Quite often…
Black gay men reported higher rates of condom breakage and slippage, as well as incomplete use of condoms, when compared with white gay men, according to a recent study published in the journal Sexually Transmitted Infections.
A team of researchers from Emory University interviewed 475 gay men in Atlanta, Georgia, who indicated being the insertive partner — or “top” — in the previous six months to compare the occurrences of events like condom failure and incomplete use, and the frequency of these events. Before diving into their findings, the researchers acknowledged that the HIV epidemic among gay men in the U.S. is complex and evolving, as are the racial disparities within the epidemic.
Condoms Fail
Nearly 40% of black gay men reported breakage or incomplete use, around twice the number for white gay men. For the researchers, “incomplete condom use” meant that the insertive partner put on a condom after already penetrating the receptive partner or took it off before finishing having sex; black gay men were significantly more likely to report incomplete condom use. Black gay men were also more likely to unroll a condom completely before putting it on the penis. The correct way to apply a condom is to roll it down over the head of the penis, down the shaft and to the base, making sure that the “inside” of the condom is facing down before allowing the condom to touch the penis.
Only 31% of respondents (regardless of race) reported using a condom correctly, while 54% reported suboptimal fit/feel of the condom. Overall, suboptimal fit and feel had a loose correlation with participants reporting condom breaks. Also, many black gay men (53%) reported using oil-based lubricants, which are known to weaken condoms, compared to only 21% of white gay men. Overall, 61% of gay men reported erection problems while wearing a condom, with more white gay men reporting erection problems.
[…] Nearly 40% of black gay men reported breakage or incomplete use, around twice the number for white gay men. For the researchers, “incomplete condom use” meant that the insertive partner put on a condom after already penetrating the receptive partner or took it off before finishing having sex; black gay men were significantly more likely to report incomplete condom use. Black gay men were also more likely to unroll a condom completely before putting it on the penis. The correct way to apply a …read more […]