Condoms and STD's

[vagabondprince]

can anyone give me some info on how well condoms protect against different types of STDs (or at least STDs in general)? My gf and i are going to be "taking a break" over the summer, and she's already noted that she's most likely going to be with at least one other guy. From the one guy I've met that she's been with it sounds like he gets around a lot, and i think he might be the one she's going back to. I want to know how much of a chance she has of catching something he might have if they use a condom every time. And if the chances are there at all i want to have something to use to try to convince her not to be with other guys over the summer (I'd like to have something anyway, was just hoping this could be it). Please let me know any knowledge any of you have or any sources i can look up.

[thetease13]

nothing is 100% safe other than abstinance.
condoms are around 95 to 99% effective.

[vagabondprince]

I'm not worried about pregnancy, I know they are 95% effective at protecting against that, but there must certainly be STDs that can be transmitted despite the use of condoms.

[Rawbob]

Well, as long as the male wears the condom properly, and takes it off immediatly after intercourse, yes, the condom can provide 95% protection from pregnancy. The 5% difference is for breakage, slipping off during sex, or slipping off inside the vagina after ejaculation, etc.

Now, it sounds like you're tyring to scare her into NOT having sex with other guys during the summer and you're lookin for facts to make your point. Well, if she wants to have sex, she's going to have sex. Informing her about safe sex, condoms, and stuff is ALWAYS a good thing. But my friend, it sounds like she's made up her mind about having sex wtih that guy and you're just a bit jealous. careful! you may push her away completly.

[demonbuttercup]

here's a link to a good page for you to look at.
they break down each STD and explain how a condom works to help protect you.
w/ some STDs it says condoms are "highly effective" means of protection.
others it just says condoms "help reduce" the chances.
so to answer your question even if she uses condoms every time, properly, there is still that small chance.
be sure to read that page and maybe get her to read it.

[vagabondprince]

thank you, the info on that site is exactly what i was looking for.

[thetease13]

by saying abstinance i didn't mean just pregnancy.
abstinance doesn't mean protecting self from pregnancy. abstinance means protecting self from anything period. nothing can protect you 100% but that.

[demonbuttercup]

glad i could help vagabond.
so have you come up w/ a solution about your g/f?

[vagabondprince]

i haven't come up with a good solution yet. it's already a certainly that we're taking a break over the summer. i can't say anything about next semester yet, but there is a chance that we will get back together then. considering that chance i just don't feel comfortable with her being with other guys, the STD problem being one of the reasons for that. I'm not going to bring it up with her until closer to break, and i'm going to keep it mild enough that i don't scare her off, but i do want to give her something to think about. we'll see what happens

oh, and thetease13, sorry i came off so rude in my reply to your post. it's just that it's going to be hard to use just that statistic to sway my gf on this issue.

[thetease13]

it's ok. no harm done.

and honestly, there is no real way you're going to convince her to use a condom. if she doesn't want to use one with this guy, she won't.
i know you care for her and want her to be safe, but again, if she doesn't want to, she won't.

however if you two do get back together after the summer, and you know she has been fooling around with this guy, why not use a condom everytime you have sex with her.
you may not want to but it's better to protect yourself from what she may or may not have, so if or when push comes to shove and you do breakup for good (not saying that's gonna happen, just throwing the option out there), you don't possibly pass something on to whoever your next partner may be.