Wrapped and Ready: Why Condoms Remain Important for Safe Sex


With the availability of PrEP, pre-exposure prophylaxis, HIV prevention became as easy as taking a daily pill, or now, a regular injection at the doctor’s office.

Then came doxy-PEP, an antibiotic given after a risky sexual encounter that can prevent STIs like syphilis and chlamydia. According to a presentation in March 2024 at the Conference on Retroviruses and Opportunistic Infections (CROI), implementation of a citywide doxy-PEP initiative in San Francisco reduced syphilis and chlamydia by half in men who have sex with men and transgender women over one year.

These medical advances mean that there are more ways than ever to have safe sex. But one method remains highly effective and underutilized, particularly among young people: condoms.

“They remain important even in an era when people can take doxy-PEP, PrEP,” said Dr. Sarah McBeth, medical director at Allies for Health + Wellbeing. “Condoms cover everything if they’re used appropriately.”

“In community health, we continue to stress the importance of condoms to prevent STIs,” added Anitra Branch, director of outreach and education at Allies.

Many sexually transmitted infections do not have noticeable symptoms, so it’s possible for a person to have an infection and not know it. If you don’t know you’re infected and you’re having sex without a condom, you can unknowingly spread your infection.



“It’s really common for gay men to not use condoms, and I think sometimes people are dismissive of them, because they’re used to not using them or they prefer not to use them,” said McBeth. “That just opens you up to susceptibility to infection.”

There are ways to prevent STIs without condoms, Branch said. Abstinence, being in a monogamous sexual relationship, only having one sex partner, or being in a closed relationship with multiple partners are all additional ways to lower your risk of STIs.

“Some people will have a primary partner with whom they do not use condoms, and if they have other sex partners, they will use condoms with those partners,” Branch noted.

Practicing lower-risk sexual behavior, such as oral sex, is another option, though McBeth recommends condoms for oral sex, too.

“We see a lot of syphilis transmitted through oral sex, so it’s important to use condoms in that setting,” she said.

Syphilis cases are increasing dramatically in the United States – a report from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention released in 2024 said that syphilis has increased by 80 percent between 2018 and 2022, the highest numbers the U.S. has seen since the 1950s.

Branch said that there have always been people who are reluctant to use condoms.

“There are many people who take PrEP and use condoms, but there are people who don’t do either,” she said. “There are people who prefer condoms over PrEP or prefer monogamy or getting tested.”

Nevertheless, condoms are an essential tool in having safe sex and one that Branch will continue to promote.

“Condom use and proper condom use,” Branch said, “I’ve never wavered from that.”

Allies for Health + Wellbeing always has free condoms available for anyone who needs them, including dental dams and female condoms, as well as latex-free options for those with allergies. If you’re unsure about how to properly use a condom, talk to your healthcare provider. If you’re interested in getting tested for sexually transmitted infections, you can make an appointment at Allies by visiting AlliesPGH.org or calling 412-345-7456.