condom provides is better then no protection.


>------------------------------------------------------------------------------
>
>Remember there are two concrete ways to avoid HIV+AIDS(although these are not 
>fool proof due to the slim chance of getting HIV from a medical related
>activity.)
>
>	1.  ABSTAIN from sex until marriage.  Your life is worth it.  Plus it 
>	    may even be more enjoyable.

Sadly, this is no guarantee at all.  Just ask the ever increasing number
of men and women who, although they have limited their sexual activity to
their spouse, inside of marriage, their spouse has not, and they have passed
the virus on to their spouse.

More important then abstaining until marriage, is making sure both you and
your partner (I say this because the concept of "spouse" is not available
to gay and lesbean people) are faithful to each other, and if you have any
reason to believe this is not the case, cease having sexual relations with 
that person, PERIOD.


>
>	2.  Don't take illeagal drugs, at all especially those which require
>	    you to use a hypodermic needle.

I don't believe the qualifier about using a hypodermic is necessary here.
A hypodermic is only dangerous in re: HIV if you SHARE you needle with others.
However, a better reason for not taking illegal drugs (or legal ones such
as alcehol) is that it can impare your judgement to the point where you become
more likely to enguage in unsafe sexual behavior.

HIV is a dangerous thing, and it is advisable for NO ONE to take it lightly.
Having sex casually and indiscrimanant is dangerous, akin to Russian Roulette.

However, people are going to have casual and indiscriminant sex. 

And while the proper use of a condom does not keep these activities from 
being akin to Russian Roulette, it reduces the nmber of bullets in the 
revolver to one, while going without is like filling all the chambers
EXCEPT one.


-- 
*...your Friendly Neighborhood Atheist  /\/\   HATE IS NOT A  *         
*                    Kelley L. Miller  / /  \  FAMILY VALUE   *            
*                  ae642@yfn.ysu.edu  / /____\                *  
*     GIGO: Gospel In--Garbage Out   /______\                 *
Newsgroups: alt.fan.rush-limbaugh