Out Out Damn Spot

California lawmakers, HIV activists, and women's advocacy groups on Wednesday sent a letter to the Food and Drug Administration and companies that manufacture condoms asking them to stop making condoms that include the spermicide nonoxynol-9, the Los Angeles Times reports. The request was made based on studies showing that the spermicide may actually make it easier to be infected with HIV and other sexually transmitted diseases by irritating epithelial cells in the vagina and anus. About 35% of all condoms sold in the United States include nonoxynol-9.