Risky Sexual Behavior Strongly Affected by Partner Choice

We usually associate risky sexual behavior with characteristics like inconsistent or nonexistent use of condoms and other contraceptives or having multiple sexual partners. However, a new study out of the University of Florida has discovered that there is one more factor that could possible outweigh these characteristics: the character of chosen sexual partners.

In a recent issue of Sexually Transmitted Diseases (April 2009), researchers from both the University of Pittsburgh and the University of Florida reported that this discovery could aid in enhancing sexually transmitted disease screenings for patients. Stephanie Staras, an assistant professor of epidemiology at the University of Florida and the study’s lead author adds, “If you are choosing high-risk partners, you are much more likely to have an STD, even when we account for your condom-use patterns. The theory is simple: You need to have sex with someone who has an STD to get an STD. Based on the prevalence of STDs in the United States, it seems like the public may not fully understand their risk.”

Statistics from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention report that in the United States, approximately nineteen million people are exposed to and contract a sexually transmitted disease every single year. Of these, approximately 50% of them are young adults with ages ranging from 15 to 24. The study examined over 400 people between these ages on topics of sexual activity, sexually transmitted diseases and characteristics of sexual partners. Of those examined who admitted to having partners who were considered “high-risk,” approximately 50% of those had been diagnosed with a sexually transmitted disease; however, of those examined who admitted being high-risk themselves, approximately 40% of those had been diagnosed with a sexually transmitted disease.

The study shows that doctors and clinic workers usually ask the patient about their past sexual activity and behaviors; however, by not asking about a patient’s sexual partners, many patients who may have a sexually transmitted disease (because they are partners with somebody who is considered high-risk) may not be tested and treated. Staras adds, “Partner selection is an area of STD prevention that could complement what we are already doing with promoting condom use, and could possibly really help people. If somehow we could convince individuals to incorporate this information in a meaningful way into their decision-making, then we could reduce STDs.”

High risk sexual partners were judged on five different characteristics including whether or not that partner had alcohol or drug-related problems, was over five years of age older or younger than their partner, had multiple sexual partners within the last twelve months, had a stint in jail or had been diagnosed with an STD within the year. Researchers on this study used this in an equation they formulated which totaled up these characteristics and compared them to these same characteristics in their partners. They also considered condom use and the number of sexual partners the patient had in their equation. Using this formula and the results, the researchers determined that the sexual partner was the strongest factor in determining whether or not somebody was at a higher risk of getting an STD. Richard Crosby, a co-director for the Rural Center for AIDS/STD Prevention states, “It’s all about the risk of the partner and sometimes we forget that. From a public health perspective, it’s important to understand these findings. From a practical and prevention perspective, we still need to rely on people using valid methods of protection to avoid being infected or infecting.”