Did You Know - Latex Condoms

[amaravatiboy]

Was surfing on internet on how safe comdoms were in preventing HIV.
Was surprised to know that "latex condom pore size is almost as big as hiv virus" (sreach on google for"latex condom pore size & hiv")

And we though that condoms are safe!!

[mike_no]

What's the point you're trying to make here?

[mike_no]

1. Stop using condoms it's of no use

2. Every body who uses condom gets AIDS?

[amaravatiboy]

Just that they say all over the net that condoms "greatly reduce" (no where do they say "prevent" the chance of getting hiv.
I was under the impression that they dont say "prevent" because of factors like condom breakage, slippage..

It did not occur to me that the pore size may also be an issue.
all along i though that protected sex + no condom breakage/slippage = SAFE

[amaravatiboy]

1. Stop using condoms it's of no use

2. Every body who uses condom gets AIDS?

...NO NO.. Mike you got me wrong..This is not the point i intended to make..

Condoms are LIFE savers.
Its just a comment on the pore size of latex condoms.. the word "nearly as small" caught my attention..

[mike_no]

Buddy, what's the use of posting the same here, You and I we both know, most of the population here has a great amount of anxiety and takes every information coming across to them very seriously

You think this information is going to help any body here, when it's universally proved that condom can keep one 98.00% safe, in this world where nothing's 100 % wouldn't that figure ' 98.00% ' is assuring?

[mike_no]

The barrier efficacy of a thermoplastic elastomer (TPE) and three brands of latex condoms was compared in a passive-leak test and in a dynamic model of simulated intercourse. Fifteen replicates of each of the condoms were challenged with bacteriophage T7 (100 nm) and the polio virus Type 1 (PV-1, 27 nm). In the passive test, no condom leaked either virus. In the dynamic model, no TPE condoms leaked either virus and no latex condoms leaked T7. Two samples of one commercially available latex condom leaked T7 but not PV-1. These data support that intact latex condoms are effective in vivo viral barriers and extend the finding to TPE condoms as well. Given its substantial equivalence to latex as a viral barrier, TPE condoms are an alternative choice for individuals with latex allergies. The TPE material is also more resistant to common environmental conditions that affect latex adversely and should therefore be a superior choice if condoms must be stored for extended periods in suboptimal conditions.

PIP: A microbiologist at Loma Linda University in California used T7 (100 nm), a virulent bacteriophage of Escherichia coli, and the poliovirus type 1 (PC-1) (27 nm) to compare the efficacy of the viral barrier of latex and new thermoplastic elastomer (TPE) condoms. The scientist used a passive test and a simulated intercourse model to compare the 2 condom types. The simulation consisted of a condom-covered disposable centrifuge tube with 4 ml of virus which was inserted into an outer condom with 2 ml of virus-free medium. This apparatus was withdrawn and inserted 30 times within 30 seconds into a commercially produced latex vagina. The tests with T7 used 15 condoms of each brand. The tests with PV-1 used 14 condoms of each brand. The only TPE condom brand was Tactylon. Latex condom brands were Shiek, Trojan-Enz, and Lifestyles. No virus passed through the barrier during the passive test. T7 leaked through 2 latex condoms (13.3%) of the same brand (Trojan-Enz) during the simulated intercourse test. On the other hand, PV-1 did not leak through any of the condoms. Tactylon effectively prevented the passage of both T7 and PV-1. These findings confirmed that latex condoms tend to block passage of both small and large viruses. They indicated that TPE condoms also block passage of small and large viruses. Thus, the effective maximum pore size in all of the TPE condoms and in all but 2 of the latex condoms was too small to let HIV (80-120 nm) and hepatitis B virus (about 42 nm) filter through. Clinical trials have indicated the breakage rate of TPE condoms is not significantly different from that of latex condoms. Advantages of the TPE condom are its ability to resist environmental effects, e.g., ultraviolet light and heat, which deteriorate the latex condom and it does not have antioxidants and accelerators the latex condom has which cause allergic reactions, e.g., dermatitis.

source : http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?cmd=Retrieve&db=PubMed&dopt=Abstract&list_uids=8392926

[amaravatiboy]

Yes, I agree with you regarding the usefulness of posting this message..my intent was not to create panic.

If its proved that Latex condoms block hiv ..THAT'S GOOD NEWS.

[Teak]

It's a proven fact, that if latex condoms are used consistently and correctly they will prevent the spread of HIV and other STDs. The 2%, is for the people that don

[amaravatiboy]

mike,
I recently had a protected exposure and was searching the internet for the effectiveness of condoms ..just to reassure myself..thats when i came across this pore size thing.. this was news to me..and without second thought i put this on post..
realize i should not have dont that..

pl accept my apologies for the same..

[mike_no]

So true...

I hope this is where it all ends, no more misconception about the same

[mike_no]

No man,you don't have to apologise for any thing I know where you coming from, I'm been in the same position couple of months back and thats why I'm here, I never intended you to feel low, I just wanted you to realise you are not helping yourself by browsing unnecessary information, keep away from the internet though it's a great pool of resouce some times it just doesn't help

Now Relax, You are 100 % safe I can say that betting on every freakin thing that I love in my life !

Cheers

Mike

[mike_no]

My second last comment was in reference to Teak's comment