Sex with your Valentine

Valentine's Day is fast approaching and among the chocolates and the flowers and the paper hearts, all inscribed with endearing words, there will also undoubtedly be a lot more "love making" happening than usual. Given this fact, National Condom Awareness Week, which has been recognized by the American Social Health Association, occurs annually around Valentine's Day. This year it is being held on Feb. 10 to Feb. 17 and intends to promote the use of condoms as a preventative against unwanted pregnancy as well as some sexually transmitted diseases.

According to research done by staying-alive.org,, 62 percent of young men and women do not use condoms every time they have sex. This is an alarming number considering that the incidence of AIDS stands at about 40,000 newly reported cases each year, 25 percent of which are persons between the ages of 15-29. New York also has one of the highest infection rates as well, second only to the District of Columbia. Given all of these facts, we would think that more than 38 percent of sexually active youths would use condoms before "doing the deed."

Why are there so few consistently responsible youths? We could surely attribute the nonchalance about the topic to the fact that there are several myths about condoms and their use. The top five "Condom Myths" that I have found consistently in my research are as follows:

Myth#1 Condoms break anyway.

Condoms don't break, the users break them. The likeliness of a condom being broken in the package or during intercourse is slim, and the breaks are typically due to human error and possibly a hasty hand. If the condom is put on properly, it should remain in tact.

Myth #2 Condoms don't protect me from STDs.

Condoms are actually very effective in preventing the spread of both gonorrhea and chlamydia as well as the most severe of them all, HIV. While it is never 100 percent fool proof, it has been shown to be "your best bet" in protecting yourself against these life-altering diseases.

Myth #3 Condoms don't fit well. They hamper my pleasure.

Modern times have allowed for the technology to creation condoms that are said to be quite comfortable and may even enhance pleasure during intercourse. It's all simply a matter of taking the time to identify the right fit and moving forward from there.

Myth #4 I'm allergic to latex.

There are alternatives to latex condoms that are just as effective in preventing pregnancy and disease. The most notable is the polyutherane condom, which is made from a plastic derivative. It may typically be a bit more expensive, but not nearly as expensive as the college tuition you would have to pay for the baby that you could potentially have.

Myth #5

Condoms are not that effective.

Condoms, when used properly, are 99.8 percent effective. That leaves you with a 0.02 percent chance of getting pregnant as opposed to a 99 percent chance of getting pregnant by not using one. I think the first alternative makes the most sense.

Now that you are armed with these facts, please be safe always. For National Condom Awareness week, we have a New York based group coming to campus on Wednesday, Feb. 13 to the VC's 2nd floor lobby from 12:30 p.m. - 2 p.m. to share information with students on condoms and emergency contraception.

In addition, the Baruch Health Care Center will have a representative during club hours on Thursday, Feb. 14 to hand out free condoms to ensure that everyone has a safe and very happy Valentine's Day.

SOURCE: Taheera Tm Kee, media.www.theticker.org