From Dr A.M. Vella

With reference to the letter entitled Are condoms effective by Dr P. Carabot (TMIS, 16 November), some clarifications need to be made!

The study mentioned by Dr Carabot, where “...among newly sexually active women consistent condom use by their partners appears (the italics are mine) to reduce the risk of cervical and vulvo vaginal infection.” is one carried out on a very small group of women chosen with highly selective criteria and who were highly motivated – definitely a far cry from the reality of daily life!

I wonder which is the most disingenuous: to proclaim safety where there isn’t any or to caution about safety when doubt is so obvious? In fact, the result of the study “appears to reduce the risk of infection”.

If we are talking about HPV, where the lesion could be anywhere in the perineal area and infection is transmitted even by non-penetrative sex, just by skin to skin contact, how can we frivolously proclaim safety by using condoms? Does Dr Carabot protect the youngsters by telling them they are safe when they aren’t?

“What suits our wishes, we easily believe” says John Locke.

Anna Maria Vella

MD MSc Public Health

Diploma in Women’s Health