The conversation about condom use has ALWAYS been engraved in our heads during health class, in addition to the talks we have with peers and parents. It is well known that condoms are one way to protect oneself against sexually transmitted infections during sex. Despite these known facts about condoms, a new study reveals that one third of U.S men do not use condoms on a consistent basis. A new government survey from the National Center for Health Statistics found that 19 percent of men reported condom use every time they had sex. This report was based on a face-to-face survey of more than 20,000 men and women. This raised a huge concern because national reports show that the US has very high rates of STD’s, and not using a condom plays a major factor to this upsurge. Every year, 1.5 million Americans are infected with chlamydia, while another 400,000 and nearly 24,000 become infected with gonorrhea and syphilis respectively. The survey also goes into detail about health and lifestyle habits, but does not inquire about the reason someone did or did not use a condom. It is important to investigate those reasons in order to devise strategies that will eliminate this epidemic.
You can read the full article on nbcnews or if you would like to check out the stats, check out the national survey on the nchstats website. If you want to know how to properly use a condom, please check out the CDC website for more information.
