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What do condoms have in common with soap and toothpaste?

Not enough! Given the world we occupy, it is essential to carry and wear condoms. It's something you just have to do, like washing your hands. If you value your health, use a condom always.

In the UK and Ireland, teen pregnancy is one of the highest in Europe, due to unprotected sex, and the high price of condoms. Online companies such as A1Lovers are now tackling the high price of buying condoms in Ireland, the UK, by sourcing Durex condoms from within the EU, where sex isn't taxed as though it were a criminal offence!

.The stakes are too high to let high prices and lack of access, prevent people from using condoms, and experimenting with different condoms, to find what suits them best. In Ireland and the UK, the selection of condoms available in stores is quite limited, and like everything else, one size doesn't fit all!

So now at A1lovers, the leading European Condom shop, you can buy a selection of condoms, and have them delivered free to you door, in unmarked discreet envelopes, whether you live in the UK, Ireland or any other country in the EU! We have a large customer base across the EU, with most of our customers based in the Rip-off nations of Europe: UK, Ireland, Sweden and Finland!

For customers allergic to latex condoms, we carry the Durex Avanti condom, which is made of polyurethane. Experiment with the different types, and find what's right for you.

Vatican in HIV condom row

Cardinals, bishops, priests and nuns in four continents are saying HIV can pass through tiny holes in condoms. The World Health Organization has condemned the comments and warned the Vatican it is putting lives at risk.

The claims come just a day after a report revealed that a young person is now infected with HIV every 14 seconds. The statements are totally inaccurate. Latex condoms are impermeable. They do prevent HIV transmission.

According to the United Nations Population Fund, around 6,000 people between the ages of 15 and 24 catch the virus every day. Half of all new infections are now in people under the age of 25.

Condom advice:

Health experts around the world urge people to use condoms to protect themselves from HIV and a lot of other sexually transmitted infections.

However, the Catholic Church has consistently refused to back such calls. The Vatican is opposed to contraception and has advocated that people change their behaviour instead. However the Vatican's prudish attitude towards sex, is now becoming a sinister threat to the health of millions, with false claims that condoms do not work, being promulgated against the advise of doctors, and the world health organisation.

In an interview, one of the Vatican's most senior cardinals Alfonso Lopez Trujillo suggested HIV could even pass through condoms. "The Aids virus is roughly 450 times smaller than the spermatozoon. The spermatozoon can easily pass through the 'net' that is formed by the condom," he says.

"These margins of uncertainty...should represent an obligation on the part of the health ministries and all these campaigns to act in the same way as they do with regard to cigarettes, which they state to be a danger."

It is a concern. From a technical point of view, the statements are totally incorrect, and Latex condoms are impermeable, when used correctly, and not reused. They do prevent HIV transmission. The WHO also attacked the Catholic Church's comments.

"Statements like this are quite dangerous, " a spokeswoman said. "We are facing a global pandemic which has already killed more than 20 million people and currently affects around 42 million. "There is so much evidence to show that condoms don't let sexually transmitted infections like HIV through. "Anyone who says otherwise is just wrong."

The aid agency Christian Aid also attacked the Vatican's attitude."Condoms are a straightforward and effective way of preventing HIV transmission and to suggest otherwise is dangerous," said Dr Rachel Baggaley, head of its HIV unit.

Global Shortage of Condoms

According to WHO estimates, 24 billion condoms are needed throughout the world every year - although only six to nine billion are actually distributed.

The WHO warning came ahead of a four-day regional meeting in the Lao capital Vientiane on the "100% condom use programme", a strategy to promote the use of condoms in the sex industry.

The WHO's "100% condom use programme" has already had a noticeable effect in Thailand, preventing a few million HIV infections, according to the organisation.

The 100% condom use programme is now also being piloted in sex establishments in China, Burma, Mongolia and Vietnam.

Similar projects have also been initiated in Laos and the Philippines.

"The fact that these governments are prepared to participate in the programme is a major step forward," said Mangai Balasegaram.

Condoms in Ireland

Condom vending machines have only been available in Ireland for 10 years, and the cost of buying condoms in Ireland remains extortionate. Condoms in Ireland are taxed at 21%, instead of being classified in one of the lower tax brackets, like other medical products. However, customers can now buy condoms in ireland online, from A1lovers.com, and make dramatic savings.

The EU is one economic zone, and so products available for sale in other European countries may be purchased from Ireland, without paying VAT again. So what you see is what you pay!

Despite the arrival of Condom vending machines in Ireland, sexually transmitted infections (STIs) continue to rise. This is mainly due to lack of knowledge in how to use condoms, and also due to spontaneous sexual encounters - and the amount of yound Irish people who don't carry condoms.

Educational campaigns are now being conducted on Irish television stations, to try to encourage young Irish people to become educated about the use of condoms, and safe sex. Many young Irish people remain uncomfortable about sex, and the educations systems only recently introduced a safe sex information campaign in schools. However the campaign is still very limited and biased, and doesn't address gay sex in ireland, and lesbian sex issues - as Ireland is still in virgin territory when it comes to sex!

Up until the early 90's in Ireland, the purchase of condoms was only authorised under prescription! However things are progressing, and plans to stop taxing Condoms in Ireland like Irish beer and Irish Whiskey, are on the horizon. It is quite incredible that condoms were only available on prescription, in light of the emerging HIV/AIDs pandemic.

The unwillingness of the Irish education system to get to grips with the reality of HIV risk and increasing STD prevalence, is another growing problem that Ireland faces. With the advent of internet shopping and information on safe sex available online, things are set to improve. A1Lovers will be there at the frontier, in the dissemination of knowledge and affordable condoms, convenient to buy online.

Regarding the cost of condoms in Ireland, VAT is levied at a whopping 21%, with a box of 12 Durex condoms retailing at up to 14 Euro in supermarkets! This is well beyond the European average, and is posing a continuing health risk. Beat the prices, shop online and be prepared.