Sexual Behavior of College Women in 1975, 1986, and 1989

Abstract

To compare sexual practices in college women before and after the start of the current epidemics of Chlamydia trachomatis, genital herpesvirus, and human immunodeficiency virus type 1 infection, we surveyed 486 college women who consulted gynecologists at a student health service in 1975,161 in 1986, and 132 in 1989 at the same university. There were no statistically significant differences in age, age at menarche, or reason for visiting the gynecologist. The percentages of women in this population who were sexually experienced were the same in all three years (88 percent in 1975, 87 percent in 1986, and 87 percent in 1989). Oral contraceptives were used by 55 percent of the women in 1975, 34 percent in 1986, and 42 percent in 1989; the use of condoms as the usual method of birth control increased (6 percent in 1975, 14 percent in 1986, and 25 percent in 1989; P<0.001). In 1975, only 12 percent reported the regular use of condoms during sexual intercourse, in some cases in conjunction with other methods of contraception, as compared with 21 percent in 1986 and 41 percent in 1989 (P = 0.0014). No significant differences were found in the three surveys in the number of male sexual partners or the frequency of fellatio, cunnilingus, or anal intercourse. An additional sample of 189 college women who did not consult the health service was surveyed in 1989, and similar sexual behavior was reported by those who were sexually experienced (65 percent). We conclude that in this population there has been little change in sexual practices in response to new and serious epidemics of sexually transmitted diseases, with the exception of an increase in the use of condoms (which still does not reach 50 percent). DURING the 1974–1975 academic year, 500 unselected college women who consulted gynecologists at a student health service were studied in order to relate sexual practices to the prevalence of sexually transmitted pathogens.1234 Each participant completed an anonymous questionnaire about her sexual development, sexual experience, and gynecologic symptoms. To evaluate whether the current epidemic of sexually transmitted diseases, including infection with Chlamydia trachomatis, herpes simplex virus, and human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), and the advent of toxic shock syndrome had influenced the sexual behavior of college women, the same questionnaire was administered to 165 unselected women presenting for gynecologic examination at… © 1990, Massachusetts Medical Society. All rights reserved.