is this true...Britons embarrassed about condoms

[steeljack]

came across this news item

BBC NEWS | Health | Britons embarrassed about condoms

no way would I think about crawling/staggering into bed with a new partner without using any kind of protection and I'm an old 'geezer' haven't the younger folks learnt anything about sex-education over the last 20 years , even if the women you copulate with are of a certain age , it's no gaurantee you won't end up with recurring 'cold-sores' on your dangley bits or something even worse

[lettie]

I don't think that people find it difficult to talk about condoms, I think that they find it difficult to talk about sex.
With all of our STI and HIV increases in the UK in the last few years you'd think it would have become easier. Funnily enough, all the STI statistics took a major downturn in the 1980s when AIDS was heavily publicised on TV and adverts urged people to use condoms, the birthrate in the UK also fell. The adverts disappeared from TV and the incidence of HIV and STIs have risen.
I also think that parents have difficulty talking about sex to their children and that women would rather that men took the lead when talking about condom use, but that is just my opinion based on conversations with women.

[panther]

my daughters coming to the age in a good few years i hope!!, and i always say to her, when the time comes and you are ready, make him cover it up!!
im very open and not shy talkng to my daughter about it, though she can be sometimes but she will get used to it!
people are not embarrassed in getting comdoms, they just mindless!

[cashman]

condoms------ its like washing yer feet with yer socks on.

[Eric]

With all the nasty possible side effects of a quickie, or a significant overnight relationship, the motto is "No balloon, no party."

[Eric]

Originally Posted by cashman

condoms------ its like washing yer feet with yer socks on.

Only do that when I've been drinking too much

[Eric]

Originally Posted by lettie

I don't think that people find it difficult to talk about condoms, I think that they find it difficult to talk about sex.
With all of our STI and HIV increases in the UK in the last few years you'd think it would have become easier. Funnily enough, all the STI statistics took a major downturn in the 1980s when AIDS was heavily publicised on TV and adverts urged people to use condoms, the birthrate in the UK also fell. The adverts disappeared from TV and the incidence of HIV and STIs have risen.
I also think that parents have difficulty talking about sex to their children and that women would rather that men took the lead when talking about condom use, but that is just my opinion based on conversations with women.

Perhaps parents have that difficulty because their kids know more about sex than they do ... most women I know carry their own condoms, in fact, all the local drug stores carry cute little designer compacts for women to carry their condoms in ... Maybe its true; you guys over the pond really are uptight about s-e-x.

[MargaretR]

Men must learn to buy thinner socks or risk spreading athelete's foot.
It is sad but true
(there is no more ridiculous sight than a naked man just wearing socks)

[Margaret Pilkington]

I know that this is probably a very old-fashioned viewpoint, but maybe we should promote committed relationships instead of one night stands or quickies....but I suppose in this hedonistic society it is too much to hope for.

[MargaretR]

Originally Posted by Margaret Pilkington

I know that this is probably a very old-fashioned viewpoint, but maybe we should promote committed relationships instead of one night stands or quickies....but I suppose in this hedonistic society it is too much to hope for.

I agree that faithful relationships would be ideal- but even if you find one that will be faithful to you (remote chance) you will still be risking catching whatever ANY of his previous escapades have exposed him to.
The chance of finding a virgin decreases with age - and if you do - you cant spare the time or effort to 'train him up'

[garinda]

In a way we've gone backwards. Twenty years ago, because of the threat of AIDS, you had people like Angela Rippon and Noel Edmonds putting condoms onto bananas on teatime television, and because of the increased use of barrier protection, incidence of all STD's fell dramatically.

There is now a whole new generation of people who don't know the risk of not using condoms, if they are going to have unprotected sex. I've lost too many friends ever to forget.

As Marg P said, the only safe sex is no sex, but if celibacy holds no appeal, condoms do offer some protection, and gone are the days of embarrassment in the chemist/barbers, now that you can put them in your supermarket trolley with your beans.

[lindsay ormerod]

If you are of a " certain age " i.e. me , the chances of you shacking up with someone who hasn't been round the block a few times are non - existent ! You would be daft not to use protection; at least until you had sussed out where he had been before !

[MargaretR]

Originally Posted by lindsay ormerod

If you are of a " certain age " i.e. me , the chances of you shacking up with someone who hasn't been round the block a few times are non - existent ! You would be daft not to use protection; at least until you had sussed out where he had been before !

Could you rely on him being honest about it?
It is like sleeping with everyone they have ever slept with and everyone they have every slept with as well = sleeping with the whole population of Uk and beyond - the mind boggles

PS Kate - if you read this - just stop taking the HRT (problem solved )

[lindsay ormerod]

I wouldn't be putting myself in that situation if I couldn't trust him.

[MargaretR]

Originally Posted by lindsay ormerod

I wouldn't be putting myself in that situation if I couldn't trust him.

Your optimism is refreshing - I wasted a lifetime on misplaced trust
Hope for better things for you - you come across as a good woman -be lucky