International Condom Day: Do you know why International Condom Day is celebrated before Valentine’s Day? Know the reason here
International Condom Day: Valentine’s Day is celebrated all over the world on 14 February. This day is dedicated to loving couples. Although Valentine’s Week starts on 7 February and ends on 14 February, but do you know that International Condom Day is celebrated a day before Valentine’s Day and why?
AIDS Healthcare Foundation (AHF) started International Condom Day in 2009 to promote safety during sexual intercourse. It was decided to celebrate it just a day before Valentine’s Day to make those who have sex during Valentine’s Day aware. By the way, Valentine’s Day is celebrated on 14 February in the memory of Saint Valentine. This week starts with Rose Day on 7 February, Propose Day (8 February), Chocolate Day (9 February), Teddy Day (10 February), Promise Day (11 February), Hug Day (12 February), Kiss Day (13 February) and then finally Valentine’s Day (14 February) is celebrated.
The day before Valentine’s Day was considered a good opportunity to address common misconceptions and lack of awareness about condom use. If someone resolves to prevent sexual infections at the very beginning of their love life or considers it their responsibility, it will also help prevent the spread of STIs. WHO says that condoms are still the only tool that can prevent HIV, STIs and unplanned pregnancy together. WHO also says that now there is a need to reconnect, re-empower, re-educate about condoms.
The day before Valentine’s Day was considered a good opportunity to address common misconceptions and lack of awareness about condom use. If someone resolves to prevent sexual infections at the very beginning of their love life or considers it their responsibility, it will also help prevent the spread of STIs.
The WHO says that condoms are still the only tool that can prevent HIV, STIs and unplanned pregnancy together. The WHO also says that now there is a need to reconnect, re-empower, re-educate about condoms.
What is STI?
STI germs are present on the skin, in the blood etc. STI infection can spread through sexual activity or touching the genitals. If you do not use a condom, you can get infected with STI. According to an estimate, 6% of the adult population in India is suffering from STI.
STI related cases are continuously increasing, the main reason behind this is lack of awareness. To prevent such infections, International Condom Day is celebrated every year before Valentine’s Day.
This is the right way to use a condom
- First of all, remove the condom wrapper carefully. Removing it properly helps in using the condom properly.
- Now to check the freshness of the condom, feel the filled air bubble. You can check it by pressing the middle of the packet with your finger.
- After this, open the condom and push its tip with the help of a finger and apply it properly on the penis.
- After sex, remove it carefully and throw it away by wrapping it in paper like a sanitary pad.
It is important to avoid these 6 mistakes while using condoms
1. Be sure to check the expiry date
Safe sex is possible only when the condom has not expired. While cutting the condom, do not forget to check the expiry date on the condom packet. It also proves to be the cause of vaginal infection and the ability to protect against sexually transmitted diseases also starts decreasing.
2. Be careful while cutting the packet
Avoid cutting the condom wrapper with any sharp object including a knife, scissors or teeth. This increases the risk of cutting the condom. Before cutting the packet, feel the rib of the condom with your hands and then try to cut it. This reduces the chances of the condom getting damaged.
3. Do not keep condoms in a hot place
Condoms used for safe sex can easily get damaged. In such a situation, avoid keeping them in a hot place or in a pocket, purse or bag. This can damage its latex. Due to this, the body is not effective in preventing any kind of infection and pregnancy.
4. New condom for every session
If you are changing the condom while moving from anal sex to vaginal sex, then the risk of infection is reduced. Those people who do not change the condom from anal sex to vaginal sex, then the bacteria present in the rectum enter the vagina, which increases the risk of infectious diseases.
5. Do not hurry to remove the condom
Using a condom keeps the body free from the risk of STI. Removing the condom in the middle of sex keeps the risk of STI and pregnancy as it is. Such sex is not called safe sex.
6. Avoid repeated use
Using the same condom more than once increases the risk of sexually transmitted diseases. Having sex with the same condom multiple times increases the risk of sexual problems in both men and women. Also, it is not considered safe sex.