Editing Condom (section)

=== Sexually transmitted infections ===
{{See also|Safe sex}}
[[File:Condom on Obelisk, Buenos Aires.jpg|thumb|upright|A giant replica of a condom on the [[Obelisk of Buenos Aires]], Argentina, part of an awareness campaign for the 2005 [[World AIDS Day]]]]
Condoms are widely recommended for the prevention of [[sexually transmitted infection]]s (STIs). They have been shown to be effective in reducing infection rates in both men and women. While not perfect, the condom is effective at reducing the transmission of organisms that cause [[AIDS]], [[genital herpes]], [[cervical cancer]], [[genital wart]]s, [[syphilis]], [[chlamydia]], [[gonorrhea]], and other diseases.<ref name="planned parenthood">{{cite web |title=Condom |publisher=Planned Parenthood |year=2008 |url=http://www.plannedparenthood.org/health-topics/birth-control/condom-10187.htm |access-date=19 November 2007 |archive-date=20 August 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110820174700/http://www.plannedparenthood.org/health-topics/birth-control/condom-10187.htm |url-status=live }}</ref> Condoms are often recommended as an adjunct to more effective birth control methods (such as [[IUD]]) in situations where STI protection is also desired.<ref name=DualProtection>{{cite journal |pmid=11875378 |title=Dual Protection Against Unintended Pregnancy and Sexually Transmitted Infections: What is the Best Contraceptive Approach? |journal=Sexually Transmitted Diseases |volume=29 |issue=3 |pages=168–174 |date=March 2002 |last1=Cates |first1=Willard |last2=Steiner |first2=Markus J. |doi=10.1097/00007435-200203000-00007|s2cid=42792667 |doi-access=free }}</ref>

According to a 2000 report by the [[National Institutes of Health]] (NIH), consistent use of latex condoms reduces the risk of [[HIV transmission]] by approximately 85% relative to risk when unprotected, putting the seroconversion rate (infection rate) at 0.9 per 100 person-years with condom, down from 6.7 per 100 person-years.<ref name="workshop">{{cite conference |last=National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases |author-link=National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases |title=Workshop Summary: Scientific Evidence on Condom Effectiveness for Sexually Transmitted Disease (STD) Prevention |pages=13–15 |date=20 July 2001 |location=Hyatt Dulles Airport, Herndon, Virginia |url=https://www.niaid.nih.gov/about/organization/dmid/documents/condomreport.pdf |access-date=22 September 2010 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101009022150/http://www.niaid.nih.gov/about/organization/dmid/documents/condomreport.pdf |archive-date=9 October 2010}}</ref> Analysis published in 2007 from the [[University of Texas Medical Branch]]<ref>{{Cite journal |last1=Weller |first1=S. |last2=Davis |first2=K. |date=2002 |title=Condom effectiveness in reducing heterosexual HIV transmission |journal=The Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews |volume=2012 |issue=1 |pages=CD003255 |doi=10.1002/14651858.CD003255 |issn=1469-493X |pmid=11869658|pmc=8407100 }}</ref>and the [[World Health Organization]]<ref>{{cite book |author=World Health Organization Department of Reproductive Health and Research (WHO/RHR) & Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health/Center for Communication Programs (CCP), INFO Project |year=2007 |title=Family Planning: A Global Handbook for Providers |publisher=INFO Project at the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health |url=http://www.infoforhealth.org/globalhandbook/index.shtml |page=200 |url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090827081805/http://www.infoforhealth.org/globalhandbook/index.shtml|archive-date=27 August 2009}}</ref> found similar risk reductions of 80–95%.

The 2000 NIH review concluded that condom use significantly reduces the risk of gonorrhea for men.<ref name="workshop" /> A 2006 study reports that proper condom use decreases the risk of transmission of [[human papillomavirus]] (HPV) to women by approximately 70%.<ref>{{cite journal |doi=10.1056/NEJMoa053284 |pmid=16790697 |title=Condom Use and the Risk of Genital Human Papillomavirus Infection in Young Women |journal=New England Journal of Medicine |volume=354 |issue=25 |pages=2645–2654 |year=2006 |last1=Winer |first1=Rachel L. |last2=Hughes |first2=James P. |last3=Feng |first3=Qinghua |last4=O'Reilly |first4=Sandra |last5=Kiviat |first5=Nancy B. |last6=Holmes |first6=King K. |last7=Koutsky |first7=Laura A.|doi-access=free }}</ref> Another study in the same year found consistent condom use was effective at reducing transmission of [[herpes simplex virus-2]], also known as genital herpes, in both men and women.<ref>{{cite journal |doi=10.7326/0003-4819-143-10-200511150-00007 |pmid=16287791 |title=The Relationship between Condom Use and Herpes Simplex Virus Acquisition |journal=Annals of Internal Medicine |volume=143 |issue=10 |pages=707–713 |year=2005 |last1=Wald |first1=Anna |last2=Langenberg |first2=Andria G.M. |last3=Krantz |first3=Elizabeth |last4=Douglas |first4=John M. |last5=Handsfield |first5=H. Hunter |last6=Dicarlo |first6=Richard P. |last7=Adimora |first7=Adaora A. |last8=Izu |first8=Allen E. |last9=Morrow |first9=Rhoda Ashley |last10=Corey |first10=Lawrence |s2cid=37342783}}</ref>

Although a condom is effective in limiting exposure, some disease transmission may occur even with a condom. Infectious areas of the genitals, especially when symptoms are present, may not be covered by a condom, and as a result, some diseases like HPV and herpes may be transmitted by direct contact.<ref>{{cite web |last=Villhauer |first=Tanya |title=Condoms Preventing HPV? |publisher=University of Iowa Student Health Service/Health Iowa |date=20 May 2005 |url=http://www.uistudenthealth.com/question/default.aspx?q=738 |access-date=26 July 2009 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100314084306/http://www.uistudenthealth.com/question/default.aspx?q=738 |archive-date=14 March 2010}}</ref> The primary effectiveness issue with using condoms to prevent STIs, however, is inconsistent use.<ref name="badnews" />

Condoms may also be useful in treating potentially [[cervical cancer|precancerous cervical changes]]. Exposure to human papillomavirus, even in individuals already infected with the virus, appears to increase the risk of precancerous changes. The use of condoms helps promote regression of these changes.<ref name="Hogewoning2003">{{cite journal |doi=10.1002/ijc.11474 |pmid=14566832 |title=Condom use promotes regression of cervical intraepithelial neoplasia and clearance of human papillomavirus: A randomized clinical trial |journal=International Journal of Cancer |volume=107 |issue=5 |pages=811–816 |year=2003 |last1=Hogewoning |first1=Cornelis J.A. |last2=Bleeker |first2=Maaike C.G. |last3=Van Den Brule |first3=Adriaan J.C. |last4=Voorhorst |first4=Feja J. |last5=Snijders |first5=Peter J.F. |last6=Berkhof |first6=Johannes |last7=Westenend |first7=Pieter J. |last8=Meijer |first8=Chris J.L.M. |s2cid=12065908 |doi-access=free}}</ref> In addition, researchers in the UK suggest that a hormone in semen can aggravate existing cervical cancer, condom use during sex can prevent exposure to the hormone.<ref>{{cite news |title=Semen can worsen cervical cancer |publisher=Medical Research Council (UK) |url=http://www.mrc.ac.uk/NewsViewsAndEvents/News/MRC002621 |access-date=2 December 2007 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080804173650/http://www.mrc.ac.uk/NewsViewsAndEvents/News/MRC002621 |archive-date=4 August 2008}}</ref>