AIDS is one of the most dangerous diseases on the planet. As is the case of any diseases, AIDS prevention also is better than curing it after you gets infected. A major reason which is hampering the AIDS prevention activities around the is the lack of proper sexual education of the people involved and the taboos associated in different cultures around the world regarding condoms usage. Let us take a look at some of the major causes of AIDS infection and how to avoid those situations.
The single most important cause behind the transmission of AIDS is sexual contact. One of the partners has to be HIV positive so as to spread the virus to his/her sexual partner. And the virus spreads only when you have unprotected sex. So the key word is protection here. And condoms can do whole lot of difference here. Studies conducted on HIV positive people and his/her disease free partner who had used condoms during all their sexual activities have shown that the rate of infection is less than 1%. This proves the reliability of condoms. As long as the condoms are used properly, they are very safe. The overall safety of condoms is above 80%. And this rate goes significantly higher when the condom is used properly. The lubricants used with the condom can play a significant role in the effectiveness of the condom. Oil based lubricants can corrode the material of latex condoms and should be avoided. Water based lubricants will work fine with latex condoms and thus helping AIDS prevention.
HIV can be infected to the infant's body from the mother during pregnancy. Again if the mother had safe sex all through her sexual activities, this could be avoided. In the cases where the disease is not transferred to the kid during pregnancy, HIV can be transferred through breast milk and hence breast-feeding should be avoided.
Male circumcision is known to have a positive effect in reducing the rate of AIDS infection. As circumcision has religious as well as cultural angles associated with it, many people would be wary of undergoing the procedure even as a tool for such a worthy cause as AIDS prevention.
Medical personal like doctors and nurses are always at the risk of getting infected from infected patients. This is especially true when surgical operations are performed on the patients. These risks can be reduced to a certain extent by using protective gloves, goggles etc. Washing your hand and face routinely with soap can reduce the chances of getting infected. Extra care need to be given while handling any sharp objects like needles, surgical knives etc.
Blood transfusion is another instance when you could get infected. Only thing you can do for AIDS prevention in this regard is to use tested blood for transfusion. You may use the blood of some one you are familiar with so as to reduce the chances of infection.
Drug addicts get infected with AIDS when they exchange the syringe used to inject them selves. Some governments around the world have created projects where they provide new syringes to drug addicts so as to improve the chances of AIDS prevention.
Sunday, 21 December 2008
Saturday, 20 December 2008
Custom fitted condoms.
Right now it is the duty of a man's penis to fit in to a condom. Is that right? In fact, it should be the other way around and the condom must be the one who has to fit around a man's most valuable asset, whatever be its size!!
Did any one have problems with the size of the condoms available in market today? Already there are some extra large condoms available. The Trojan Magnum is an example of extra large condoms. And they have a notable share of around 15% of the total US condom market.
Small condoms were introduced in to the market as well. As men tend to dislike buying them for the obvious reasons, they failed to get enough sales. No proud man would ever buy a small size condom from a store clerk. Especially so if the clerk is a she!! So, until the condom sales are completely automated or done online, men are not going to get small size condoms.
Here comes great news for all the men in the world who were finding it hard to find the correct size condoms for their odd sized penis!! Jan Vinzenz Krause, a German guy, has created a machine, which can spray latex on to you penis and make a condom out of it. This would fit any size penis perfectly. And Krause even promises that the machine would work fine even on an elephant's erect penis! Now, the only problem would be in finding some one bold enough to apply a condom on an aroused elephant!!
The proposed condom machine is designed based on a regular car wash tunnel. You insert your penis in to the hard plastic machine and then it will spray latex on it from all sides in a similar fashion as water is sprayed on to your car at a car wash. Then you have to wait for a few seconds until the latex is dry.
The idea sounds pretty effective and logical. The fit will be perfect to each penis and this will be the biggest advantage.
There is a hissing sound associated with the spraying and this may cause problems to your erection. The wait period can be another cause for you to loose your erection. Some people may be turned off by the idea off spraying on a condom after getting an erection and then waiting for it to dry. Newer technology may make it possible to have faster setting latex available in the market in the near future, and this would significantly reduce the wait period.
We have to wait to see if the sprayed latex can enter in to the penis hole and clog it. That would be a disastrous situation if the liquid latex gets set in your penis hole. Once you lose erection, some part of the condom may be stuck inside the penis as the penis lost its size. But the size of the condom would be the same.
Spray on condoms would be more expensive than the conventional ones as it will cost the machine around $35, and the latex for 20 condoms will cost around $15. Once mass production starts, the prices may come down significantly.
Friday, 19 December 2008
How do you buy condoms without getting embarrassed?
How do you buy condoms without getting embarrassed?
You are about to have sex for the very first time in your life. And you are planning to have sex the safe way. Now comes the nervous part. How do you buy some condoms? Where do you buy condoms ? What if the sales clerk is a lady? What if there are some familiar faces in the check out line? What type of condom should you get?
Decide what type of condoms you need to get. If it is your very first time, you may get any type of generic condoms available in the store. As you get used to condoms then you can decide on the type of condoms as well as lubricants used in them. You may choose spermicidal or non-spermicidal condoms.
Never show any embarrassment on your face. Get the condom as if you have been doing it all your life; approach the check out counter confidently. If you purchase some thing else along with the condom, others who are standing with you may not notice the condoms. If you solely have condoms to be paid, it will be obvious to any one who is standing next to the check out counter. So think of some items, which you need to buy in the near future.
If there is any self check out counter in the store, they would be the best for you. This way you can pay for your condoms anonymously.
Now there are online stores, which can keep your identity hidden from the eyes and ears of your neighbors and gossipmongers. You will be able to get a much better price and a larger selection of condoms at any online stores.
Condom dispensers at public toilets can be used to protect your anonymity.
Large condoms are not always the best for you. They may slide off your penis easily and may not provide sufficient protection. As condoms can stretch over even the largest penises, size of the condom is really a non-issue. If you have a small penis then you may need small condoms.
Extra ribbed condoms or studded condoms can add some fun in to the sex. But some people do not like this. You will have to experiment and figure out for yourself which condom is right for your likes and dislikes.
The sales clerk has too many things to worry about. They will never bother to see if you are going to have sex tonight. He/she might be thinking about his/her own plans for the evening to worry about your condoms.
Choose the right lubricants to go with the condom. Oil based lubricants can weaken latex condoms and hence should not be used with them. Always choose water-based lubricants to go with latex condoms.
Spermicidal or flavored condoms can cause allergies in some people. If you feel any sort of irritation while using them, then change to condoms without those additives.
Many convenience stores and drug stores store condoms behind the counter as they can be stolen easily. All you need to do is go to the counter and ask the cashier for it. As you are being responsible by planning to engage in safe sex, there is nothing to be ashamed about it. The cashier and other people in the neighborhood are not going to be judgmental about it.
You are about to have sex for the very first time in your life. And you are planning to have sex the safe way. Now comes the nervous part. How do you buy some condoms? Where do you buy condoms ? What if the sales clerk is a lady? What if there are some familiar faces in the check out line? What type of condom should you get?
Decide what type of condoms you need to get. If it is your very first time, you may get any type of generic condoms available in the store. As you get used to condoms then you can decide on the type of condoms as well as lubricants used in them. You may choose spermicidal or non-spermicidal condoms.
Never show any embarrassment on your face. Get the condom as if you have been doing it all your life; approach the check out counter confidently. If you purchase some thing else along with the condom, others who are standing with you may not notice the condoms. If you solely have condoms to be paid, it will be obvious to any one who is standing next to the check out counter. So think of some items, which you need to buy in the near future.
If there is any self check out counter in the store, they would be the best for you. This way you can pay for your condoms anonymously.
Now there are online stores, which can keep your identity hidden from the eyes and ears of your neighbors and gossipmongers. You will be able to get a much better price and a larger selection of condoms at any online stores.
Condom dispensers at public toilets can be used to protect your anonymity.
Large condoms are not always the best for you. They may slide off your penis easily and may not provide sufficient protection. As condoms can stretch over even the largest penises, size of the condom is really a non-issue. If you have a small penis then you may need small condoms.
Extra ribbed condoms or studded condoms can add some fun in to the sex. But some people do not like this. You will have to experiment and figure out for yourself which condom is right for your likes and dislikes.
The sales clerk has too many things to worry about. They will never bother to see if you are going to have sex tonight. He/she might be thinking about his/her own plans for the evening to worry about your condoms.
Choose the right lubricants to go with the condom. Oil based lubricants can weaken latex condoms and hence should not be used with them. Always choose water-based lubricants to go with latex condoms.
Spermicidal or flavored condoms can cause allergies in some people. If you feel any sort of irritation while using them, then change to condoms without those additives.
Many convenience stores and drug stores store condoms behind the counter as they can be stolen easily. All you need to do is go to the counter and ask the cashier for it. As you are being responsible by planning to engage in safe sex, there is nothing to be ashamed about it. The cashier and other people in the neighborhood are not going to be judgmental about it.
Thursday, 18 December 2008
Should schools provide condoms for kids ?
Even in the 21st century, it is a controversial topic in many states of America. Most people associate condoms with sexual activity. There is nothing wrong with that. Condoms are associated with sex. The problems for condoms start when people associate condoms with promiscuity. This is especially true in the case of evangelical people who are totally against condoms or sex education for kids. They argue that condoms are going to give the kids new ideas. They fear that the kids may start to experiment with condoms and sex as they have access to it. But kids are kids. They are going to experiment with sex. Condom or no condom!! The increase in numbers of STDs among teenage girls is an example of sexual activity they engage in, even without easy access to condoms. The high rate of teenage pregnancy is also showing examples of sexually active kids. There number is not going to increase, as they will have easy access to condoms. These kids should have access to condoms and that would help them in protecting themselves and the society at large by stopping the spread of AIDS and other sexually transmitted diseases. It is not fair to deny them access to condoms.
Condoms must be easily available for teenage kids. If possible, sex education can be provided along with the delivery of condoms. The person who is delivering the condoms can explain the pros and cons of condoms, sex etc to the kids. The school nurse who is already present in most schools can be given this responsibility. There must be access to condoms in a different way as well. As kids are usually wary of approaching an adult to get condoms, there should be a condom machine in each school for kids to get condoms anonymously.
The easy access of condoms would reduce the rate of AIDS infection in USA. Teenagers and young adults are the ones who are getting infected in half of the new AIDS cases reported. If they get easy access to condoms at teenage years, then they will have safe sex. Two of the main reasons for kids to drop out of school are teenage pregnancy and poor health. You can avoid teenage pregnancy fully with condoms. Poor health caused from STDs can be avoided with the help of condoms to a very high extent.
There are still people who hold morality above the health or safety of kids. This issue should be considered on its merits as a public health issue. Not a moral challenge. Safe sex is just that. Safe sex. Nothing more. Nothing less.
Public schools must be providing condoms in their premises, as school drop out rate is highest there. Kids from low-income families who attend these schools are more prone to get pregnant and stop their studies altogether. Hence the availability of condoms is mandatory in public schools all over America.
Of course catholic schools are going to object to providing condoms to kids there. But the parents need to take a strong position and this would make the catholic school managements to change their position on condoms.
Condoms must be easily available for teenage kids. If possible, sex education can be provided along with the delivery of condoms. The person who is delivering the condoms can explain the pros and cons of condoms, sex etc to the kids. The school nurse who is already present in most schools can be given this responsibility. There must be access to condoms in a different way as well. As kids are usually wary of approaching an adult to get condoms, there should be a condom machine in each school for kids to get condoms anonymously.
The easy access of condoms would reduce the rate of AIDS infection in USA. Teenagers and young adults are the ones who are getting infected in half of the new AIDS cases reported. If they get easy access to condoms at teenage years, then they will have safe sex. Two of the main reasons for kids to drop out of school are teenage pregnancy and poor health. You can avoid teenage pregnancy fully with condoms. Poor health caused from STDs can be avoided with the help of condoms to a very high extent.
There are still people who hold morality above the health or safety of kids. This issue should be considered on its merits as a public health issue. Not a moral challenge. Safe sex is just that. Safe sex. Nothing more. Nothing less.
Public schools must be providing condoms in their premises, as school drop out rate is highest there. Kids from low-income families who attend these schools are more prone to get pregnant and stop their studies altogether. Hence the availability of condoms is mandatory in public schools all over America.
Of course catholic schools are going to object to providing condoms to kids there. But the parents need to take a strong position and this would make the catholic school managements to change their position on condoms.
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