Only about half of people would tell their new sexual partner if they have a sexually transmitted disease

The central theses

Only half of people with a sexually transmitted disease would tell a new partner about the infection before sex
Fear, ignorance, concern and lack of commitment motivate people to hide their sexually transmitted disease
People who reveal themselves usually do so out of love, obligation or a feeling of a strong relationship

FRIDAY, June 7, 2024 (HealthDay News) — Only about half of people with a sexually transmitted disease would tell a new partner about their infection before sex, a new study shows.

Fear prevents many people from telling a new sexual partner about their STD, according to combined results from 32 previous studies.

Other reasons include the belief that using a condom provides sufficient protection, the lack of commitment that comes with a one-night stand, or the fear of the relationship failing.

The results show that some study participants even stated that they were not infected in order to avoid having to reveal their sexually transmitted disease.

“Individuals diagnosed with sexually transmitted infections (STIs) may be in a vulnerable position and face difficult decisions, the consequences of which can damage their identities and relationships. The process of disclosure is complex,” concluded the research team led by Kayley McMahan, a sexual health coordinator at the University of Tennessee.

In the United States, about one in five people is affected by a sexually transmitted disease at any given time, and more than 26 million cases have been reported to health services, the researchers said in background information.

Chlamydia, gonorrhea and syphilis have reached record levels and continue to rise, they added.

The researchers found that people who revealed their illness to their partner did so out of love, a sense of moral obligation, or a feeling of a strong, close relationship.

“One of the key factors that determines whether a person will disclose is the intended recipient,” the researchers said. “How the recipient reacts and responds and the relationship with the recipient can have critical influences on the discloser.”

Ignorance about sexual health also contributes to people not disclosing their sexually transmitted diseases, the researchers said.

For example, people with herpes believed that they could not infect their partner once the herpes had gone away, which is not true. They also believed that a condom would be enough to prevent transmission – this is also a lie.

The new study was published on June 5 in Journal of Sexual Research.

Comprehensive sex education can help people make smarter choices and better protect the health of their sexual partners, researchers say.

“Lack of sexual health knowledge suggests that many people do not receive adequate comprehensive sexual health education,” the researchers said in a journal press release. “This is not surprising, particularly in the United States, where comprehensive sexuality education is taboo rather than the norm.”

More information

The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has additional information on sexually transmitted diseases.

SOURCE: Taylor & Francis Group, press release, June 6, 2024