Condom use is down among sexually active teens and young adults. The decline in condom use is due to a combination of medical advancements like long-term birth control options and drugs that prevent sexually transmitted infections, a fading fear of contracting HIV and widely varying levels of sex ed

Fewer young people are having sex, but the teens and young adults who are sexually active aren’t using condoms as regularly, if at all. And people ages 15 to 24 made up half of new chlamydia, gonorrhea and syphilis cases in 2022.

The downward trend in condom usage is due to a few things: medical advancements like long-term birth control options and drugs that prevent sexually transmitted infections; a fading fear of contracting HIV; and widely varying degrees of sex education in high schools.

Is this the end of condoms? Not exactly. But it does have some public health experts thinking about how to help younger generations have safe sex, be aware of their options — condoms included — and get tested for STIs regularly.

  • catloaf@lemm.eeEnglish
    251·
    1 month ago

    Were you trying the good kind or the cheap ones they give out for free at health centers? I started with the free ones and they were terrible. I tried the Trojan sample packs and found that I didn’t even notice the condom any more. One time I actually had to stop and make sure it didn’t break because it literally felt like it wasn’t even there!

    I still have trouble maintaining when I stop to even put the condom on, but that’s a separate issue.