Effective Contraception

Re “Officials Target Spermicide in Condoms,” Aug. 28: Condoms are used as the only practical and effective male-barrier contraceptive, and the addition of nonoxynol-9 as a spermicidal agent increases their effectiveness. Based on dubious data and poor science, the HIV/AIDS advocate-industrial complex has spent billions of dollars all over the world for the past 20 years distributing condoms -- as the rate of HIV-infected people increases unabated. Add politicians and the combination is toxic. The removal of nonoxynol-9, as they demand, based again on dubious data and worse science, will result in a less-effective male contraceptive without preventing sexual transmission of the virus.

Sergio C. Stone MD

Villa Park