National Condom Week is February 14-21, 2007

This year's National Condom Week will be celebrated February 14-21, 2007. The week is designed to educate youth about good sexual health through events and displays at schools and clinic across America and the United Kingdom. U.S. consumers now purchase 440 million condoms each year, and when used consistently and correctly, condoms can help protect against pregnancy and sexually transmitted diseases by up to 98 percent.

In honor of National Condom Week, here are some common and little-known facts about condom use and sexually transmitted diseases. Share this with your children, friends and family members to spread awareness about the importance of protection and prevention.

National Condom Week Fact #1: Condoms work by blocking the passage of semen from the penis into the vagina. Condoms are most effective when used before any contact occurs and when used during vaginal, anal and oral sex. (Yes, during oral sex-while pregnancy cannot occur from oral sex, sexually transmitted diseases can be passed from partner to partner.)

National Condom Week Fact #2: Condoms can be latex, lambskin or plastic (synthetic). Most condoms are made from natural rubber latex, but if you have an allergy to latex, you can use condoms made from lamb intestines. However, keep in mind that lambskin condoms don't offer the same amount of protection that latex condoms do; small pores in lambskin condoms can permit the passage of fluids that carry sperm and sexually transmitted diseases. Synthetic condoms are used by a small percentage of sexually active people, but are thought to be stronger and able to offer a greater degree of sensitivity and comfort to users. Synthetic condoms have not been as highly studied as latex condoms.

National Condom Week Fact #3: Condom testing is rigorous and goes above normal safety testing standards. If more than one in 400 condoms is shown to be a "leaker" during the water-leak test conducted on every production lot, the entire condom mold is destroyed.