How to avoid getting HIV during sex

“When it comes to sex, we are least likely to think about danger.”

A common mechanism of transmission of the human immunodeficiency virus is unprotected sexual contact with an infected partner. We invite you to find out whether condoms protect against HIV and whether infection can occur when using this contraceptive.

Attention! According to the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), HIV infection occurs in 60-65% of cases through sexual contact.

The likelihood of contracting HIV among homosexual men is higher than among other groups, since anal sexual intercourse predominates among them. Thus, in the USA, a study was conducted among African-American homosexuals, and the risk of them contracting HIV by the age of 25 is 25% (i.e. 1 in 4).

A condom will protect against HIV only if you choose the right contraceptive and follow the proper technique for using it!

What to do after a suspicious contact?

Simple harmony in life can be achieved just by using a condom at the right time.
Men and women! Take note of this rule and always carry condoms with you. Did you have one-time unprotected sexual contact or do you have any idea that your partner may be infected? Urgent post-exposure prophylaxis for HIV infection (PEP) is needed.

It involves taking antiretroviral drugs (ARVs) as soon as a risk of infection is identified. They are available only with a doctor's prescription and are aimed at preventing a person from becoming infected with HIV.

Attention! PEP should be started as soon as possible, BUT NOT LATER THAN 72 hours after sexual intercourse.

For serious risks, a combination of 3 approved ARVs is recommended. They are taken several times a day, the minimum course duration is 28 days.

Possible side effects:

• nausea and vomiting,
• general poor health,
• fatigue,
• diarrhea,
• heat,
• headache.

Post-exposure prophylaxis does not guarantee 100% protection against the virus, but it is the only thing that can help after sex with an HIV-positive partner.

You can take tests and make sure that there is no virus in your body only 3 months after possible infection (taking an ELISA test). Even if the answer is negative, it is recommended to take the test again after 3 months and make sure there is no danger.

Unfortunately, the cost of AVR drugs is very high, and not everyone can afford them. To avoid health problems and eliminate financial difficulties, we recommend the use of recognized preventive means - condoms, fidelity to a partner, etc.

Risk of infection after single contact

The probability of infection during a one-time unprotected connection is:

0,08%

or 1 in 1,250 contacts for women.

0,04%

or 1 in 2500 contacts for men.

Why are women more likely to get infected during vaginal sex? If a man is HIV positive, then his semen has a high viral load. During ejaculation, the virus enters the vagina in large quantities, and the likelihood of infection increases to the maximum.

If a woman is HIV-infected, the virus is contained in the secretory fluid. The likelihood that it will get from the vagina to the penis in the amount necessary for infection is small. The risk of contracting HIV through a condom is even lower.

Factors that increase the likelihood of infection include:

• ulcers of the mucous membranes of the genital organs, open wounds and other injuries,
• rough penetration,
• menstrual bleeding,
• hemorrhoids (during anal sex).

Among men, the question of the safety of sexual intercourse is relevant if interruption is used as a means of contraception. This method is ineffective - if a woman is HIV-positive, then the secreted secretory fluid will easily reach the penis and lead to infection. If a man is HIV-positive, then infection of his partner can occur through negligence - it is possible that sperm accidentally gets on the mucous membranes of the female genital organs.

Citizens' opinion

Prochisheva Ekaterina Petrovna, 35 years old, Moscow

I'm all for using condoms. I definitely won’t get any HIV through a condom, and that’s why I always play it safe. It doesn’t matter whether it’s the first date or the tenth, I always ask the guy to bring a condom with him or I put it on myself. The sensations during sex, of course, are not complete, but health is more important.

Tough Elizaveta Anatolyevna, 23 years old, Minsk

As embarrassing as it may sound, I love a good walk. Despite the fact that there have already been about a dozen guys, I cannot stand and do not intend to use condoms. And all is well! I think it's purely luck/bad luck. Even those who are faithful and loving can become infected with HIV simply in the dentist’s office due to his carelessness.

Kulich Anton Borisovich, 29 years old, St. Petersburg

I was raised to believe completely in the need for contraception. Still, HIV is a dangerous thing. I carry a condom with me in a secret pocket of my wallet, so that in case of an “unforeseen” situation I am prepared and do not deny myself. STDs are not transmitted through a condom, at least not the most common ones, so I feel calm and so does the woman. But the sensations during sex are really not exactly what you want to get. Look for a permanent partner.

Can you get HIV from a condom?

Using a condom does not guarantee 100% protection against HIV and genital infections during sexual intercourse, but it is the only way to reduce the likelihood of infection to 2-3%.

Can you get HIV from a condom? Yes, when the contraceptive “fails” (for example, it expires). The indicated 2-3% includes cases where infection occurred during foreplay or after sexual intercourse.

Some manufacturers resort to tricks and indicate “extra strong” on the contraceptive packaging. Thick latex can be used to make them, but the thickness of the material does not affect the reliability of the condom.

Sometimes the packaging says “with spermicide”; the lubricant of such condoms contains the substance nanoxyl-9. This will not help at all against HIV; on the contrary, it has an irritating effect on the skin, causing microdamage.

Medical advice

Of course, according to doctors, even a condom cannot guarantee protection from HIV. After all, the disease is still transmitted sexually, and a poor-quality or torn product will significantly increase the risk of pathology. Therefore, doctors strongly do not recommend having sex with an untested partner. Of course, this can be quite problematic, but try to take the person with whom you want to have sex and get tested for HIV together. This way, both of you will be confident in each other and sexual relationships will bring you much more joy.

However, what should couples do if one of the partners has an infection? For them, the question of whether it is possible to become infected with HIV through a condom is very relevant. If you buy a high-quality product that fits in size and has a good shelf life, then the risk that the condom may break will be minimal. The main thing is to behave adequately during sexual intercourse and monitor its condition.

Does a condom protect against HIV?

A condom for HIV is the only remedy that minimizes the risk of infection and is recommended by all scientists and medical professionals.

Reasons that can lead to transmission of the immunodeficiency virus through a condom:

• Poor quality product. Young people buy cheap condoms because of their affordability, without thinking about the possible poor quality. It may be due to improper casting of latex products, outdated equipment or low qualifications of workers;
• Broken condom. Applies to both cheap and expensive contraceptives from well-known manufacturers. May be due to incorrect fitting or incorrect sizing;
• Expired date. When purchasing condoms, carefully examine the packaging for damage and the period of possible use. The special lubricant that coats the condom on both sides has an expiration date.

A condom does not completely protect against HIV, but it reduces the risk of infection to a minimum!

Using condoms correctly

It is important to use condoms correctly because improper use can damage the condom during sex. This significantly reduces the effectiveness of the condom, allowing HIV to enter the body.

To minimize the risk of condom damage and increase the effectiveness of condom use, you must:

• choose condoms of the appropriate size;
• store condoms at room temperature and regularly replace condoms kept in a wallet or pocket;
• do not use expired condoms;
• make sure that the packaging is not damaged and open the packaging carefully, without using sharp objects;
• use a new condom every time you have sexual intercourse;
• use condoms during the entire duration of sexual intercourse;
• put on and remove the condom according to the instructions.

If used correctly, the risk of contracting HIV with a condom is reduced to zero. Therefore, when using a condom, follow the instructions:

1. Carefully open the package so that the condom does not break;
2. Make sure the condom is positioned correctly on the penis;
3. Pull out the foreskin of the penis;
4. Squeeze the tip of the condom (to remove air and leave room for sperm to collect) and pull it over the erect penis all the way to the base;
5. apply sufficient lubricant (only water-based or silicone-based lubricants should be used with latex condoms; saliva should not be used as lubricant);
6. immediately after sex, hold the condom while removing the penis from the vagina or anus;
7. carefully remove the condom from the penis only when there is no contact with the partner’s body, and make sure that the sperm does not spill;
8. Dispose of the condom safely.

The correct way to use an internal or female condom is:

1. Carefully open the package so that the condom does not break;
2. Apply lubricant to the outside of the closed end;
3. Squeeze the sides of the inner ring at the closed end of the condom and insert into the vagina or anus;
4. Insert the inner ring into the vagina or anus until it stops, while the outer ring should be on the outside;
5. If during sex the outer ring is pushed into the vagina or anus, stop and push it back into place;
6. Make sure that the penis fits into the condom and does not pass between the condom and the wall of the vagina or rectum;
7. Immediately after sex, gently twist and pull the end of the condom to remove it, being careful not to spill semen into the vagina or rectum;
8. Dispose of the condom safely.

What is the frequency of HIV infection through different contacts?

The chance of contracting HIV through protected contact is low, regardless of the method of sexual intercourse - vaginal, oral or anal.

Following basic rules when using a condom will help you maintain your health and prevent infection.

During oral sex, the risk of HIV infection for the “receiving” partner is no more than 0.04%. This is due to the fact that sperm entering the gastrointestinal tract instantly dissolves. Reported cases are associated with the fact that there were sores or bleeding inflammations in the partner’s mouth, through which the virus entered the blood.

It has been proven that the likelihood of HIV infection is lower for an active partner, regardless of the method of sex - vaginal or anal. For a person who is active during sexual intercourse, the risk of contracting the virus is reduced by 86%. However, this does not completely negate the fact that even active partners can become infected.

The presence of another sexually transmitted disease, even if it is asymptomatic (for example, gonorrhea in the rectum), increases the likelihood of contracting the immunodeficiency virus by 8 times. STDs cause inflammation, which increases the level of white blood cells - “targets” for HIV.

Don't trust myths about the effectiveness of using condoms to prevent HIV infection in double form (i.e., two at once). Such protection does not save you from the virus, but only creates a lot of inconvenience for your partners.

The Tale of the Leaky Condom

Do you still use condoms? Well, then agitators are coming to you with irrefutable evidence that you are exposing yourself to all imaginable and unimaginable dangers and, in general, will soon die.

To understand what we are actually talking about, it is enough to read the relevant sites or watch one of the many “revelatory” videos floating around the Internet. For example, this one.

However, you can look at any other one - they are all made like a carbon copy and talk about the same thing. The most interesting thing is that it is not the condom manufacturers who are lying, as follows from the video, but the authors of such pseudo-revelatory materials. Why? Let's, as usual, sort it out in order.

The worst hit was the latex, which was full of holes, like worn nylon tights. Judging by the video, it is generally not clear why, instead of the reliable sheep cecum, they began to use a string-like polymer to make condoms. This is how, for example, according to the authors of the video, the picture “a lonely human immunodeficiency virus against the backdrop of latex pores” looks like:

It would seem such a cruel discrepancy in size. Not only a virus, but also a sperm can easily slip into such a hole.

The funny thing is that all this is true. But only half: latex actually has pores, and their diameter can reach 5 microns. It’s understandable why they modestly keep silent about the second half, because this information spreads a harmonious theory like a bowling ball at a strike. In fact, latex is a multilayer polymer. And these layers are not two or even ten. The thickness of the condom is from 50 to 120 microns (depending on the model). Caverns (cavities) at best will connect a couple of adjacent layers, and even then not everywhere. In the microphotograph it looks like this:

As in the case of a drop of blood, the structure in the photograph is not flat at all, but multi-layered. In addition, the outside of condoms is treated with silicone lubricant, which performs several functions: additional protection (fills cavities), providing additional elasticity, and additional sliding.

So, if we continue the analogies from the video, then a person, approaching a 2-meter doorway, will see behind it not the vaginal mucosa at all, but a long, at least 20-meter corridor with many turns and nooks, and it is not known in advance which of the nooks ends a dead end and it is generally unclear whether there is a way out of this corridor. To complete the experience, you can imagine that the corridor is filled to the ceiling with a viscous viscous mass, in which it is difficult to move, to put it mildly.

You can conduct a couple of simple experiments at home to think about the plausibility of this and other videos.

Experiment one: take a condom and simply inflate it like a balloon. Don’t be afraid, it won’t burst, doctors inflate latex gloves for the New Year - they look like pumped-up punk hedgehogs. So: we cheated, twisted the base tightly and sat and watched. Is the condom deflating? No. And why? After all, the molecules of oxygen, nitrogen, carbon dioxide and other air components are much smaller in size than 5-micron pores. And we created decent pressure from the inside, and the product itself was deformed. But no, the parasite is not blown away.

Experience two: many people did it in childhood. A condom is taken (most often it was “borrowed” from parents) and a certain amount of water is poured into it. Soviet “rubber products number 2” from the Bakovsky plant burst somewhere after the 10th liter. And the contents of a three-liter jar went in with a bang, after which the “water bomb” was ceremonially dropped from the roof or balcony at the feet of unsuspecting citizens. The most interesting thing is that water did not ooze from the “gum”, although according to the logic of the authors of the video, we should have observed a cloud of 5-micron jets. Again, let’s remember about the very strong pressure from the inside that creates such an amount of water.

By the way, this experiment can be modified by pouring colored water into the condom and placing it in a white basin with water. You can sit next to him until you're stupefied, but the water in the basin flatly refuses to turn colour. This modified version is closest to what happens in reality - a water environment inside, a water environment outside, plus a slight excess pressure during the male “finish”.

Even if we theoretically assume that in some place of the condom there is one single passage “to freedom”, then, firstly, the virus or sperm must have intelligence or at least have a system for recognizing such “wormholes”. Secondly, they will need forced engines and additional batteries to push through the silicone mass in the “hole”, and GPS will not hurt, because this move will clearly not be straight, but very winding.

What else are they talking about? About traditionally anonymous American scientists who found “that the risk of contracting the AIDS virus when using a condom is more than 31 percent” (quote). The anonymity of the study makes it impossible to analyze it - which groups were assessed, how information was collected, what other factors influenced it. In its stated form, the value of the statement is zero. And the figure of 31 percent can be safely called taken out of thin air. I’ll make another video on my knee and refer to British scientists, and reduce the risk figure to 10 or 5 percent. And let them prove that they are right, not me.

However, unfoundedness is not our method. Let's try to see if there are studies that can tell how effective condoms are against certain STDs, including HIV infection.

Exist. For example, doctors SC Weller and K Davis-Beaty searched through the databases AIDSLINE, CINAHL, Embase and MEDLINE, and also searched with pens for all available information on the effectiveness of condoms during heterosexual sex in terms of preventing HIV infection. The results of the research were presented in the form of a Cochrane review. Those who have eyes and understand English can be directed directly to the link, but I will explain to everyone else.

First of all, read what, strictly speaking, a Cochrane review is (it’s in Russian). Now a few words about the results. The conclusion is that “the effectiveness, that is, the proportional reduction in HIV seroconversion with condom use, is approximately 80 percent.” Seroconversion is laboratory confirmation of HIV infection. The person's test was negative, but it became positive - seroconversion occurred.

Now let's turn our attention to efficiency. Even in itself, separately, the figure of 80 percent is already higher than the 69 percent stated in the video (and unfounded). However, notice the word “proportional reduction.” This is almost the main concept in our story. 80 percent does not mean that every fifth sexual intercourse using a condom necessarily ends in HIV infection. No. There are a number of people who have sex without a condom. There are a number of people who use condoms. Important: in both groups there are only “plus” and “minus” pairs. That is, it is known that one of the partners is necessarily HIV-positive . Among the first group there are HIV-infected people, and there are also among the second. So, among supporters of protected sex, there were 80 percent fewer people infected than among those who practice unprotected sex.

The review contains reservations that are interesting to us - the correct use of condoms was not assessed; only heterosexual couples with traditional, vaginal sex, who have been living a regular sex life for a long time, were taken into account.

But sex with an HIV-positive person, even without the use of protective equipment, does not mean 100% infection. Yes, the probability increases with each new sexual intercourse, and on average, in 15 percent of cases, 1-2 meetings are enough.

Now about the correct use of rubber products. How many readers know how to use a condom? Judging by the forums, very few. And violation of the operating rules leads to two unpleasant consequences - rupture or slipping of the product in the process. The tip of the condom must be squeezed before putting it on, it should be rolled out until it stops, it should be put on immediately until it comes into contact with the vaginal mucosa, it should not be used a second time (even if an erection remains between uses, and the condom does not seem to need to be removed), you should not use products that violate the integrity of the packaging, as well as suspicious “rubber bands” bought cheaply at night at a street stall. Also, you need to be realistic and know that condoms, like shoes, come in different sizes. And if you go too far with self-esteem, then gynecologists will then tell each other how with great difficulty they removed from the patient’s vagina a condom that was practically rammed into the posterior fornix. And if you don’t finish it enough, the product simply won’t withstand the overload and will break.

So many cases of “flooding” or infection are not at all due to the unreliability of the condom. You can also hammer in nails with a microscope, you know. But if you know how to use it for its intended purpose, it can be extremely useful to humanity.

And in order to completely bury the “correctness” of the information in the video being analyzed, let us remember what they said about the USA and the inscriptions on condom packages. In the States, everything related to products intended for oral consumption or for any other health-related purposes is handled by an evil and serious organization - the Food and Drug Administration, better known as the FDA. It is part of the US Department of Health and Human Services, and has very broad powers, a kind of hybrid of Rospotrebnadzor and Roszdravnadzor. Without its approval, not a single drug, not a single device, not a single product that should somehow affect health will enter the market.

Moreover, such entertainers work at the FDA; they not only demand a lot of documents and research from manufacturers, they also carry out their own research, and any university would be envious of the FDA’s staff of experts.

So here it is. Since December 2007, information that this contraceptive is ineffective in protecting against STDs and HIV must be on the packaging of... gels and suppositories containing nonoxynol-9.

There is a large and informative explanation for this resolution, where there is a separate clause about condoms for the creators of this and similar videos. Where is it said that the phrase about ineffectiveness does not apply to condom packaging. And the warning for condoms remains the same.

It sounds like this:

“When used correctly every time you have sex, latex condoms greatly reduce, but do not eliminate the risk of catching or spreading HIV, the virus that causes AIDS.”

I translate as closely as possible to the text:

“When used correctly during every sexual act, a latex condom greatly reduces, but does not completely eliminate, the risk of contracting or spreading HIV, the virus that causes AIDS.”

And in this phrase, every word is pure truth. No one ever says that condoms are 100% protective against pregnancy, STDs and HIV. Except, of course, for those who criticize these same condoms. The easiest way is to create a myth and courageously fight it yourself. This is the first .

Second . You need to know how to use condoms, just like your head. In inept hands, this means of protection loses its effectiveness with each successive slip onto the floor.

Third . Promoting condoms does not at all mean a call for promiscuity, that is, promiscuity. Another question is that it is impossible by government decree to introduce fidelity to a partner throughout the entire country. Even if you shoot for extramarital sex, a person can have more than one marriage. And this is a change of partners. Not to mention that some infections can be congenital.

But in any case, having a condom is always better than not having one. STDs have existed as long as humanity has existed. And turning away from real means to delay the spread of the infection is natural obscurantism. If anything, by “real means” I meant condoms.

Ways to help avoid contracting AIDS

HIV does not penetrate through a condom, but infection with the virus can occur in another way (for example, the condom was damaged at the stage of putting it on).

To avoid contracting AIDS, you must:

• Use latex condoms. Avoid condoms made of leather or rubber. It has been proven that they do not guarantee protection against the virus;
• Use a condom correctly. Instructions for use are included with each contraceptive;
• Avoid dubious connections. Choose your partner responsibly and avoid random sexual intercourse.

The probability of contracting HIV through protected contact does not exceed 2-3%.

What infection can't a condom protect you from?

Here is a list of pathogens that can cause infection even when using contraception:

1. Genital herpes.
2. Pediculosis pubis.
3. Scabies.

Diseases transmitted through a condom only in the acute phase:

1. Human papillomavirus.
2. Candidiasis.
3. Syphilis (rare cases).

The causative agents of these diseases easily affect human skin in the genital area, where the barrier properties of latex are simply useless. After contact with a contagious surface, a person can become infected, so in such cases the best protection is abstinence from sexual intercourse.

Important! If you see rashes, redness, crusting and papillomas in your partner's genital area, refuse sex.

The likelihood of infection through non-traditional sexual contact

Statistics show that you can contract AIDS through a condom during anal sex.

Contact risk picture:

0,82 %

for the “receiving” partner

0,06%

for the “introducing” partner

Using a condom, you can become infected with HIV due to damage to the condom, its poor quality, or “slipping” during sexual intercourse. Anal sex increases the likelihood of infection, which is why infection is widespread among homosexuals.

What is the reason? When inserting the penis into the anus and rectum, microdamages and wounds inevitably form. As a result of ejaculation of an HIV-positive partner, the virus easily enters the blood through these lesions.

It is widely believed that the immunodeficiency virus is much smaller in diameter than the pores of a latex condom, so it can enter the body even during protected sexual intercourse.

However, a study of the condom membrane showed that the latex is “superimposed” in a double layer, i.e. open pores are completely blocked, and penetration of the virus through the material is impossible!

How effective are condoms in protecting against HIV?

HIV is a retrovirus with a long incubation effect. Today, it is considered proven that the virus is transmitted through contact of the mucous membrane or damaged skin with the biological fluids of an infected person. These liquids include:

• blood;
• lymph;
• pre-seminal fluid;
• sperm;
• vaginal discharge;
• breast milk.

About 60–70% of infections occur during various types of sexual contact:

• vaginal;
• anal;
• oral.

In the latter case, infection is possible only in the presence of wounds and damage in the oral cavity. San Francisco scientists have calculated that the probability of infection from one-time oral sex is only 0.01%. During vaginal sexual intercourse - 0.1%. For anal - 0.5%.

HIV is most often transmitted through sexual contact

Using a condom during sexual relations practically protects against physical contact between mucous membranes, so this contraceptive is currently considered by WHO as the only means of protection against HIV. The organization's specialists believe that it protects by 85%.

However, recently the results of a study by American scientists have been circulating on the Internet, reporting a risk of infection of 31% even if a condom is used. Also, critics of using the latter say that latex has pores with a diameter of about 5 microns. The pores are significantly larger than the size of the virus, which means latex is not able to protect against HIV. Indeed, latex has a porous structure. But it is a multilayer material, and the pores can only connect two adjacent layers. By the way, another popular condom material, polyurethane, has no pores.

A review by the Cochrane Medical Society found that condom reduces the risk of HIV transmission by 80%. And the recommendations of the US Agency for International Development generally call the figure 98%.

Condoms are the main means of protection against HIV

For what reasons may a condom be ineffective?

A condom does not provide 100% protection against HIV due to improper use or leakage. Doing the following increases your chance of infection:

• the condom is not used throughout the entire sexual intercourse;
• the condom is used twice;
• before putting on a condom, the air is not squeezed out of the nipple at its tip;
• The condom is not placed on the erect penis.

Violation of the integrity of the condom is caused by:

• opening the package with sharp objects;
• failure to comply with storage conditions;
• use of products with expired expiration dates;
• the use of additional fat-based lubricants that destroy latex: Vaseline, body cream, massage oil;
• incorrect choice of condom size.

Doctors recommend choosing contraceptives from the middle and high price segments, since their quality, and therefore reliability, is higher. There is also a prevailing opinion that condoms with bumps are more often damaged than smooth ones. According to American studies, the number of condom ruptures during vaginal intercourse is 0.6%, and during anal intercourse - 1–7%. In the latter cases, damage to the mucous membranes occurs more often, which increases the risk of infection several times. This risk also increases in the presence of sexually transmitted infections, as well as in simultaneous sexual relations with several sexual partners.

In Russia over the past two decades, despite the preventive measures taken, there has been a steady increase in the number of HIV-infected people

Myths and reality

Myth #1 – Condoms do not protect against HIV and other sexually transmitted diseases.

Condoms made of latex provide 97-98% protection against infection with the human immunodeficiency virus. Conditions: high quality contraceptives and compliance with instructions for their use.

Myth No. 2 – you can’t even kiss HIV-infected people, because their saliva contains a dangerous virus.

Saliva is dangerous if it contains blood (for example, if the mucous membranes of the mouth are damaged). In addition, infection requires a “favorable” environment for the virus to penetrate into the blood (wounds, cracks or other damage to the partner’s oral cavity).

Myth No. 3 – it will not be possible to build a full-fledged family with an HIV-infected woman; she cannot have children.

The decision whether to have a child or not is made only by the woman. It has been proven that after treatment, the probability of having an infected baby is only 8-10%. Immediately after the baby is born, he is prescribed special medications to reduce the viral load (if any) to a minimum.

Myth No. 4 – call girls are not infected with HIV, they undergo mandatory medical examination.

Alas, no one guarantees this. The girls do not undergo any examination and many of them do not use contraception during sexual intercourse, so the likelihood of getting an infection from them is high.

Myth No. 5 – Russian legislation does not provide for liability for HIV infection.

Art. 122 of the Criminal Code of the Russian Federation establishes liability for concealing information from a partner about the presence of HIV infection, as well as for infection. Condition – the infected person knows about his illness and deliberately does not inform his partner about it.

If you use a condom incorrectly

It is very important to use a condom correctly. In most cases, this is what plays a decisive role. It is very important to buy the product in a pharmacy and not in a store, since pharmaceutical institutions are obliged to provide the correct storage conditions for it. In stores, attention will not be paid to such details.

In order for a condom to protect against HIV, choose a product that is exactly the right size for you. A condom that is too large may simply fall off during intercourse without you even noticing it. And too small can stretch too much, and this will lead to the expansion of its pores.

Buy only high quality products from trusted brands. Such condoms are manufactured taking into account all production standards, which means they will be as safe as possible.

Some young people think that by wearing two products at once, they can provide themselves and their partner with more reliable protection. However, this is not the case. This procedure will significantly increase friction, and both condoms may simply break.

Do not use ultra-thin products, as the risk of them tearing will be much less. If you notice that the condom breaks even before ejaculation, replace it immediately. After all, infections can be transmitted not only at such moments.

Please note that you can become infected with HIV through a condom. However, if you take all precautions and use the product correctly, the chances of this happening are significantly reduced. According to medical data, if you regularly have sex with an HIV-infected partner, the risk of becoming infected is about ten percent. The number is so high due to the misuse of the latex edition.

Why is HIV prevention ineffective in Russia?

More than 100,000 new cases of HIV infection are registered in Russia every year. Statistics show that the epidemic in our country is growing fastest in the world (with the exception of the USA and Africa).

With what it can be connected?

• There is no stable and sufficient funding from the state budget for non-profit organizations and foundations supporting HIV-positive people;
• There are no large-scale conferences, congresses and studies that would allow scientists to express their own opinions and new data on HIV infection, demonstrate scientific developments and publish publications;
• The problem of “fathers and sons” - officials and government figures involved in HIV prevention are most often at an age when they no longer know or understand how to “reach out” to the younger generation.

In Russia, there is practically no talk about the risk of contracting HIV through protected contact. Medical workers visiting schools and universities to talk to the younger generation talk about the dangers of the virus and how it spreads.

However, they do not provide statistical data on the most “risky” types of sex, do not talk about the storage conditions of condoms, and do not draw the attention of schoolchildren and students to the need to check the expiration date of the contraceptive.

Boys and girls! Listen to your parents if they talk to you about protection during sex. Believe me, for many this is a difficult topic and it takes some courage to not only raise this issue, but also to clarify it. what you need to avoid getting infected. In this way, they again show concern for you, the people to whom they gave life, dedicated their lives to your growing up. Now you are independent, but their advice will help maintain your health.

Remember, only you are responsible for your own health. Avoid questionable sexual contacts and practice unprotected sex only with a partner you absolutely trust!