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Avanti is the make of a condom that is made from polyurethane rather than latex. I prefer this type of condom over latex as they can be thinner and they transmit heat better than latex. Recently the boxes have stickers on them warning that the condoms safety vis a vis HIV transmission is unknown. What's taking them so long? Do you have any inside information on their relative porosity?
Prefers the Pleasures of Polyurethane
Dear Prefers the Pleasures of Polyurethane,
In the 1990s, the packaging of the Avanti polyurethane condom made claims about the condom's protection from pregnancy and sexually transmitted infections (STIs) that the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) believed to be misleading. At the time, according to officials at the FDA, these claims made by the condom manufacturer were not backed by clinical efficacy testing for contraception or STIs.
Nowadays, lab studies provide solid evidence that polyurethane condoms are comparable to latex condoms as a barrier to sperm and the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV). Also, the FDA approved the sale of polyurethane condoms for greatly reducing the risk of an unwanted pregnancy and/or STIs, including HIV. The FDA recommends, however, that polyurethane condoms be used primarily by people who are sensitive or allergic to latex condoms. For those who are not, the FDA recommends good ol' latex condoms.
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