UP student vs RH: Condoms have inherent defects

A University of the Philippines (UP) student who is against the passage of the controversial Reproductive Health (RH) bill said at a youth forum that condoms have inherent defects and that contraceptives are not equal to safe sex. Kiboy Tabada, convenor of the "UP (University of the Philippines) Against the RH Bill Movement," said , “We’re often told that when we use a condom, that’s safe sex, that contraceptives equals safe sex. But it’s only less-risky sex." According to a report on the Catholic Bishops Conference of the Philippines (CBCP) website, Tabada said, “Condoms are made of latex, a kind of rubber, and we know that everything that’s manufactured has inherent defects. Even wood has defects, plastic chairs, concrete floors. Everything has inherent defects. So does the condom." At a forum held at the Christ the King Parish in Quezon City, Tabada, a UP engineering student, said several studies show the inherent defects in condoms. The forum was part of the community’s activities marking the CBCP Year of the Youth. The pores of condoms are from 5 to 70 microns in size — much bigger than the head of a human sperm, which measures 2.5 to 3.5 microns, he said in the CBCP report. Worse, viruses such as the Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) that causes Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome (AIDS) are much smaller, measuring about 0.1 micron, Tabada said. One micron is equal to 0.001 millimeter or 1/25400 inch. “So who’s the victim here? Who’s being fooled here? It (condom) gives users a false sense of security. [The bill] is an agenda of deceit. And it’s supposed to be about ‘informed choice’?" Tabada said in the report. "Contraceptive mindset" Claiming that the RH bill promotes a "contraceptive mindset," Tabada appealed for what he called a genuine informed choice. During the forum, he said, “A culture that allows deceit like this to go on is one that does not take [its country's] youth seriously. If the proponents of the RH bill are setting [these facts] aside, they’re setting our real welfare aside as well." The RH bill is a contentious issue in the country. The Catholic Church is opposing the passage of the bill which promotes both artificial and natural methods of contraception. The Church accepts only natural family planning means. Tabada said at first he was a firm believer that the RH bill was a positive measure. However, after doing research, he began to be anti-RH. He urged his fellow youth to consider how the RH bill would affect their future. “There’s more to the RH bill than what meets the eye. Defend your future; don’t let a single opportunity to change someone’s mind pass. Kindly tell them the truths. We can’t just be apathetic about this," he said in the report. Barrier method of contraception According to the website "kidshealth.org, "Condoms are a barrier method of contraception." "There are male condoms and female condoms. A male condom is a thin sheath (usually made of latex, a type of rubber) that is worn on the penis," the website said. "A female condom is a polyurethane sheath with a flexible ring at either end. One end is closed and inserted into the vagina; the other end is open and the ring sits outside the opening of the vagina. The male condom, sometimes called a rubber or prophylactic, is far more commonly used," the website added. - VVP, GMA News