Condom Usage Depends on Nature of Relationship among Heterosexual couples, Study

Couples in causal flings use more condoms than those involved in long-term serious relationships, according to a study.

Researchers from the Public Health service of Amsterdam found that the usage of condoms depended on the nature of relationships among heterosexual couples. For the study, the researchers surveyed 2,144 participants who visited a sexually transmitted infections (STI) clinic in Amsterdam from May to August 2010. They were asked about their sexual activities with four of their recent sexual partners. Nearly, half of these subjects were either women or aged below 25.  Experts used the term 'Inconsistent' condom use to denote increased or decreased use of condoms in couples from causal and steady relationships.

The research noted a total 6,401 partnerships of which 4,014 were reported to be casual relationships and 2,387 as steady relationships.

The regular usage of condoms among those in causal and steady relations was 33.5 and 14 percent respectively. It was found that familiarity and comfort among partners in relationships of longer durations contributed to the less use of condoms. Irregular condom use was also prevalent in when both partners in a couple were the same ethnicity, in couples with increased number of sex acts or engaged in anal sex and sex-related drugs. This holds true for both steady and casual sex relationships.

Amy Master, study author and researcher from the Public Health service of Amsterdam said, "We found that when partners are more familiar with each other and when they are more alike, inconsistent condom use becomes more prevalent," reports Reuters.

The authors noted that condoms usage was inconsistent in less educated individuals and steady couples of same ethnicity. Experts stress on the need for regular use of condoms irrespective of the nature and duration of relationships to avoid the risks of sexually transmitted diseases (STDs).

Dr Lu Ireland from the department of obstetrics and gynecology at the University of California, Los Angeles who was not a part of the research told Reuters Health, "In my experience, people tend to be motivated to use condoms when they feel they are at risk. The only way to be safe is to practice 100 percent condom use."

The research is published in the journal 'Sexually Transmitted Disease.'