Condom Refusal Comes Under Fire

An article in the Brisbane Times looks at Queensland, Australia and Sweden's laws regarding condom use. In both regions, it is illegal for a man to have unprotected sex with a woman who requests that a condom be used during intercourse. These laws are designed to help prevent both unwanted pregnancy and sexually transmitted infections, such as human immunodeficiency virus. A Queensland criminal law lecturer is quoted as saying that, regarding Queensland, a man can be charged with rape in these cases.

The “condom or no condom” issue can creep up during both casual sexual encounters, in which the woman desires to avoid pregnancy or an STD, and marital relations, in which the wife seeks to avoid becoming pregnant. Men who refuse to wear a condom often claim it lessens sensation or insist on being in control in the bedroom.

Criminalization of unprotected intercourse is not common in the United States but women have the right to refuse to have sex without a condom. They can also purchase and use a female condom, which offers protection from both pregnancy and sexually-transmitted infection. Healthy, responsible sex is dependent on respecting the health and safety of both partners and the prevention of unwanted pregnancy.

Read more: http://www.brisbanetimes.com.au/queensland/if-its-not-on-its-not-on--and...