ASHA Recognizes National Condom Week 2008;
Offers Updated Online Resources

RTP, NC | Feb. 1, 2008

As we celebrate another Valentine’s Day (often finding ourselves in Cupid’s crosshairs), the American Social Health Association (ASHA) thinks it’s a good time to be reminded that safer sex practices have never been more critical: Despite hundreds of millions of tax dollars spent on abstinence-only education programs, each year in the U.S. there are approximately 19 million new cases of sexually transmitted infections (STI), about half of which occur among youth ages 15-24. Untreated STIs can cause a host of medical complications, including infertility. STIs often have no noticeable symptoms and can be contracted from partners who don’t have a clue they have an infection.

It’s desirable for young people to delay sexual activity until they’re physically and emotionally ready, and preferably are in stable and loving relationships. The reality is that nearly half of all teens have had sex by the time they leave high school, so youth need the facts on how to protect themselves. Research shows the majority of adults support both comprehensive sexual education and instruction in correct condom use, and we agree with those who support providing young people with unbiased, medically accurate sexual health information. Doing so doesn’t encourage sex; it encourages responsibility and promotes reproductive health.

The evidence is overwhelming that among those who are sexually active, consistent and correct condom use greatly reduces the risk of contracting infections like HIV, chlamydia, and gonorrhea. Research has also shown that young women whose male partners use condoms regularly cut their risk of acquiring HPV significantly.

Using protection every time seems like a simple and straight-forward enough thing to do, but it’s easy to see how common sense might be trumped by the heat of the moment. This is why it’s important for anyone who thinks they might want to have sex to plan ahead and have condoms on hand.

Another hurdle to safer sex is negotiating condom use with partners. Sometimes this is difficult if a lover thinks that using condoms diminishes intimacy or lessens the spontaneity of sex. ASHA’s Web site has a special page at http://www.ashastd.org/condom/condom_negotiation.cfm with tips on talking with partners who might be reluctant to use condoms, and explains how the best sex is safer sex.

Condoms are inexpensive, readily available, and easy to use. More importantly, used correctly they offer a significant level of protection against STIs. Use condoms from start to finish, every time: This is one “no brainer” no one ever regrets.

Download and print ASHA's new posters for
National Condom Week 2008:

English Poster
Spanish Poster