Since 1978 National Condom Week has been part of Planned Parenthood’s fund-raising drive. The week, which began on Valentine’s Day, is meant to promote safe sex between partners.

Krista Noah, manager of the Ames Planned Parenthood, said the main source of fund raising this year is from selling lollipops.

However, these lollipops may surprise many people. Actually, they’re not lollipops at all, rather they are condoms disguised and packaged as Valentine lollipops. These Valentines treats come in a variety of different packages and the prices can vary from 75 cents to $1.75. The special promotional condom can be purchased at the Ames Center for Planned Parenthood, 2530 Chamberlain, Noah said.

This week long promotion may be cute, but it should not take away from the seriousness of birth control, she said.

Presenting condoms in this fun way, Noah said, allows the national organization to get condoms to young adults who need them most.

“When used correctly and consistently, condoms are 97 percent effective in preventing pregnancy and HIV infection. Yet, misperceptions about the product’s use and reliability persist,” Noah said.

The effectiveness of condoms is undermined by improper use and the failure of many couples to us them every time they engage in sexual intercourse, Noah said.

“Inconsistent protection is the same as no protection at all,” she said.

According to Planned Parenthood, “Three million teens acquire a sexually transmitted infection every year. In addition 2,800 teens become pregnant each day — 82 percent of these pregnancies are unintended and 75 percent are the result of teens using no contraceptive methods at all.”

The only sure way to secure ones self from not gaining a sexually transmitted disease is abstinence, Noah said. But statistics do dictate that many American teenagers are having sex, and more often than not, she said, they are having unprotected sex.

Lori Anderson is a public speaker for Planned Parenthood of Iowa and offers talks throughout the Ames-ISU community.

“If you have been sexually active you should be tested here at the clinic. This is whether you are using condoms or not,” Anderson said.

The clinic operates on a sliding fee scale where one can pay according to income. Most times treatment can cost as little as $20, or as much as $90. Talk is free, Anderson said, and students with concerns are encouraged to come in and talk one-on-one with a representative at the clinic.

However, everything is kept confidential between patients and the clinic, she said.