Do condoms effectively prevent HIV?

This is partly a question regarding the reliability of latex condoms, and partly a question regarding the ability of those who use condoms to always and correctly use them. The scientific evidence regarding the first question is clear - latex condoms are highly effective. The answer to the second question is less clear.

Implications to Other Questions

Is abstinence-only sex education effective?

Experts and Influencers

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Agree

Experts In Health

US Department of Health & Human Services (HHS) Government Department

Agree

Latex condoms, when used consistently and correctly, are highly effective in preventing transmission of HIV, the virus that causes AIDS.

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02 Jun 2000 Source

US Department of Health & Human Services (HHS) Government Department

Agree

intact condoms... are essentially impermeable to particles the size of STD pathogens including the smallest sexually transmitted virus... condoms provide a highly effective barrier to transmission of particles of similar size to those of the smallest STD viruses.

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10 Oct 2003 Source

Disagree

Experts In Christianity

United States Conference of Catholic Bishops U.S. Branch of Roman Catholic Church

Mostly Disagree

In order to prevent the sexual transmission of HIV, persons should observe sexual abstinence outside marriage and spouses should be mutually faithful to each other within marriage. From a scientific point of view, the correct use of a latex condom can reduce the risk of sexual transmission of HIV; however, even from a strictly scientific point of view, condom use cannot be said to be 100% effective, since many behavioral factors may interfere with correct use.

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01 Jan 2008 Source

The Catholic Church Largest Christian Church

Disagree

The Aids virus is roughly 450 times smaller than the spermatozoon. The spermatozoon can easily pass through the 'net' that is formed by the condom. [quoting Cardinal Alfonso Lopez Trujillo, Vatican's Pontifical Council for the Family]

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09 Oct 2003 Source

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