Planned Parenthood Celebrates Valentine’s Day and National Condom Week by Highlighting Additional Barrier Methods 

Know your options for safer sex and pick the protection that’s best for you

New York, NY — National Condom Week (February 14-21) is an opportunity to celebrate the effectiveness of condoms and other barrier methods in reducing the risk of sexually transmitted infections (STIs) and unintended pregnancy. This year, Planned Parenthood is educating people on the recently renamed and reclassified internal condom, and highlighting additional barrier methods for safer sex.

“Everyone deserves to have a healthy, fun sex life,” said Dr. Sara C. Flowers, vice president of education at Planned Parenthood Federation of America. “Using condoms and other barrier methods to prevent STIs and unintended pregnancy is an important part of taking care of your and your partner’s health, so people should know about all their options and how to use them. Knowing your options means you can choose the method that’s best for you, your body, and partner.”

While condoms are the most well known and popular barrier method, there are other barriers you can use to protect yourself and your partner during sex. Dental dams, gloves, and finger cots all protect against STIs, and they’re accessible and easy to use. You can also modify gloves and condoms to meet your needs.

Another option is the internal condom, previously named the “female condom,” which goes inside the vagina or anus to help prevent pregnancy and/or STIs. The internal condom’s recent reclassification underscores the versatility of both types of condoms — anyone can use them, regardless of gender identity or sexual orientation.

Safer sex is a critical part of staying on top of your sexual health. Anyone who has vaginal, anal, or oral sex can get an STI — and people who have an STI may not know it, since most STIs have no symptoms. That’s why it’s important to have conversations with a partner early on about safer sex, like talking about using condoms or other barrier methods. Using condoms correctly and consistently provides the best protection against STIs, and can be 98% effective in preventing pregnancies.

Planned Parenthood is here for you with information and resources on how to use condoms correctly, how to choose the barrier method that’s best for you, and how to get comfortable talking about safer sex with your partner.

As the nation’s largest provider of sex education, Planned Parenthood works every day to educate young people, families, and communities on preventing STIs and unintended pregnancies. For more information, visit a Planned Parenthood health center for resources on barrier methods and advice about birth control and STIs. Planned Parenthood’s new sexual health chatbot Roo is also available to answer sexual health questions 24 hours a day, seven days a week for free on your mobile phone.

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Planned Parenthood is the nation’s leading provider and advocate of high-quality, affordable health care for women, men, and young people, as well as the nation’s largest provider of sex education. With more than 600 health centers across the country, Planned Parenthood organizations serve all patients with care and compassion, with respect and without judgment. Through health centers, programs in schools and communities, and online resources, Planned Parenthood is a trusted source of reliable health information that allows people to make informed health decisions. We do all this because we care passionately about helping people lead healthier lives.