A new study reveals men are less likely to use a condom if the woman they're with is attractive. Guess that condom challenge to promote safe sex was a bust, especially after seeing this map of the most sexually transmitted disease-ridden cities in the U.S.
The study, published in BMJ Open, saw a group of UK researchers examine 51 heterosexual men. Ranging in ages 18 through 69, the men were first given a survey about their sexual experiences, including the age in which they first became sexually active and how many sexual partners they've had.
Researchers found the average age of the group's first sexual encounter was about 18 years old. The youngest and oldest ages reported were 14 and 30, respectively. The average number of sex partners recorded for the group was about nine. The study showed one participant reported zero partners, while another reported 60.
The men were each shown 20 black-and-white pictures of women's faces and were asked to assess how attractive each woman was and how willing they were to have sex with her, in addition to estimating how likely each woman was to have a sexually transmitted infection. Finally, the men had to answer the likelihood of them using a condom were they actually able to have sex with the woman pictured.
Researchers concluded men's decision to use a condom depended on the attractiveness of the woman even if he thought she was likely to have a STI. The study also revealed attractiveness didn't coincide with likelihood of having STIs. Some men proved to be more attracted to women they thought were likely to have a STI while others were attracted to women they thought were less likely to have a STI.
According to the study, "Men who are more attracted to 'riskier' women are just as disinclined to wear a condom when they have sex with these women as men who are more attracted to 'safer' women."
In December of 2015, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reported STDs were on the rise with cases of syphilis, chlamydia, and gonorrhea, increasing for the first time in 10 years.
