UNITED STATES: “Consumer Reports Puts 20 Condoms to the Test”
ABC News (11.03.09):: Joseph Brownstein

In recent testing of 20 condom brands sold on the US market, all met minimum national and international performance standards, according to Consumer Union, the independent nonprofit publisher of Consumer Reports.

Condoms are usually inflated with 17-18 liters of air in tests for breaking. “All of them test at the standard” despite the variety of styles and brands, said Jamie Hirsh, an associate editor for Consumer Reports Health. Consumer Reports tested the condoms at a higher volume of 25 liters, and even then seven condom types – including products from Durex, Lifestyles, and Trojan – never broke in 500-600 tries. All the condoms were also submerged in water to check for leaks.

While all the condoms met regulators’ minimum standards, “some of them are even better than fine,” in that they met Consumer Report’s even “more stringent” tests, Hirsh said. “If you’re looking for the strongest, toughest condom, that’s what that extra test gives you.”

More importantly, Consumer Reports notes that “the most protection comes with using the condom properly,” said Eli Coleman, director of the human sexuality program at the University of Minnesota Medical School. Common errors in using condoms include tearing them when opening the packaging; not allowing enough air in at the tip to prevent the condom from slipping off; putting them on backwards; not putting them on soon enough; using expired condoms; and not using adequate lubricant, said Coleman.

“These tests show the reliability and integrity of the condoms, but they don’t take into account what happens when humans are using them,” Coleman said. “Many of these condoms have been improved to enhance pleasure and sensitivity while maintaining the integrity and the reliability of the condom.”

Check out the White House webcast of US President Barack Obama’s signing of the Ryan White HIV/AIDS Treatment Extension Act @ 11:50 a.m.!  This is the historic legislation that funds HIV/AIDS services throughout the US, providing prevention, treatment and care.

 (Effect of Antiretroviral Therapy on Risk of Sexual Transmission of HIV Infection and Superinfection) http://www.cdc.gov/hiv/topics/treatment/resources/factsheets/pdf/art.pdf

The attached link will take you to an article recently published by the CDC.  It indicates that individuals who have well controlled HIV are not very likely to spread the disease to others during sexual contact.  This is big news.  I hear over and over again how frightened HIV positive people are that they may infect other people with HIV.  And yet, phyisical intimacy is a vital aspect of being human and being healthy.  Sex is most often a life affirming, esteme building and bonding experience.  Physical intamcy and feeling good about ourselves changes our body chemistry.  It helps us be healthier both mentally and physically.  And the reverse is also true, being fearful of your body or of physical contact can be destructive to our physical and mental health.  So, when the CDC researchers declared that HIV “antiretroviral therapy may greatly reduce the likelihood of sexual transmission from infected individuals to their sexual partners”, I imagined a great sigh of relief from the more than one million Americans who live with HIV.

HIV treatment in this country has come a long way.  HIV has moved from a terminal illness, to what most would consider a chronic condition that can be controlled by medications.  While the medications themselves are not always easy to take, and are accompanied by a variety of unpleasant side effects, we have certainly moved beyond the terminal illness definition.  And yet HIV brings with it a lot of stigma in our culture.  I believe that a lot of the stigma comes from people not understanding how HIV is transmitted.  It is through sexual contact or needle sharing.  Not from drinking glasses or casual contact.  And now we understand that HIV positive individuals who are treating the disease successfully are even less likely to transmit the disease to their negative sex partners.  This may well change the way people with HIV are thought of and treated.

Risk reduction is not risk elimination.  the CDC and CARES still recommends that condoms be used during sexual contat to protect youself and your partner.  But when looking at being safer, HIV positive people can add taking medications, not only to help keep themselves healthy, but also to keep their partners that way.  Read the article and let me know if you have questions.

http://www.upi.com/Top_News/US/2009/10/22/Obama-urged-to-sign-HIVAIDS-care-bill/UPI-71191256223492/

Heterosexual black men with multiple sex partners – not bisexual men who secretly have sex with men – are responsible for high rates of HIV among black women, according to a senior CDC official. “We have looked to see what proportion of infections is coming from male partners who are bisexual and found there are actually relatively few,” said Dr. Kevin Fenton, director of the National Center for HIV/AIDS, Viral Hepatitis, STD and TB Prevention. “More are male partners who are having female partners and are injecting drugs or using drugs or have some other risks that may put those female partners at risk of acquiring HIV.” Black women make up 61 percent of all new HIV cases among women in the United States and have an HIV prevalence rate nearly 18 times that of white women. HIV/AIDS is the leading cause of death for black women ages 25-34, and 80 percent of new cases are contracted through heterosexual contact. “What we’re seeing is a concentration of the epidemic among the poor, among ethnic minorities and racial minorities in the United States,” Fenton said. Even among gay men, blacks are disproportionately affected by the disease. For gay and bisexual men, new HIV infections among blacks and Hispanics outnumber those among white gay men, Fenton said. The spread of HIV/AIDS among African-American teenagers concerns health officials. Black teenagers account for 69 percent of new cases among those ages 13-19, while making up only 13 percent of the nation’s teenage population overall. The CDC in May launched the Act Against AIDS campaign to reduce HIV incidence in the United States, and it will especially address HIV among African Americans. As part of the campaign, CDC established five-year partnerships with 14 national black organizations. The initiative includes grants to organizations to hire AIDS coordinators and carry out AIDS outreach efforts. (http://www.cdcnpin.org/scripts/display/NewsDisplay.asp?NewsNbr=54078)

 So what’s the best thing to do? Get tested and know your status!

CARES offers FREE and CONFIDENTIAL HIV TESTING 1-5pm every TUES, WEDS, and THURS. If you cant make these hours, call  Jan for an appointment at 269-381-2437 ext. 26

Oh one more thing…Did you know that you are higher risk for HIV infection if you’ve had a sexuallity transmitted infection, have traded sex for money or had sex with a person who injected drugs? Come to CARES for a NON-JUDGMENTAL and OPEN service.

Click here to view the embedded video.

NMAC Honors National Latino AIDS Awareness Day

October 15, 2009 ~ Washington, D.C. ~ Today, the National Minority AIDS Council (NMAC) honors the seventh annual National Latino AIDS Awareness Day (NLAAD). Held every year on October 15^th, during National Hispanic Heritage Month, NLAAD marks an opportunity to increase awareness of the devastating and disproportionate effects of AIDS in the Latino community. NLAAD, which is organized by the National Latino Commission on AIDS (LCOA), the Hispanic Federation and many other organizations, also is a day to encourage HIV testing and to push for support from public officials and religious leaders.

NMAC encourages everyone to visit the NLAAD website to find out more about HIV/AIDS in Latino communities.  

 Oh one more thing: FREE and CONFIDENTIAL HIV TESTING Tuesdays, Wednesday s and Thursdays 1-5pm at 629 Pioneer St. If you can’t make it, give Jan de la Torre or Dave Watt a call at 269-381-2437 to set-up an appointment.

CARES has been selected as one of five recipients from this year’s event. We’ll use the funding for HIV testing and outreach at Campit Resort and The Dunes Resort, both in Saugatuck.

We’ll have a table or two (or more!) of CARES folks and we’d love it if you’d join the group.  The party is held at the Laketown Golf & Conference Center and includes dinner, entertainment, dancing, open bar and both silent and live auctions.

Attire is party casual … white with a splash of green is suggested.  Advance tickets are $75 and $85 at the door. You can order tickets from Dave Watt on our staff; contact him at 269.381.2437 or at dwatt@CARESswm.org.

Hello Everyone!

I received the big CARES and Friends care package last week, and was completely overwhelmed. Over a fourth of the school participated in the first Library Art Contest, and there were some massive prize packages for learners with creativity, skill, and patience (that, unfortunately, often goes unnoticed and unrewarded).  Here, you might get 15 American cents for your birthday, and the family kills a goat for Christmas.  Believe me, the prize packages causes pandemonium… and a few amazing individuals are walking on clouds.  I cannot thank you enough for the joy that will get me through Term 2.  :)

And all 100+ who participated got a special pencil, pen, and a sweet.  Joy!

I miss you all – and think about great times with the 629 Pioneer and extended crew… often.  If there’s ever a ringing in your ears late morning/early afternoon, there’s probably a nostalgic Adam taking a break from lesson planning and marking papers alone in his little flat a hemisphere away.  *sighs*

Much Love,

Adam

PS – The great thing here, is that everyone shares… so I see all the learners reading and playing Kalamazoopoly and…  So much.  Hands off my sweets though!