New Study Confirms the Benefits of Condom Use For Women

Recent evidence suggests women should pay more attention to their intercourse habits including their use of condoms. 

Though evidence in the past suggests the efficacy of condoms at preventing STDs is uncertain, new study suggests women who consistently use condoms are less at risk for contracting human papillomavirus, the leading cause of cervical cancer and genital warts in women. The study suggests that women who engage in intercourse with male partners who always use condoms demonstrated a decreased infection rate than women whose partners only used condoms part of the time.

This study, conducted among students attending the University of Washington suggests that women may reduce their risk of contractive HPV by as much as 50% with regular use of condoms.

While small, the study provides new hope for women who are at risk for HPV transmission.

HPV The Controversy
Condom use and vaccinations may help reduce women’s risk of cervical cancer, but they are certainly no cure all.

Recently the FDA released a license for a vaccine that may help prevent HPV in women. This vaccine however, will only protect women against four strains of the virus causing genital warts and cancer. There are actually more than 100 strains of HPV that exist. Thus, while women may get vaccinated to protect against some of the more severe forms of human papillomavirus, it is still vital they take action to protect themselves from infection.

The findings of this study, published in the New England Journal of Medicine, confirm prior evidence suggesting consistent use of condoms is beneficial for prevention of many sexually transmitted diseases, not simply papillomavirus.

This is important as earlier studies sparked a degree of controversy suggesting that the degree of protection afforded women by condoms was somewhat unpredictable. This new study suggests there is firm evidence that women can protect themselves from unwanted sexually transmitted diseases including HPV simply by using a condom every time they have sex.

It is important however, women realize condom use cannot effectively eliminate the risk of disease transmission 100%. Many times HPV infections can be transmitted via other interactions aside from intercourse.

This recent study included 82 female students attending University of Washington between the ages of 18 through 22. The study followed women from their first sexual encounter with a male partner. The women filed information regarding their daily condom use and sexual behaviors. All women participating in the study were tested every four months for HPV and cervical changes that may suggest cancer.

HPV Vaccine
It is important to note that the vaccine recently approved by the FDA can successfully prevent HPV infection, but only from high risk strains of HPV known to cause cancer, including strains 16 and 19. Studies have shown thus far the vaccine is 100% effective at preventing these strains of HPV. Researchers are not 100% certain as yet how long the vaccine is effective for, however researchers believe the vaccine should protect women for five to 10 years.

While universal use of the vaccine may help reduce a woman’s risk of cervical cancer, consumers should realize that roughly 30 strains of HPV exist that can cause cervical cancer. Thus it is important women take precautions and try to prevent transmission of HPV to begin with.

The results of this study suggest even among women who are vaccinated, regular use of condoms may be beneficial for reducing the risk of cervical cancer.