Sexuality & Sexual Health: Miscellaneous / Question
Published: June 12, 2001
Dear TeenHealthFX,
Is it good to have sex without a condom?
Signed: No Condom Sex
Dear No Condom Sex,
It is absolutely not safe to have sex without using a condom, or some other form of protection. Either the female or the male can wear a condom, but TeenHealthFX highly recommends that you use at least one form. Male condoms are preferable because female condoms do have a higher failure rate
By not using protection you are exposing both yourself and your partner to many life altering and deadly diseases including herpes, AIDS, and genital warts. If you feel ready to have sex, then you must be responsible enough to practice safe sex. Never partake in unprotected sex, it puts you at an unnecessary risk for pregnancy as well. To better protect yourself you may want to use a condom & the Pill.
Before you have sex, consider talking to a health care provider at a teen health clinic. They often provide free condoms, and can help to educate you in making the best possible decisions regarding sex, birth control and STD protection. If you live in Northern New Jersey you can contact the Adolescent Young Adult Center for Health at (973) 971-5199, or your local Planned Parenthood. Be Safe!
Signed: TeenHealthFX
The teen pregnancy rate in the United States is the highest of any industrialized democracy, nearly twice that of Great Britain and 10 times that of Japan. 
