National Condom Week (02/14-02/21)
Key Facts
According to Planned Parenthood:
- If you use condoms perfectly every single time you have sex, they’re 98% effective at preventing pregnancy. But people aren’t perfect, so in real life condoms are about 87% effective — that means about 13 out of 100 people who use condoms as their only birth control method will get pregnant each year.
- Condoms and internal condoms are the only methods of birth control that also help prevent the spread of sexually transmitted infections like HIV, chlamydia, and gonorrhea.
In an effort to encourage individuals to make informed choices about their sexual health, District Health Department #10 (DHD#10) is recognizing the entire month of February as National Condom Month, and February 14-21 is National Condom Week.
Consistent and correct use of latex condoms reduces the risk of sexually transmitted infection (STI) and human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) transmission. However, condom use cannot provide absolute protection against any STI. The most reliable ways to avoid transmission of STIs are to abstain from sexual activity, or to be in a long-term mutually monogamous relationship with an uninfected partner. However, many infected persons may be unaware of their infection because STIs often are asymptomatic and unrecognized.
Planned Parenthood reminds us that “using condoms is a form of self-care, community-care, and a way to contribute to public health. Everyone has the right to make important decisions about their own sexual health and when we have open and honest conversations about our needs, we can make sure we have healthy and enjoyable experiences.”
DHD#10 offers free condoms to anyone wanting them. There are two ways to access them from any of our 10 office locations.
- By visiting our office and grabbing an unmarked envelope from the condom bucket in our waiting room (or by asking a staff member).
- By visiting https://www.dhd10.org/mail-order-condoms/ to order them online and have them mailed to your door.
To participate in our mail order condom program, complete the confidential order form and we will mail a free package of 10 condoms, lubricant, and sexual health and STI testing information in an unmarked envelope. There is no limit on requesting additional packages. If you have questions or to request the form electronically, please contact condoms@dhd10.org.
DHD#10 strives to empower people of all ages and genders to take control of their sexual health. Education services, birth control methods, counseling on fertility awareness, referrals for sterilization, STI testing and treatment, HIV testing and physical exams, including Pap Smears are available. DHD#10 services are confidential, LGBTQ friendly, and available on a sliding fee scale basis; no one will ever be denied service due to inability to pay. Now you can order a free HIV Self-Test Kit online at www.dhd10.org/hivtest and it will be mailed to your door. It is convenient, safe, and a secure way to know your HIV status.
To learn more about DHD#10’s sexual health services or to schedule an appointment, call 888-217-3904, option #2; late clinic appointments are available.
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