Condoms and Lubricants"There is no safe sex. Including gunshot wounds, marital discord, litigation and economic cost, sex is one of the more dangerous activities. But that is not what you meant. It is well established that sex -particularly receptive anal sex- can transmit a number of venereal diseases which may contribute to "infectional overload" and immune depression... ."Many people use condoms as a means of protecting against sexually transmitted diseases. Repeated infections with STD's and the antibiotic treatments for them are known to suppress the immune system. Anyone who uses condoms should know about the hazards of chemical contaminants in most commercial lubricants and some condom packages. Condoms can be used more safely by avoiding these chemicals.
Condom Effectiveness
HAZARDS AND SAFE USE OF CONDOMS In Stephen Byrnes' article Benzene, Lubricants & AIDS, he reviews the evidence that exposure to benzene and related chemicals may lead to catastrophic health problems. The majority of lubricants used by gay men, denatured food products and "poppers", or amyl and butyl nitrates, are cited as the main sources of these toxins. Here are some simple recommendations from the article: * vegetable glycerine mixed with water makes a safe, natural lubricant. One can also make a natural lubricant by heating 4 teaspoons of corn starch with 1 cup of water. Keep stirring. Eventually, a slick gel will form. Refrigerate the mixture until ready for use. The only lubricant on the market that appears to be safe for use is called Probe, which contains few ingredients, no benzoates, and uses citrus seed extract as a preservative. * always use UNLUBRICATED CONDOMS WITHOUT SPERMICIDALS (such as Nonoxynol 9).
Benzene, Lubricants & AIDS
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