The Thing About Condoms

(Flickr/quaziefoto)

Today I read about a recent study (released in time for National Condom Week!) that found the following:

Nearly half -- 45 percent -- said they had used a badly fitting condom during the previous three months.

These men were more than 2 times as likely to say the condom broke or slipped when they used it. They also often reported it was irritating to wear.

But this reminded me of some reporting I did a while back for a relatively unrelated story. I spoke with a researcher whose specialty was investigating how women feel about using contraception and condoms, because all too often, discussions about condom use revolve around men.

Now, I'm not blaming researchers for focusing on men. After all, men are the ones that ultimately are expected to wear the condoms during intercourse. As a public health advocate, you have to get men on board if you want to curb the spread of HIV and other sexually transmitted diseases.

But women are also a factor in heterosexual encounters. And I know plenty of women that don't like the feel of condoms either. It's true that my evidence is anecdotal, but if women also don't like to use condoms, it makes the battle for getting heterosexual couples to use them that much more difficult.

Economy Down, Condom Sales Up

One of my favorite things to blog about is condoms. I haven't had the opportunity in a while, but yesterday's news story about how condom sales are up lately. Some suspect it may be that it's because we're in a depression and people are trying to be extra careful about not getting pregnant when they can't afford a(nother) pregnancy. Historically this isn't such an unusual trend. Last year I read Stephanie Coontz's Marriage, a History: How Love Conquered Marriage and she talked about how marriage and fertility rates dropped dramatically during the Great Depression in the 1920s and 30s -- and that was before they had birth control pills.

Photo by Flickr user by piperkinsvater.

The Condom Cartel

Apparently there's some price fixing on condoms going on in Europe. Six rubber firms, who make everything from "shoe soles to condoms" met regularly to discuss prices and market information, the BBC reports. These firms controled the entire condom market in Europe.

This is actually pretty serious. Having affordable and availible condoms is a vital part of public health. Customers have been overcharged by up to 30 percent. Two of the firms charged with price fixing by the EU were U.S. firms DuPont and Dow Chemical, and what's more, this is the third time the rubber industry has been caught engaging in price fixing.

So much for the free market.

Cross-posted on campusprogres.org/blog.

U of Minnesota Best At Promoting Safe Sex

My alma matter is rated the best of 139 colleges nationwide at promoting safe sex on campus, according to a survey conducted by the Trojan condom company. The school's health service gives out about 10,000 condoms a year and offers free STI testing on campus. I remember the human-sized condom mascot named Shady handing out condoms and lube at almost every campus event.

No wonder I was surprised to learn that some schools, like the Jesuit-founded Georgetown, not only don't give out free condoms but also attempt to restrict the purchase of condoms on campus, leaving the only option for students to go off campus to get them. It's not like the presence of condoms tempts students to have sex -- I think sex is appealing enough on its own. But having condoms readily available will prevent pregnancy and the spread of STIs. That's just good public health policy.

Cross-posted at campusprogress.org/blog.