It's important to use condoms (rubbers, prophylactics) to help reduce
the spread of sexually transmitted diseases (STDs). These diseases
include the Human Immunodeficiency Virus, or HIV (the virus that causes
AIDS), chlamydia, genital herpes, genital warts, gonorrhea, hepatitis B,
and syphilis. You can get them through having sex -- vaginal, anal, or
oral. The surest way to avoid these diseases is to not have sex
altogether (abstinence). Another way is to limit sex to one partner who
also limits his or her sex in the same way (monogamy). Condoms are not
100% safe, but if used properly, will reduce the risk of sexually
transmitted diseases, including AIDS. Protecting yourself against the
AIDS virus is of special concern because this disease is fatal and has
no cure. Many people infected with HIV got
the disease during sexual intercourse with an infected partner. Experts
believe that many of these people could have avoided the disease by
using condoms.
