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I wonder what effect the fear of HIV's existence has had on reducing the number of accidental pregnancies and what effect that has had on slowing world populati

I wonder what effect the fear of HIV's existence has had on reducing the number of accidental pregnancies and what effect that has had on slowing world population growth.

nollidge 16y ago
HIV does not prevent pregnancy.
- xxpor 16y ago
  I think he is talking about increased condom usage relating to the fear of getting HIV having an indirect effect on the number of accidental pregnancies.
  - Jach 16y ago
    This just reminds me of an old experiment that tried to use artificial group selection to make Tribolium insects ( http://www.pnas.org/cgi/reprint/73/12/4604.pdf http://www.pnas.org/cgi/reprint/73/12/4604.pdf ) restrain their breeding, when instead they just ended up cannibalizing others' eggs (focusing on the females). People say HIV is a good excuse to fear having sex at all, conspiracies about the Vatican suggest it was developed for such a purpose, but nope, people just use condoms. Humans are as silly and fascinating as all the other life around here.
- klbarry 16y ago
  I don't think that was what he was saying, I don't understand why he is being downvoted. He was thinking that a fear of HIV may prevent unplanned pregnancy in the populace, and that theory has merit.
  - nollidge 16y ago
    Ack, I see that now. Interesting, though - I think the comment being downvoted to -1 (at the time) predisposed me to negatively misinterpret it.
tibbon 16y ago
Initially? Probably few, because it was viewed as a 'gay disease' due to its initial prevalence in that population (who prior to HIV/AIDS had less of an incentive to use condoms- as condom use was mainly to prevent pregnancy). Sex education in the 90's however did try to make it clear that anyone could contact HIV (although there are still disproportionately infection rates high among men who have sex with men), which may have given some people greater incentive to use safer sex methods overall and preventing pregnancies.

I wonder what effect the fear of HIV's existence has had on reducing the number of accidental pregnancies and what effect that has had on slowing world population growth.

nollidge 16y ago

HIV does not prevent pregnancy.

xxpor 16y ago
I think he is talking about increased condom usage relating to the fear of getting HIV having an indirect effect on the number of accidental pregnancies.
- Jach 16y ago
  This just reminds me of an old experiment that tried to use artificial group selection to make Tribolium insects ( http://www.pnas.org/cgi/reprint/73/12/4604.pdf http://www.pnas.org/cgi/reprint/73/12/4604.pdf ) restrain their breeding, when instead they just ended up cannibalizing others' eggs (focusing on the females). People say HIV is a good excuse to fear having sex at all, conspiracies about the Vatican suggest it was developed for such a purpose, but nope, people just use condoms. Humans are as silly and fascinating as all the other life around here.
klbarry 16y ago
I don't think that was what he was saying, I don't understand why he is being downvoted. He was thinking that a fear of HIV may prevent unplanned pregnancy in the populace, and that theory has merit.
- nollidge 16y ago
  Ack, I see that now. Interesting, though - I think the comment being downvoted to -1 (at the time) predisposed me to negatively misinterpret it.

tibbon 16y ago

Initially? Probably few, because it was viewed as a 'gay disease' due to its initial prevalence in that population (who prior to HIV/AIDS had less of an incentive to use condoms- as condom use was mainly to prevent pregnancy). Sex education in the 90's however did try to make it clear that anyone could contact HIV (although there are still disproportionately infection rates high among men who have sex with men), which may have given some people greater incentive to use safer sex methods overall and preventing pregnancies.