Man with a condom on can still be infected with an STD?

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SUMMARY

A condom can fail to provide complete protection against sexually transmitted diseases (STDs) due to potential tearing, leaking, or incorrect usage. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) emphasizes that while consistent and correct use of male latex condoms significantly reduces STD transmission risk, no method is 100% effective. The World Health Organization highlights that studies show less than 1% HIV infection rate among uninfected partners with consistent condom use. However, inconsistent use can be as risky as not using condoms at all, particularly for infections like Hepatitis B, which is more infectious than HIV.

PREREQUISITES
  • Understanding of male latex condom usage and effectiveness
  • Knowledge of sexually transmitted diseases (STDs) and their transmission methods
  • Familiarity with CDC and WHO guidelines on sexual health
  • Awareness of the differences in infectiousness between HIV and Hepatitis B
NEXT STEPS
  • Research the correct application techniques for male latex condoms
  • Learn about the transmission routes of various STDs, including oral sex
  • Investigate the effectiveness of different lubricants in preventing STD transmission
  • Explore the latest studies on condom effectiveness in serodiscordant couples
USEFUL FOR

Individuals seeking to understand sexual health risks, healthcare professionals advising patients on STD prevention, and anyone interested in safe sexual practices.

iBop
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Is there any possibility that a man with a condom on can still be infected with an STD ?

-Bobbie Hu
 
Biology news on Phys.org


A condom can always tear or leak; also when worn incorrectly one may be at risk. Generally condoms are however one of the safest methods of protection.

And of course, as always: when in doubt, see a doctor.
 


Condoms may not protect against herpes if the lesion is in an area that is not covered by the condom.
 


The CDC says:
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.

For persons whose sexual behaviors place them at risk for STDs, correct and consistent use of the male latex condom can reduce the risk of STD transmission. However, no protective method is 100 percent effective, and condom use cannot guarantee absolute protection against any STD. Furthermore, condoms lubricated with spermicides are no more effective than other lubricated condoms in protecting against the transmission of HIV and other STDs. In order to achieve the protective effect of condoms, they must be used correctly and consistently. Incorrect use can lead to condom slippage or breakage, thus diminishing their protective effect. Inconsistent use, e.g., failure to use condoms with every act of intercourse, can lead to STD transmission because transmission can occur with a single act of intercourse.

The World Health Organization says:
The most convincing data on the effectiveness of condoms in preventing HIV infection has been generated by prospective studies undertaken on serodiscordant couples, when one partner is infected with HIV and the other is not. These studies show that, with consistent condom use, the HIV infection rate among uninfected partners was less than 1 percent per year. Also, in situations where one partner is definitely infected, inconsistent condom use can be as risky as not using condoms at all.

I will add that HIV is much less infectious than, say, Hepatitis-B; the infection rates there might be an order of magnitude higher. Of course infection rates without condoms are higher yet. Unfortunately I haven't seen good comparative statistics; has anyone else?
 


CRGreathouse said:
I will add that HIV is much less infectious than, say, Hepatitis-B; the infection rates there might be an order of magnitude higher. Of course infection rates without condoms are higher yet. Unfortunately I haven't seen good comparative statistics; has anyone else?

HVB do not attack HIS, its main target is the liver. People infected with HVB may later die of liver problems. It is a cureable disease
 


Since the question is "is there any possibility"

The answer is: yes, there is a possibility.
 


iBop said:
HVB do not attack HIS, its main target is the liver.

I agree -- I only said it is more infectious than HIV. HIV is not very infectious, and extremely fragile as far as viruses go.
 


Having sex with an HIV infected partner without a condom is known to be infected for sure. Noone 'cares' to do that anyway.
 


The answer is "YES"! There is always a possibility to get an STD, that's why the best choice is to just practice being abstinent. It's the best way to be safe :biggrin:
 
  • #10


iBop,

1) It's really what you do before you have the condom on that can make things risky. All that rubbing and foreplay n stuff moves fluids around--men and women.

Ask someone else here what STDs you can get with oral sex. Or even toughing your hand to your mouth. I'm not a medial man.

2) Anyway, if your hands are contaminated, what are you going to use to put on a condom?

3) Puting on a condom requires some precision for sterile techinique. You roll it down without touching anything but the condom, if done correctly. Now, if you have an STD, and your fingers slip while rolling it down, there could be STD on your fingers. So you keep rolling and your fingers move some to the outside of the condom. You blew it. You're supposed to start over with a fresh condom if your practicing sterile technique.

4) And there's more. You can't let it roll back. That recontacts the inside with the outside.

Now why don't you MD types know how to answer this? ; I'm just strolling through this thread.
 

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