Personal Prophylaxis for Venereal Diseases

VENEREAL disease (VD) prophylaxis is an old and controversial subject. Conflicting recommendations on the value of the different prophylactic techniques described in lay publications (VIVA, October and November, 1973) and elsewhere¹must be a source of confusion to practicing physicians and the general public. This article is an attempt to clarify some of the issues. In our opinion, the controversy remains unresolved for three reasons. First, few comparative studies on prophylaxis in humans have been reported. Second, most of the reported studies have employed inadequate controls. Third, techniques that appear effective in preventing some sexually transmitted diseases may not be effective against all others. If recommendations are to be made regarding the value of any prophylactic technique, we must consider (1) the direct preventive efficacy of the product, (2) the degrees to which consumers accept the product, (3) the patterns of use by sexually active couples, and (4) the