People In Open Relationships Have Same STI Risk As Monogamous Couples, Study Suggests

Open Relationships Have Same STI Risk As Monogamous Ones, Study Suggests
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You'd be forgiven for assuming that being in an open relationship would increase your risk of contracting a sexually transmitted infection (STI).

After all, both you and your partner may be having sex with multiple people.

But a new study has suggested couples in monogamous relationships are just as likely to contract STIs as people in consensually non-monogamous (CNM) relationships.

The study asked 556 people - 351 in a monogamous relationships and 205 in CNM relationships - about their sex lives in order to collect the data.

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Participants were questioned about the amount of sexual partners they have ever had, whether or not they have ever been unfaithful to a partner, what forms of contraception they use and how often they go for a sexual health check.

Around a quarter of people in monogamous relationships admitted to having sex outside of their primary relationship. The majority of people who had been unfaithful said that their primary partner did not know about their infidelity.

Despite this, CNM partners reported having more sexual partners overall than individuals in monogamous relationships.

However, the STI risk was calculated to be very similar between both groups.

"CNM partners reported taking more precautions than those in monogamous relationships in terms of greater condom use during intercourse with all partners and a higher likelihood of STI testing," the study reads.

"Thus, although persons in CNM relationships had more sexual partners, the precautions they took did not appear to elevate their rate of STIs above an imperfect implementation of monogamy."

The study was led by Justin Lehmiller at Ball State University, Indiana, and published in The Journal for Sexual Health.

It isn't the first to suggest being in an open relationship doesn't increase STI risk.

A 2012 study from the University Of Michigan found that condom use for vaginal and anal sex was 27% and 35% lower in sexually unfaithful relationships than in open relationships.

"Monogamy can be an effective method for preventing the spread of STIs, but only if couples test negative for STIs at the start of the relationship and remain faithful while they are together," lead author Dr Terri Conley said at the time.

"If people do not find monogamy appealing or feasible, they clearly need to think about the risk this poses to their partner and consider whether an open relationship would suit their needs better, and better protect their relationship partners."

Celebrities Give Their Views On Monogamy
(01 of09)
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“I don’t think it’s a natural instinct for human beings, but it doesn’t mean I don’t believe in monogamy or true love. I believe in finding a soulmate. I’ve always been in monogamous relationships. I would never want to be in an open one. It’d be too awful. Monogamy can be hard work for some people. I don’t think it applies to everybody, and I don’t think a lot of people can do it.”- Scarlett Johansson, Cosmopolitan (2008) (credit:Getty Images)
(02 of09)
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"Oh, I think you can be [monogamous]. I think it's a lie to say you're enjoying it."- Bill Maher, Larry King Live (2000) (credit:Getty Images)
(03 of09)
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"It's very nice for raising kids, but the notion that monogamy lasts forever is a wish!"- Hugh Hefner, E! (2009) (credit:Getty Images)
(04 of09)
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"I was talking to my friend recently about monogamy—is it feasible, is it realistic? I resolved that there isn’t really a better model. We just can’t shake monogamy. It definitely demands a kind of rigor and discipline and selflessness. But it’s also fun.”- Claire Danes, BlackBook (2009) (credit:Getty Images)
(05 of09)
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"The whole idea of monogamy is nonsensical to me. I suppose I understand the idea of a lifelong helpmate and friend. But when you have to stay sexually monogamous to this one person, I think it's usually a big fat lie. Read the statistics. Seventy percent of people are having affairs. And if they're not, they're jerking off to porn every night."- Maria Bello, Esquire (2006)
(06 of09)
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“I think that monogamy is artificial. I do not think it’s something that comes naturally to us . . . The relationship I’ve been in for 18 years—I don’t even want to get into this because he’s going to read this and I’m going to be in so much shit!” - Tom Ford, Arena (credit:Getty Images)
(07 of09)
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"Absolutely it can be done. Do I believe it's realistic? No, I don't. I believe that we as people have the power to make it happen. I will not disrespect my husband and stray." - Kate Hudson, "Access Hollywood" (2005) (credit:Getty Images)
(08 of09)
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“I am a great romantic – but I also think you can be a romantic and a realist. Life is complicated and long and I know people that I respect and admire and look up to who have had extra-marital affairs. It’s like we’re flawed – we’re human beings and sometimes you make choices that other people are going to judge. That’s their problem, but I really think that the more I live my life, the more I learn not to judge people for what they do. I think we’re all trying our best but life is complicated.”- Gwyneth Paltrow,Venice Film Festival (2011) (credit:Getty Images)
(09 of09)
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"I think that a lot of people cheat, they don't tell that they're cheating. I think that there's a great promise to believe you can be with one person only for the rest of your life."- Goldie Hawn, The View (2005) (credit:Getty Images)