Over 50 million Americans are infected with an STD, or sexually transmitted disease.

While the use of condoms is a very effective and responsible method of protecting yourself or your partner, from STD’s, it is not one hundred percent effective, and with some diseases offers little protection.

As with pregnancy, condoms can fail at protecting you from sexually transmitted disease, even when the condom is used properly, and is not expired or damaged. That is because not all STD’s are transmitted through body fluid.

There are STD’s that can be transmitted through skin to skin contact, and that includes skin anywhere on the body, and not necessarily, the skin covered by condoms.

It does not help matters that the STD’s do not always exhibit symptoms, or that some can remain dormant in the body, and become active several months to years after the actual infection.

Genital ulcer causing diseases such as HPV (Human Papillomavirus) or Herpes can be transmitted person to person on skin from an infected partner, even in cases where condoms are used one hundred percent of the time.

The same applies to pubic lice, commonly called crabs, & body lice otherwise known as scabies.

HPV is the most commonly transmitted STD in the United States, and some strains can cause cervical cancer.

That does not mean condoms are not a vital tool in good sexual health. What it does mean, is that along with always using protection, you must have regular check ups with your physician, and be pro active in the selection of your sexual partners.

That can be especially difficult, when you cannot diagnose someone solely based on your judgment of his or her physical looks or health.

In 1993, the FDA approved another tool, the female condom that helps us to stay safe and healthy. Of course, it is not one hundred percent effective at STD or pregnancy prevention, but may offer even more STD protection than the male condom.

Studies show, it to provide more coverage, to the areas of the body commonly affected by STD’s, as well as having more durability and quality in construction than the male condom.

When used in combination with the male condom, common sense, sexual discretion, and regular visits to you doctor, it is the closest we have come so far, to complete prevention of sexually transmitted diseases.