But PCC says it is continuing to offer spermicidal condoms because it, in part, takes issue with the studies on which the report, and its recommendations, are based.
“Our concern is that a lot of these studies were done on prostitutes, so we have concerns about their applicability to the general populace,” Murphy said. “Not that they don’t mean anything, but with prostitutes there may be other factors in increased HIV transmission.”
The JAMA article itself acknowledges such a possibility, although it does not refer to prostitution in particular.
“The populations in which each of these studies was conducted had various rates of sexual activity and thus various rates of [N-9] use. Frequent use of [N-9] results in toxicity such as genital ulceration and irritation that in turn may lead to higher rates of HIV-1 acquisition, whereas consistent but less frequent use does not,” the article, authored by Barbra A. Richardson, reads.
But the article also cites a recent study in which all the subjects had sex with moderate frequency, defined as an average of three times a week, and were still found to have slightly higher rates of the STDs being examined when they used condoms coated with N-9.
Given the recent nature of the change, which is being advertised on dining hall table-tents, student reaction has been limited.
PCC has actually had more requests for spermicidal condoms than usual, Murphy said. And aside from a few questions from regular visitors to its Wellness Center, which distributes condoms, UHS has had an overall increase in the volume of its condom distribution.
Although PCC successfully placed an order for spermicidal condoms last week, both Murphy and Johnson said they think manufacturers are rethinking the product.
“It may be back to the drawing board for a lot of the companies, but Trojan isn’t going to just pull all the spermicidal condoms. If they are available, we will continue to offer them,” Murphy said.
She added that she hoped this will create a dialogue between students and contraceptive educators.
“I think people certainly might be concerned initially, but we at the PCC are hoping they will respond by coming in to talk to us,” Murphy said.
“People don’t need to stop using spermicidal condoms because of this study. The CDC doesn’t say that. They could choose to, but they need to know that using spermicidal condoms won’t make them go out and get HIV the next day.”
One other campus group, also affiliated with UHS, distributes free condoms. Campus Health Initiative officers could not be reached last night.