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Do condoms really offer much protection from HIV

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August 13th, 2011
I've always been under the impression that if you use a condom properly during sex you are having "safe sex" and your chance of contracting HIV is extremely low. However I came across this article...
http://www.ippf.org/en/Resources/Guides-to olkits/Questions+and+answers+about+male+co ndoms.htm
which appears to suggest condoms are only 80 - 95% effective at stopping HIV. In other words, wearing a condom may only give you an extra 5 fold decrease of the chance of getting HIV.
Can it really be this low?
The message from all the medical channels seems quite clear: 'always practice safe sex'. How do we do this then if condoms are so useless? Even though I always wear a condom It would appear I've put myself at huge risk. I feel cheated by all the misleading advice.
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replied September 13th, 2011
Hello and welcome to E health forum.

As a advise , I would like to mention that, it is important to understand that there is no such thing as 100% safe sex, although the use of latex barriers such as condoms in conjunction with a spermicide can make sexual activity safer (in other words, reduce, not entirely eliminate the risk).

The only way to ensure that HIV is not transmitted sexually is either having relations with committed partners, non-promiscuous partners with known HIV negative status, or by not being sexually active (abstinence).
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emmaray
replied September 17th, 2011
I have been with my hubby for 10 years. After we were married 4 years we found out he was HIV+. The doctors think he was infected before we got together. We used condoms for birth control and when I tested I was HIV-. We continue to use condoms with plenty of lube and after 5 1/2 years of him being HIV+ i still continue to test negative. I just had my yearly test last week.
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