{"id":15715,"date":"2024-06-11T10:35:28","date_gmt":"2024-06-11T14:35:28","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/prelibcom.local\/?p=15715"},"modified":"2025-03-25T13:45:43","modified_gmt":"2025-03-25T13:45:43","slug":"more-partners-more-chances-to-have-itss","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/prelib.com\/en\/articles\/more-partners-more-chances-to-have-itss\/","title":{"rendered":"More partners, more chances of contracting STIs?"},"content":{"rendered":"

We might be led to believe that the more sexual partners we have, the greater our collection of sexually transmitted and blood-borne infections (STBBIs); Balfe et al., 2010<\/a>). This would be in line with the belief that a person can contract <\/em>an STI because it is \"immoral\" or \"irresponsible\" (Balfe et al., 2010<\/a>; <\/a>Shepherd and Gerend, 2014<\/a>).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In recent years, however, there has been a relative decline in the number of sexual partners among young adults (Twenge et al., 2015<\/a>, 2017<\/a>), but... an increase in the rate of STIs (Blouin et al., 2023<\/a>).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

This is simply because the link between the number of partners and the rate of STIs is not as simple as it seems.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

This is not a cause-and-effect relationship: rather, the number of sexual partners is a factor in the number of sexual partners. risk factor<\/strong>. Just as having had only one sexual partner doesn't mean you don't have an STI, having or having had many partners doesn't mean you'll have one or more STIs, but it does increase your risk.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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By the way, how many partners do you have to have before it's officially considered \"a lot\"?<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n

Rather than thinking that \"multiple partners\" rhymes with \"STIs\", it would be wiser to reflect on the practices and contexts that may explain why multiple partners are considered a risk factor.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Among other things, these practices and contexts include: <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Do not use condoms or use them inconsistently<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Beyond complete sexual abstinence, which means having no sexual contact with another person (whether or not it involves penetration), the methods that offer the most protection against STIs are \u00abbarrier\u00bb protection methods, which include external (\u00abmale\u00bb or traditional) and internal (\u00abfemale\u00bb) condoms, as well as dental dams and latex gloves. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

However, even though we know that condoms and other methods are an effective strategy for protecting against STIs, many of us don\u2019t use them or don\u2019t use them properly. According to data from a Club Sexu survey, 44 % of people who were not in a relationship reported not using protection against STIs during their most recent sexual encounters (this figure rises to 74 % among people in relationships). Data from the Institut national de sant\u00e9 publique du Qu\u00e9bec (2017<\/a>), which show similar results, also indicate that, among young people aged 17 to 29 who used a condom during their last sexual encounter, 20 % engaged in penetration before removing the condom from its packaging. Oops.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

But if we know condoms are effective, why do so many of us not use them? According to the Canadian Community Health Survey, <\/em>in which more than 11,000 young people participated, 47 % said they do not use condoms because they are in a monogamous relationship, and 47 % because they use another method of contraception (specifically hormonal contraception, which offers no protection against STIs); Rotermann and McKay, 2020<\/a>). In addition, 24 % believe they are at no risk of contracting an STI, while 22 % do not like the sensation <\/em>condoms.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

2. Not getting screened or not getting screened regularly<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

While young adults are particularly affected by STIsBlouin et al., 2023<\/a>) research shows that most do not get screened regularly (Boudewyns and Paquin, 2011<\/a>; Martin-Smith et al., 2018<\/a>). In a sample of sexually active Quebecers aged 17 to 29, only 31 % of men and 42 % of women reported having taken a screening test in the past 12 months (Lambert et al., 2017<\/a>). <\/p>\n\n\n\n

It goes without saying that if you don't get tested, especially if you're lax with condoms, the probability of contracting and transmitting an STI can increase from one partner to another, and, in some cases, even from one monogamous relationship to another. <\/em>(Ott et al., 2011<\/a>).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Once again, the reasons given for not getting tested are abundant. Among other things, beyond a lack of general knowledge related to STIs and the screening process...McDonagh et al., 2018<\/a>), people: <\/p>\n\n\n\n