Home > Opinion > Play Well: October Edition
By Sara Choate —
Q: I’m thinking about getting condoms with spermicidal lubricant. Are these better than the regular ones?
A: Spermicide, or nonoxynol-9, while helpful in killing sperm as a contraception method, is no longer recommended for use with barrier methods (i.e. male and female condoms) because it irritates the delicate skin cells of the vagina and rectum. As a result, it causes small lacerations, which dramatically increase the likelihood of STI transmission, including HIV.