Condom use by teens

The metoo movement ushered in an era of activism and openness. From to , condom use among U. Brittany Badger, director of the Center for Student Wellness at the University of Utah , told Healthline the center surveys students annually, including on condom use. As cases of sexually transmitted infections STIs hit a record high in recent years, encouraging condom use — one of the most effective ways to protect against STIs — remains important. We talked to three experts to understand why young people are eschewing condoms and hear their ideas for getting teens to reach for protection. Significant medical advances have made condoms feel less critical for some people.

Condoms are thin pouches that keep sperm from getting into the vagina. There are male condoms and female condoms:. Condoms work by keeping semen the fluid that contains sperm from entering the vagina. The male condom is placed on the penis when it becomes erect. It is unrolled all the way to the base of the penis while holding the tip of the condom to leave some extra room at the end.

Rates of sexual activity, pregnancies, and births among adolescents have continued to decline during the past decade to historic lows. Despite these positive trends, many adolescents remain at risk for unintended pregnancy and sexually transmitted infections STIs. This policy statement has been developed to assist the pediatrician in understanding and supporting the use of condoms by their patients to prevent unintended pregnancies and STIs and address barriers to their use. Since the last policy statement published 12 years ago, there is an increased evidence base supporting the protection provided by condoms against STIs.

Leigh E. Copen, PhD 5 ; Khaleel S. Hussaini, PhD 3 ; Rachel E.