Counseling can be challenging. Patients may resist counseling messages, and providers may lack training. Men may prevent women from changing their behavior. Providers also need to take time to counsel. Communicating all counseling messages thoroughly may take 20 minutes.
Few providers can spend that much time with each patient.
Thus in some programs specially trained counselors talk to patients after they have seen a doctor, nurse, or nurse-midwife. Providers can use a number of techniques to help patients complete treatment and remember and follow the counseling messages. In particular, counseling for condom use requires special skills and information. Roll the condom on after the penis becomes erect. Do not use oil or oil-based lubricants such as petroleum jelly, which damage latex condoms.