[Condom effectiveness to prevent sexually transmitted diseases].
BACKGROUND
Sexual transmitted diseases (included HIV/AIDS) are a common and preventable cause of perinatal morbidity and mortality. When used consistently and correctly, condoms are effective to prevent these diseases, however, its protection does not account for 100%.


OBJECTIVE
To know the effectiveness of male condom, through bibliographic evidence, to prevent sexual transmitted infections in heterosexual serodiscordant partners.


METHODS
A bibliographical review of Medline/Pubmed, LILACS and Cochrane databases, and publications of the National Health Institutes, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, World Health Organization, and WHO AIDS Global Program was done to analyze male condom effectiveness to prevent sexual transmitted diseases.


RESULTS
Reports demonstrated that male condom protection against HIV/AIDS in heterosexual serodiscordant partners goes from 60 to 95%. Most recent information (2006) showed 80%. Two studies demonstrated no HPV protection with male condom, and another one 70% of protection. Male condom demonstrated no HPV-1 protection, but decrease of risk in HVS-2 transmission in women (0.85 of protection).


CONCLUSIONS
Male condom protection against sexual transmitted diseases is not 100%. There must be used additional measures that have demonstrated its utility to decrease transmission risk.
Vera
Eduardo Gayón
EG
Servicio de ginecología de la infancia y la adolescencia, Instituto Nacional de Pediatria, México. egayonvera@yahoo.com
Orozco
Hilda Hernández
HH
Soto
Selene Sam
SS
Aburto
Esther Lombardo
EL
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D017280:Condoms / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D018562:Disease Transmission, Infectious / Q000517:prevention & control*; D005069:Evaluation Studies as Topic; D005260:Female; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000517:prevention & control / Q000635:transmission; D006558:Herpes Genitalis / Q000517:prevention & control / Q000635:transmission; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D030361:Papillomavirus Infections / Q000517:prevention & control / Q000635:transmission; D012749:Sexually Transmitted Diseases / Q000517:prevention & control*; D015231:Sexually Transmitted Diseases, Bacterial / Q000517:prevention & control; D013587:Syphilis / Q000517:prevention & control / Q000635:transmission