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A short article on condom reliability.
A Panel co-sponsored by the National Institutes of Health, the Food and Drug Administration, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the U.S. Agency for International Development were asked during the Clinton presidency to research whether the ‘safe’ message was scientifically accurate. They found absolutely NO scientific evidence to support the claim that condoms provide universal protection against gonorrhea, chlamydia, syphilis, chancroid, trichomoniasis and genital herpes. 15% of the time condoms do not prevent fatal AIDS. Would you get into a car if you knew that 15% of the times you drive you would be a fatality?
The problem with the ‘safe sex’ message is that it basically says to young people that it is o.k. to have sex if they feel like it. Now we all know that teens are notorious for not necessarily being well prepared. This inevitably leads to situations where teens, by intention or just due to circumstances find themselves alone with the opposite gender and simply follow their biological urges, whether or not they are prepared to ‘be safe’.
Think about this. Would you like to have to admit to you fiancée that you have genital herpes or that you can never have children? Genital herpes and the Human papillamovirus that causes genital warts are two examples of viruses that are spread simply by touching the genital area of an infected person, regardless of whether or not a condom is being used? Consequently, there is no cure for genital herpes, while genital warts are extremely difficult to treat. In addition, Chlamydia is reaching epidemic proportions among sexually active young people. Chlamydia may not cause any symptoms in a young man, so he can give it to his date without either of them realizing it. Chlamydia in a young woman can lead to lifelong infertility because of scarring of the fallopian tubes.
Remember also that no birth control device or pill is 100% protection against pregnancy. Even Planned Parenthood admits that they have failure rates, even when used perfectly. But Planned Parenthood is prepared to deal with an unwanted pregnancy by referring the young women for an abortion. Planned Parenthood then profits financially by performing this heinous procedure at the emotional and physical expense of the young women who are left to deal with post-abortion syndrome.
The current push for ‘emergency contraception’ is not necessarily contraception (preventing a baby from the very start). In case intercourse has already allowed the released sperm to join with the egg. Ot os assi,ed tjat this has resulted in conception. The high dose pills used in emergency contraception work by preventing implantation of the fertilized egg, resulting in a very early abortion of what would have otherwise developed into a baby. Abstinence is a far better choice for young people than strong dose chemicals.
Teens should be hearing the message that abstinence is the best choice for them. It avoids unnecessary exposure to chemicals (the Pill or emergency contraception), avoids inadvertent exposure to STDs, and prevents unwanted pregnancy 100% of the time? Abstinence shouldbe the expected norm for young people. If we adults, including parents, educators, and health care providers truly care about teens, we will hold them to the standard of abstaining from sexual activity before marriage.
“As a doctor, I urge you to think about this," Dr. Scott Stillwell, Sheboygan
