As Valentine’s Day nears, Planned Parenthood of Greater Iowa is trying to raise the sexual awareness of Iowans through National Condom Week. Penny Dickey is a registered nurse and is vice president of health services for the Des Moines-based chapter.While some religions oppose the use of condoms, Dickey says they are the best way besides abstinence to prevent sexually transmitted infections. She adds, condoms protect fertility by preventing disease.Dickey says condoms have been used to protect against sexually transmitted infections since the 16th century and to prevent pregnancy since the 18th century. She says condoms will be given away this week in several locations across the Hawkeye State.Planned Parenthood has 17 clinics in Iowa — most of them will be offering free condoms this week. Dickey says only three of one hundred women whose partners use condoms correctly will become pregnant in the first year of use.
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