Condoms: To Use Or Not To Use

Interesting report on condom use:

NEW YORK (Reuters Health) - Many teenagers and young adults fail to use condoms consistently, regardless of whether they have sex with a serious or a "casual" partner, a new study suggests.

Researchers found that among more than 1,300 15- to 21-year-olds, those with casual sex partners had unprotected sex just as often as those in serious relationships -- about 20 times over the previous three months, on average.

Those who had casual sex were more likely to use condoms at least some of the time, the study found. But because they had sex more often, they ended up having unprotected intercourse just as frequently as their peers in steady relationships.

The findings point up two different problems, according to the researchers.

"Unfortunately, this reveals that teens may overestimate the safety of using condoms most of the time with a casual partner and underestimate the risk of unprotected sex with a serious partner," lead study author Dr. Celia Lescano said in a statement.

And, based on my clinical experience, here's a third, quite common, problem: many patients simply do not like using condoms.

Interestingly, I find it's mostly the adults who are adverse to the very concept of condom use. Teens are very receptive to advice on condom use, and the majority report they already use condoms (or so they tell me). But try convincing monogamous adults, in long term relationships, to use condoms. It's not easy, and, I must admit, more often than not, quite unsuccessful.