Teens use condoms more than young adults: study

When it comes to safe sex, two Canadian researchers found wisdom might not come with age.

Single young adults in Canada are significantly less likely to use condoms than teenagers, according to a Statistics Canada study released Wednesday.

With the number of reported sexually transmitted infections rising, the two authors of the study, reported in this week's issue of the Canadian Journal of Human Sexuality, said young Canadians relying on monogamy for protection do so at the risk of permanently damaging their reproductive health.

The authors found that 59.9 per cent of men and 49.9 per cent of women between the ages of 20-34 who were unmarried and not living common-law reported using a condom the last time they had sex. The rates for those aged 15-17 were about 85 per cent for males and 75 per cent for females.

"With this age group, as individuals become involved in more monogamous, longer-term relationships, then perhaps individuals are feeling their risk of contracting a sexually transmitted infection is less," said lead researcher Michelle Rottermann. "Hopefully, this paper will remind individuals this isn't the case."

Rottermann said that the study is the first in Canada to look at condom use of that demographic.

Most studies on the topic have typically examined rates among high-risk groups, such as teenagers or men that have sex with men.

According to co-author Alexander McKay, though, "single people who are sexually active, even though their risk doesn't decline, the older they become, the less likely they are to use condoms."

For the 20-24 age group, 64 per cent of men and 54 per cent of women reported using them. For those 25-29, the numbers fell to 56 and 47 per cent, respectively, and for the 30-34 set, they fell again to 54 and 42 per cent. The lowest rates of condom use were found in Quebec, and among women living in rural areas.

Cases of gonorrhea, syphilis, and chlamydia have all increased substantially in Canada since 1998. MacKay said these diseases in particular are asymptomatic, "that is, the person who is infected doesn't know they're infected, and their partner doesn't know, either."

Chlamydia, the most common STI on the planet, can go unnoticed in women for years, during which time irreversible scarring can occur in reproductive organs.

The researcher explained that if these habits continue through successive relationships, they amount to having "unprotected sex with multiple partners, which puts you at high risk for an STI."

Both said their findings suggest sexual education should continue past high school through the form of campaigns targeting the older demographic.