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HOW SAFE IS SAFE SEX?

Many health authorities, including the Surgeon General, have promoted condoms as a barrier to the transmission of HIV. But given the 10 to 15 percent failure rate of condoms as contraceptives, their effectiveness in preventing AIDS transmission is uncertain. These investigators studied the physical and chemical effectiveness of 30 commercially available condoms in a laboratory model that simulated sexual intercourse. As long as the condom did not rupture, HIV did not cross the condom barrier. In instances where the condom did rupture, however, the authors could not detect HIV transmission through condoms that contained the antiviral spermicide nonoxynol 9.

This small study suggests that condoms are an effective physical barrier to the spread of HIV if they do not rupture, and that chemoprophylaxis with nonoxynol 9 may provide further protection.

— THL

Published in Journal Watch General Medicine March 29, 1988

Citation(s):

Rietmeijer C A M; Krebs J W; Feorino P M; Judson F N. Condoms as physical and chemical barriers against human immunodeficiency virus. JAMA 1988 Mar 25 259 1851-1853.

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