And what about condoms? Condoms offer protection - that is absolutely true. But condoms do not offer absolute protection against AIDS or the other STDs. Why? Condoms sometimes break. Condoms can break down in the presence of oil-based products. Condoms sometimes leak when you take them off. People sometimes forget to use condoms. Even people who do use condoms for intercourse often dont use them for oral sex, which, while less risky, is not safe. Some STDs are spread through contact with other parts of the genitals, including any leakage of vaginal fluids. So the best preventive measure is a combination of responsible sexual behav- ior and condom use. Have a relationship before you have sex I know that finding one person to fall in love with when youre young and sticking with that person for the rest of your life is difficult. That situation is ideal - for preventing AIDS and a lot of other social ills - but its unrealistic to assume that everybody can do that. Most people have multiple partners, and so most people are at risk. But just because the vast majority of people have more than one partner is not an excuse for you to have as many partners as you can. I believe its just terrible that people out there still engage in very risky behaviors, especially among the gay population that has been devastated by AIDS. I dont like to preach because I know it doesnt do any good, but I cant avoid saying one more time to all of my readers - please be careful, your life is at stake. Dont be a silent partner In our society, more people are willing to engage in sexual activity together than to talk about it, and a good deal of the blame for sexually transmitted diseases comes from this failure to communicate. You all know the Golden Rule about doing unto others as you would have them do unto you. If you planned to have sex with someone, and they had a
