Protected Sex Just As Enjoyable As Using No Protection At All

American men and women consider protected sex with condoms to be just as enjoyable and arousing as using no protection at all, according to a recent study published in The Journal of Sexual Medicine, conducted by researchers from Indiana University School of Public Health.
The researchers conducted an online questionnaire to assess the characteristics of condom and lubricant use among men and women aged 18 to 59. They were able to gather information detailing the quality of the participants' most recent sexual experience and conclude whether condoms or lubricants have any influence on their quality of sex.

Results from the 2009 National Survey of Sexual Health and Behavior indicated that men and women consider sex to be just as pleasurable and arousing regardless of whether condoms or lubricants are used, with safe sex using condoms to have the same score of quality as unprotected sex. Men admitted that using condoms or lubricant had made no big difference in their ability to have an erection.

Women were found to be a lot more unsure than men whether the condoms used in sex were lubricated or not and were also less likely to know what material the condom was made from. This highlights the need for women to become more aware of the different kinds of contraceptions available and understand them more fully in order to practice safe sex.

Dr Debby Herbenick, lead author of the study, said:

"This may be because men are more likely than women to purchase condoms and to apply condoms. However, it's important for more women to become familiar with the condoms they use with their partner so that they can make choices that enhance the safety and pleasure of their sexual experiences."

The country still faces a serious problem tackling sexually transmitted infections, HIV, and unwanted pregnancies, the researchers believe that it's imperative to understand why people buy certain products and avoid others which are related to safer or more pleasurable sex. Understanding more about the nature of current condom use can help health care providers.

Herbenick concluded:

"We need to understand how people make choices about the products they use, or avoid using, and how these products contribute to the safety and pleasurable aspects of their sexual experiences. This is particularly important as the products themselves evolve and become more mainstream in American society. We also need to understand what men and women know, or don't know, about the products they use so that we can better target public health education messages to individuals and groups."

A recent study revealed that one of the leading concerns among health professionals is the improper and misuse of condoms during intercourse. Proper use of contraception is vital in reducing the prevalence of sexually transmitted diseases and HIV.