“The surest way to avoid transmission of sexually transmitted diseases is to abstain from sexual intercourse, or to be in a long-term mutually monogamous relationship with a partner who has been tested and you know is uninfected.”

“Epidemiologic studies that compare infection rates among condom users and nonusers provide evidence that latex condoms can protect against the transmission of chlamydia, gonorrhea and trichomoniasis. However, some other epidemiologic studies show little or no protection against these infections. More research is needed to assess the degree of protection latex condoms provide for discharge diseases, other than HIV.”

“While some epidemiological studies have demonstrated lower rates of HPV infection amongst condom users, most have not.”

Centre For Disease Control
http://www.cdc.gov/nchstp/od/condoms.pdf

“An extensive review of all available studies was conducted by a panel convened by US National Institutes of Health (NIH) and the Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) in June 2000 in the United States, with the participation of WHO. The review concluded that condoms, when used correctly and consistently, are effective for preventing HIV infection in women and men and gonorrhoea in men. For other STIs, however, the available data are less complete.”

Other Contraception Facts:

• The world health organisation has stated that the best way to avoid catching an STI is to stay faithful for life to one person whom you know is uninfected. Having regular sex, even with condoms, is likely to lead to infection within a year or two if you have a partner with Chlamydia, gonorrhoea, genital warts, herpes or syphilis.
• 80% of unplanned pregnancies result from contraceptive (mainly condoms) failure rather than non-availability of contraception 1
• There is no evidence that condoms protect against the most frequent STIs such as Human Papilloma Virus (HPV) which causes both genital warts and cervical cancer 2
• In 2007 there were almost 122,000 recorded new Chlamydia infections. With the highest rates being seen mainly in men and woman aged between 16 and 25 and there was over 1,700 cases in under 16’s. In some parts of the UK, studies have shown that more than 10% of sexually active young people are infected with Chlamydia at any one time.
• Around 70-80 percent of sexually active people will be infected with HPV at some time
• Children as young as 11 are getting Gonorrhoea, Genital Warts and other STI’s in increasing numbers.

Sources:
1. Pearson VAH, owen MR, Phillips DP, Pereira Gray DJ, Marshall MN. Preganant teenagers’ Knowledge and use of emergency contraception. BMJ 1995;310;164 /
Williams ES. Contraceptive failure may be a major factor in teenage pregnancy. BMJ 1995; 311:807

2. Scientific evidence on condom effectiveness for sexually transmitted disease prevention. Report from the USA Dept of Health and Human Services 2000 www.naid.nih.gov/dmid?stds?condomreport.pdf