A lot of recent researches have shown that there has been a steady decline in the use of condoms among young men from the 90s to the present. Statistics from 2002 to 2012 showed that as much as 80 percent of guys who were teenagers made use of a condom during their first sexual experience but the figure dropped to 78 percent between 2011 to 2014. While this drop may not seem like much, sexual health researchers at Indiana University believe use of condoms to be steepening.
A theory these researchers are proposing is that a lot of young men misunderstand condoms, thinking they are meant only for birth control.
Furthermore, marketing was also discovered to be a problem. In the 90s and early 2000s, condoms were marketed as as tools used in fighting off HIV and other sexually transmitted diseases but public health campaigns are now more focused on pregnancy prevention. More young people are as such using long-acting reversible contraception (LARCS) methods as birth control measures which can come in the form of arm implants and inter-uterine devices.
Condoms have been found to be only 82 percent effective in preventing pregnancy while pills and LARCs are close to 99 percent effective when used correctly. This makes a lot of young people prefer to let go condoms. The problem with this however is that pills and LARCs do not protect anyone from sexually transmitted infections (STIs), meaning condoms are the only way to protect yourself and your partner.
The Sexually Transmitted Infections Problem
Researchers suggest that as much as 60 percent of males in tertiary institutions would test positive for human papilloma virus (HPV) and a number of sexually transmitted infections if there was a way to test all university-aged males. More so the rates of chlamydia is High alongside HPV, as both STIs have no symptoms and a lot of guys don’t even know they have them.
Later on in life, HPV can cause some forms of cancer, including penile, head, and neck cancers. Chlamydia infections on their part can alter your reproductive functions, causing erectile dysfunction and affecting your ability to have children.
The Porn Effect
Another reason why young people are ditching condoms is the fact that a lot of guys tend to learn about sex from watching pornographic materials. Condoms are hardly used in most of the sex acts and it is common for the male actor to pull out and masturbate before letting loose onto his partner.
This practice is adopted by a lot of young men with the believe that they don’t have to worry about any unintended pregnancy, since they pull out before climaxing. There’s obviously still a chance that your partner can get pregnant even if you pull out.
The Safe Path
It is obvious that the safest thing to do for both parties is to combine the protection from sexually transmitted infections provided by a condom with the the birth-control effectiveness of LARCs or the pill. While you definitely won’t wear a condom forever, as if you’d be in a long term relationship where both you and your partner are faithful, you won’t be concerned much with STIs and only with contraception.
If you however have sex with multiple people or you’re just entering a new relationship, it is advisable to to make use of condoms. A 2012 study published in the Journal of Sexual Medicine found that sexual pleasure increased when the guys reported they were satisfied with how their condoms felt. You can improve the feeling by applying a lubricant after you’ve put the condom on.
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Title :
The Reasons Why Men No Longer Use Condoms
Description : A lot of recent researches have shown that there has been a steady decline in the use of condoms among young men from the 90s to the p...
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