· Condoms may reduce but do not eliminate the risk of acquiring STDs. · They slightly reduce the risk of transmitting gonorrhea, while condoms do not appear to offer any protection against HPV, herpes or chlamydia. · A 1999 condom efficacy study found a reduction of HIV transmission between 60 and 96 percent. · Condoms appear not to offer much protection against HPV. It's estimated that 75 percent of sexually active individuals have had - or currently have - HPV, the STD responsible for 95 percent of cervical cancer cases. · The data available show that condoms offer minimal protection against chlamydia. · Fifteen percent of all couples who rely on condoms will become pregnant in the first year of use, while teens who cohabitate can expect condoms to fail 71 percent of the time. · Even among HIV-positive individuals, just over half of these people used condoms consistently during vaginal sex. This is dangerous behavior, considering that HIV/AIDS is fatal. · Only 15-20 percent of sexually active adolescents report consistent use of condoms. · However, the inconsistent protection that condoms do provide against the STDs is only achieved with what is called "perfect use." Perfect use, according to the Center for Disease Control (CDC), is defined as consistent (100 percent of the time), and correct use (which involves a detailed procedure of applying and using the condom.) But the reality is that sexually active adolescents admit using condoms correctly and consistently less than half of the time.