The prevention of unwanted pregnancies is even higher with the use of a second form of birth control such as spermicidal.

Condoms â?¦ rubbers â?¦ safes â?¦ jimmies. Whatever you may call them, we celebrate them during National Condom Week (Feb. 14-21).

This week is devoted to the education of youth about how to properly use condoms and maintain good sexual health.

Condoms are the most accessible form of birth control and STD protection. They are found at any local drug store, in most free health clinics, or even in some public bathroom vending machines.

A condom is merely a thin latex or plastic sheath that is worn on the penis during sexual intercourse. This sheath provides a barrier that collects semen during sexual intercourse. This barrier is also one of the only methods of prevention of many common sexually transmitted diseases including HIV/AIDS.

The prevention of unwanted pregnancies is even higher with the use of a second form of birth control such as spermicidal. The 2 percent error usually comes from a microscopic tear either in the rings of a condom or from fingernails while unrolling the condom.

There are some STDs that can be passed from person to person even if you do you use a condom, however, such as herpes, HPV (human papilloma virus), or pubic lice. This possible room for infection is due to the whole pelvic area not being protected by the condom. While they do not negate the risks of infection, condoms do drastically decrease the risk of exposure.

Condoms have minimal side effects, can be easily disposed of, and can even increase the length of intercourse. They also come in a variety of shapes, sizes, colors and flavors.

For those with allergies to latex, condoms are also available in lambskin and polyurethane.

Men aren“t the only ones who can wear a condom. There is a female condom on the market today. It is a polyurethane pouch that is inserted into the vagina. The pouch, once inserted, acts as a barrier between the male semen and the vagina. This is an alternative to the male condom and for those who are allergic to latex.

At the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee, VOX: Voices of Planned Parenthood (Union, Room 384), provides free condoms. It gives students a chance to speak out for comprehensive sex education, reproductive rights and access to reproductive health services. The organization“s main goal is to mobilize students and make the rest of the campus community aware of reproductive rights.

To help celebrate National Condom Week and promote sexual health awareness, VOX is putting on a tabling session on Monday, Feb. 19 from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. in the Union Concourse.

A variety of UWM and community organizations plan to have tables and displays.

â?¢ LGBT Resource Center: Inclusively of LGBT issues in sexual education. â?¢
â?¢ LINKS Peer Mentoring: Teen pregnancy in Milwaukee and sexual education in Milwaukee Public Schools. â?¢
â?¢ Women“s Resource Center: Female condoms and sexuality in general. â?¢
â?¢ Peer Health Advocates and the Norris Health Center: Emergency contraceptives and myths and facts about condoms. â?¢
The Wisconsin Health Department-sponsored program “No Condom? No Way!” will have a tabling session with experts on hand to answer questions about condoms and sexual health, as well as hand out free condoms.

“No Condom? No Way!” has a Web site for those who can“t make it to the event or are too shy to ask that burning question: http://nocondomnoway.org.

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