While I wanted to respond with this information to a comment it is much better as a post.
| Study | Sample Size | Relationship Type | % Reporting STI Diagnosis | Notable Insights |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lehmiller et al., 2015 – Journal of Sexual Medicine | 556 | CNM | 18.3% | CNM participants reported more condom use and STI testing than monogamous ones. |
| Monogamous | 17.6% | Nearly 25% of monogamous participants reported infidelity, often without protection. | ||
| 2012 National Survey of Sexual Health and Behavior (CDC) | 2,270 | CNM (Open Relationships) | 14.0% | Higher condom use for anal sex and more frequent testing. |
| Non-consensual Non-monogamy | 22.0% | Highest STI risk due to secrecy and lack of protection. | ||
| Monogamous | 13.0% | Lower reported STI rates, but testing frequency was also lower. |
:
CNM means “consensual non-monogamy”
Copilot sums the studies up with:
- CNM relationships show comparable or slightly higher STI diagnosis rates, but this is offset by greater testing and safer sex practices.
- The highest STI risk is found in relationships with non-consensual infidelity, not CNM.
- Monogamous individuals may be lulled into a false sense of security, especially when testing is infrequent or infidelity is hidden.
It isn’t as clearly stated as it could be, but it because of the lower testing rates in the monogamous relationships the actual STI rates may be higher than reported in the studies. Hence, if anything, the STI benefits, already near zero, to monogamous relationship may be overstated by the studies.
Ironically, if someone insists STI avoidance is the reason of monogamous relationships if they really wanted to decrease the risk they should be in a CNM relationship or, best of all, give up sex.
This reminds me of the Robert Heinlein quote:
If “everybody knows” such-and-such, then it ain’t so, by at least ten thousand to one.
And, of course, there is the stubborn belief that gun control makes people safer when the facts indicate More Guns, Less Crime.
I’m having trouble with the term “non-consensual infidelity”. Does that translate to “rapists who are married”? It seems rather disturbing that the amount of such activity is large enough to allow for a statistical study.
It is intended to mean people who have sex with more than one person while telling one or more of them they are monogamous.
Oh. Weird. I thought that was meant by simply “infidelity” because that term implies dishonesty as opposed to approval by all parties.
Sexually Transmitted Diseases….and the prevention of such is not a truly logical subject because it addresses a problem involved with an irrational urge and drive.
The drive to procreate. As such any logical method is likely not going to be effective as people are NOT rational when it comes to sex. The best we can hope for is preventative measures that diminish it’s prevalence combined with more treatments that are effective. However it IS “germ warfare” and the germs generally tend to win.