Condoms

[ggbdgs]

Hello.

 I'm probably being a bit paranoid here. From what I've read the whole microscopic thing with condoms is a myth, and that if a condom breaks then there's no doubt that you'd know it. My question is that has this always been true, at least fairly recently? (I've not read any caveats on here so I've no reason to suspect otherwise, but like I said, a bit paranoid here). I've only had intercourse once, back in 2001 and the condom didn't break, we used lube, it was all fine. It's just been on my mind a bit and I wanted to check.

[Ann]

gg,

Condoms have been proven to prevent hiv infection. Please read through all three condom and lube links in my signature line so you can use them with confidence.

Ann

[Andy Velez]

It certainly has been true for many years about being able to know if a condom has failed. It's not at all the kind of subtle event that some people seem to fear of a teenie weenie hole that destroys the protection they give. When it goes you end up with a fringed hula hoop on your johnson.

So you have no cause for worry about that episode you mention. The condom did the job and protected you. Just keep them handy and use a latex everytime you have intercourse and you're essentially covered both literally and figuratively as far as HIV is concerned.

Cheers,

[ggbdgs]

I'm being paranoid, ignore!

[ggbdgs]

I edited my previous post but I think I\'d just like to clear my mind...

Thanks a lot for your reply Andy. Very helpful. So to confirm, if he\'d given me a condom to use that was years old (for these are the scenarios that enter my head!), etc. even back then in 01, the same rules apply and if it had broken then I would know it. And the fact that it didn\'t means that I can just forget about this event?

[Matty the Damned]

Gg,

Yes, even if the condom was ex-date it would still fail catastrophically if it were to fail at all. The reason one should not use ex-date rubbers is that they are much more likely to fail than in date condoms used correctly.

MtD

[ggbdgs]

Thanks for the reply. And the same goes regardless of when I had sex, right? 2001 or 2007. I don\'t know why it should make a difference, it\'s really just my mind playing tricks on me I guess.

Andy, just because you were so helpful before with your post - I assume you\'d say the same thing?

[Ann]

gg,

Latex and polyurethane condoms have ALWAYS prevented hiv - not just in 2007. Did you have a look at the condom and lube links in my signature line? If not, please get reading.

Ann

[ggbdgs]

Thanks Ann. I have read the link, I just wanted to check that things were the same then because of reasons that I know seem silly. Last question: can I assume the failure rule (you\'d know it if it happened) has always been the same, too?

[Ann]

gg,

The manufacture of condoms has not changed in decades. They're the same now as they were years ago and that goes for all aspects of them.

You know what, the bottom line here is this - anyone who is sexually active should be having a full sexual health care check-up, including but not limited to hiv testing, at least once a year and more often if unprotected intercourse occurs.

If you aren't already having regular, routine check-ups, now is the time to start. As long as you make sure condoms are being used for intercourse, you can fully expect your routine hiv tests to return with negative results. Don't forget to always get checked for all the other sexually transmitted infections as well, because they are MUCH easier to transmit than hiv.

Go get a sexual health care check up so you can put this out of your mind. It's what responsible, sexually active adults do.

Ann