This story first appeared on the New Republic
Perhaps the best thing that can be said about condoms is that they work. Once negotiated out of their crinkly wrappers, they reliably protect against pregnancy and sexually transmitted diseases, including HIV. They are simple to make, cheap to buy, and easy to obtain, whether you’re in Norway or rural Niger. Using a condom doesn’t require a prescription or a healthcare provider, and there are rarely any adverse effects – unless you consider the loss of pleasure, which, this being sex, matters a great deal.
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