A Safe LifeStyle

Vagina puppet in hand, Kim Airs, owner of the sexuality boutique “The Grand Opening,” caused more than the usual stimulation at last week’s Female Orgasm Seminar, hosted by the Radcliffe Union of Students. Digressing from the usual advice about the female orgasm, Airs warned students against LifeStyles brand condoms, claiming that they hardly met federal safety regulations. The purpose of the seminar was, ostensibly, to educate interested students about sexuality. Instead, it turned into an opportunity for Airs to provide arbitrary and misinformed judgment about an effective condom brand that is widely distributed at Harvard.

Airs’ contention that LifeStyles condoms break more easily than other condom brands is demonstrably false. All condoms are subjected to rigorous tests before they are distributed to the public. If a brand of condom breaks too often, federal safety regulations prohibit its sale. Kelli Ballinger, head of the Community Health Initiative at University Health Services (UHS), said in an email, “We have made several calls and looked at all forms of literature (in the past and today), with no indication as to any reason why LifeStyles should be avoided at this point.” UHS also consulted Dr. David Olson, Director of Obstetrics and Gynecology at UHS, who agreed that condoms that are on the market now have been tested rigorously and offer equivalent levels of protection. Moreover, consumer reports rate the LifeStyles Ultra Sensitive condom as one of the top three condoms for strength and reliability. And, according to distributors, LifeStyles condoms are traditionally one of the top three highest selling condom brands on the market. UHS also contacted distributors who noted that claims to condom durability are often matters of personal preference.

Before 2003, UHS distributed only Durex condoms. Due to student response caused by a similar rumor about the brand’s reliability, UHS switched to LifeStyles. The decision was then made according to student response to provide LifeStyles condoms, even though they were slightly more expensive. Ballinger said, “If students preferred them, we found that they would be more likely to use them. This proved to be the case. The jump in condom usage was from 24,468 to 31,589 but no increase in general feedback of condom breakage.” Other schools, including Yale and University of Pennsylvania, distribute LifeStyles condoms as well.

Students’ vocal concerns over Airs’ ungrounded comments demonstrate the need for increased awareness about condom safety issues. It is correct condom usage, and not the LifeStyles condom brand, that is most important in practicing safe sex. Putting condoms on correctly, keeping them in a good place (not a wallet), and treating condoms gently, are all tips provided by UHS for safe condom use. Condoms are distributed each week in the houses on Mondays and Fridays. UHS also provides condoms to Peer Contraceptive Counselors (PCC) and Room 13. Last year, 31,589 condoms were distributed to the Harvard community (according to Ballinger, “the most condoms went to Quincy House.”). Students should trust and utilize UHS’ services instead of the arbitrary opinions of vagina puppets.