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Why it's done
By Mayo Clinic staffIf you use them correctly every time you have sex, condoms prevent pregnancy and the transmission of the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), the virus that causes AIDS. Condoms also reduce the risk of infection from other STDs, such as gonorrhea and chlamydia.
Condoms don't have the side effects found in some forms of female contraception, such as birth control pills or shots, or potential complications of an intrauterine device (IUD). They are available without a prescription and are easy to obtain.
References
- Stone KM, et al. Male condoms. http://www.uptodate.com/home/index.html. Accessed Jan. 25, 2011.
- Levine JP, et al. Nonhormonal contraceptives. In: Rakel RE. Textbook of Family Medicine. 7th ed. Philadelphia, Pa.: Saunders Elsevier; 2007. http://www.mdconsult.com/books/page.do?eid=4-u1.0-B978-1-4160-2467-5..50039-7--cesec41&isbn=978-1-4160-2467-5&type=bookPage§ionEid=4-u1.0-B978-1-4160-2467-5..50039-7--cesec42&uniqId=234322173-3#4-u1.0-B978-1-4160-2467-5..50039-7--cesec42. Accessed Jan. 25, 2011.
- Instructions for male condoms. American Social Health Association. http://www.ashastd.org/condom/condom_male_nopics.cfm. Accessed Jan. 25, 2011.
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