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What it actually says is that one scientist has said that lemon juice can be an effective spermicide in the lab.

That doesn't mean that anyone should start trying to use lemon juice as a contraceptive now.

And in any case, we're not too big on spermicides here at Scarleteen. Research has shown that, as well as having pretty high failure rates when it comes to preventing pregnancy, some of them can actually increase the chances of HIV transmission by causing vaginal irritation - which lemon juice would certainly do (in fact, I'm wincing at the thought right now).

So really - stick with the condoms for now .

Here's another article on a similar topic:

http://www.ananova.com/news/story/sm_646958.html?menu=news.quirkies

quote:

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Politician argues the contraceptive power of lemon juice

Thai politicians are debating whether inserting a slice of lemon into the vagina is an effective form of birth control.

Birth control crusader Senator Mechai Viravaidya supports the theory sperm will die if the vagina is soaked with lemon juice.

He believes the traditional practice of inserting a slice of lemon, or cotton soaked with freshly squeezed lemon juice, before sex will prevent pregnancy.

The Nation reports some scientists believe the high level of citric acid and the low ph level of lemon juice can kill sperm in 30 seconds.

But the director-general of the country's Health Department is urging caution and advising people to use condoms instead.

Dr Pakdi Posiri told the paper: "I would stick with our old buddy the condom. What worries me is that a lot of people may try the method and end up getting pregnant or venereal diseases. Women should not jump to it too quickly."

Mr Mechai insisted he was only suggesting that rural people, who may not always have condoms available, might find the lemon technique useful.

A 27-year-old pharmacist interviewed by the paper said: "Even on our skins lemon juice can cause irritation. We are talking about our most sensitive part here."

Don, an office worker in his 30s, added: "I for one will be turned off if my partner stops mid course and says, 'Hey, we forget the lemon'."

Story filed: 12:26 Friday 9th August 2002

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Lemon juice cannot prevent the spread of HIV either. And for the record, HIV and AIDS are NOT the same disease.

If you read all of these stuidies revisting the traditional ppractice of using lemon juice, what you will have noted is that every one says something like this: The traditional practice of using lemon juice as a contraceptive and its possible use to ward off HIV/Aids infection needs careful study before it can be recommended or We need more time to resreach this before suggesting it. There is a reason for that. Lab tests are not tests on humans. Those tests aren't just about finding harm. They're about finding out of something is effective.

We have done tests for years and years on condom use and know it works. Condoms are as easy to get a hold of as lemons (and to boot, HIV is NOT the only STI out there, and is not the most commonly transmitted, either). We have NUMEROUS forms of reliable birth control which we know work, and which have been tested -- on humans -- for a very long time.

Sp, please, don't be foolish people. And in the future PLEASE do not post telling someone things like this in this way with instructions. It's just really irresponsible. Were we to get an onslaught of pregnant STI-ridden users who tried this, my guess is you'd feel pretty rotten.

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Heather Corinna
Editor and Founder, Scarleteen