Researchers at University of Florida say that it is possible to predict a person's risk of contracting sexually transmitted diseases (STDs) by looking at his/her partner's behavior.
The researchers have even charted five specific characteristics that can help gauge how risky certain partners are.
Study Says STDs Common Among Arrested Juveniles
A new study by the researchers at the Temple University in Philadelphia has found that teenagers arrested for juvenile offenses have a high rate of sexually transmitted diseases.
A new study by the researchers at the Temple University in Philadelphia has found that teenagers arrested for juvenile offenses have a high rate of sexually transmitted diseases.
"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," she said.
"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," added the lead author of the study.
"no Commitment" Sex Common Among US College Students
Almost 60 percent of American college students have been in a no commitment and no romance sexual relationship with a friend, which is also touted as a friends with benefits
Almost 60 percent of American college students have been in a no commitment and no romance sexual relationship with a friend, which is also touted as a friends with benefits
The study showed that young adults whose partners had five or more risk characteristics were three times more likely to have an STD than those whose partners had no more than two characteristics.
Middle-Aged Brits Trust Sex Partners, Ignoring Sex Disease Risks
Health experts are worried that middle-aged people are continuing to ignore sex disease risks.
Health experts are worried that middle-aged people are continuing to ignore sex disease risks.
The researchers further said that subjects whose partners were five years older or younger than them were more than twice as likely to be diagnosed with an STD than those whose partners were around the same age.
"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," Staras said.
"If somehow we could convince individuals to incorporate this information in a meaningful way into their decision-making, then we could reduce STDs," she added.
Dr. Richard A. Crosby of the University of Kentucky, who was not involved in the UF study, said: "From a public health perspective, it's important to understand these findings."
He, however, added: "From a practical and prevention perspective, we still need to rely on people using valid methods of protection to avoid being infected or infecting."
A research article on the study, carried out in collaboration with researchers at the University of Pittsburgh, has been published in the journal Sexually Transmitted Diseases.
Source-ANI
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