“Sexually unfaithful” individuals – those who have sex with partners outside their primary relationship – tend to engage in riskier sexual behaviors than those who are in negotiated nonmonogamous (“open”) relationships, according to new research.
University of Michigan researchers used an anonymous online questionnaire to gather data from 1,647 participants. About half of those participants were excluded from the analysis because they had not had sex outside of their primary relationship. Of the remaining 801 participants, 308 said they were in monogamous relationships but had still had sex with another partner. The other 493 people were in negotiated nonmonogamous relationships, in which sex outside the relationship was considered acceptable by both parties.
The average age of the participants was 35.8. Slightly over half the participants were female.
The researchers found that the sexually unfaithful partners were less likely to practice safer sex than the negotiated nonmonogamous partners. For example, in the last encounter outside the primary relationship:
• 63% of negotiated nonmonogamous people discussed testing for sexually-transmitted infections (STIs). Only 34% of the sexually unfaithful partners did.
• 66% of negotiated nonmonogamous people used condoms during penetrative vaginal sex. 48% of the sexually unfaithful people did the same.
• 81% of negotiated nonmonogamous people told their primary partner about the encounter. 29% of the sexually unfaithful people revealed the encounter to their partner.
• Sexually unfaithful people were more likely to be under the influence of drugs or alcohol during the encounter.
With their primary partner, sexually unfaithful people were also less likely to use condoms for vaginal and anal intercourse, use gloves for genital touching, and cover or sterilize sex toys.
These riskier practices, among others, can compromise the health of the primary partner. “Thus, in addition to causing a host of previously established psychosocial difficulties within their romantic relationship, sexually unfaithful individuals are placing their primary sexual partner at risk for contracting STIs by employing fewer safer sex strategies and not informing their partner of their extradyadic encounter,” the authors wrote.
They added that future research may look into why sexually unfaithful individuals are less likely to practice safer sex, suggesting the following possibilities:
• Practicing safer sex adds an element of forethought and planning to the encounter, which may make sexually unfaithful partners feel guilty.
• Sexually unfaithful people may say they were “overcome with emotion” when they had the encounter. “That is, because they recognize that they are doing something against the will of their partner, they may justify these behaviors with the idea that they simply could not control themselves,” the authors explained.
• Sexually unfaithful individuals may not be aware that they’re at risk for contracting and transmitting STIs. They may not feel they have to practice safe sex because they are in a monogamous relationship.
The current study may help healthcare providers, who may encourage their patients to discuss what monogamy means for their relationship and what to do if an agreement is breached. To lower the risk of spreading STIs, some monogamous couples may decide to share information about sex outside the relationship.
Resources
Journal of Sexual Medicine
Conley, Terry D., PhD, et al.
“Unfaithful Individuals are Less Likely to Practice Safer Sex Than Openly Nonmonogamous Individuals”
(Full-text. First published online: March 29, 2012)
http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/j.1743-6109.2012.02712.x/abstract
Medical Xpress
“Secret love cheats pose a greater infection risk than those in open sexual relationships”
June 14, 2012
http://medicalxpress.com/news/2012-06-secret-pose-greater-infection-sexual.html
University of Michigan News Service
“Couples in ‘open’ relationships practice safer sex than cheaters”
June 19, 2012
http://ns.umich.edu/new/releases/20629-couples-in-open-relationships-practice-safer-sex-than-cheaters