Effects of human sexual promiscuity
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Human sexual promiscuity is the practice of having many different sexual partners.[1] The results of, or costs associated with, these behaviors are the effects of human sexual promiscuity.
A high number of sexual partners in a person's life usually means they are at a higher risk of sexually transmitted infections and life-threatening cancers.[2] These costs largely pertain to the dramatic consequences to physical and mental health. The physical health risks mainly consist of the sexually transmitted infection risks, such as HIV and AIDS, that increase as individuals have develop sexual partners over their lifetime.
Research has also shown that there might be some benefit regarding the health fitness of the offsprings of promiscuous females in some animals.[3]
Promiscuity in adolescents
[edit]
The prevalence of promiscuity, in the case of adolescents, is known to be a root cause for many physical, mental, and socio-economic risks.[4][better source needed] Research has found that adolescents, in particular, are at a higher risk of negative consequences as a result of promiscuity.[4]
In sub-Saharan Africa, adolescents engaged in promiscuous activities face many health and economic risks related to teenage pregnancy, maternal mortality, labor complications, and loss of educational opportunities.[4]
Physical health effects
[edit]Incidence and prevalence estimates suggest that adolescents, in comparison to adults, are particularly at higher risk of developing sexually transmitted infections, such as chlamydia, gonorrhea, syphilis and herpes.[5] It is accepted that adolescent females are especially at risk to develop sexually transmitted infections. This is claimed to be due to the increased cervical ectopy, which is more susceptible to infection.[5] In addition to these risks, adolescent mothers, whose offspring are generally first-births, are at a higher risk of certain pregnancy and labor complications, which can affect the mother and the offspring, as well as the entire community and future generations.[4][better source needed]
Mental health effects
[edit]Emotional and mental disruptions are also observed to be an effect of the promiscuity in adolescence.[6][failed verification] Studies have shown a correlation and direct relationship between adolescent sexual risk taking and mental health risks.[6] Sexual risks include multiple sexual partners, lack of protection use, and sexual intercourse at a young age.[6] The mental risks that are associated with these include cognitive disorders such as anxiety, depression, and a substance use disorder.[6] It is also found that sexual promiscuity in teens can be a result of substance misuse and pre-existing mental health conditions such as clinical depression.[7]
STIs can put women at a high risk for infertility, which generally leads to feelings of depression.[8][9] This holds true for women who are still able to conceive because there is a high risk of transferring the disease to their child through pregnancy or child birth.[9]
Women are of higher susceptibility to psychosocial mental health effects of STIs. They report to having feelings immense of shame, guilt, and self blame after diagnosis.[8] This can lead to avoidant behaviors and fear of disclosure to not only sexual partners but family and friends.[8] All of these behaviors are associated with a decline to mental health, whether it is depression, anxiety, or any other disorder.[8]
Other factors contribute to how STIs effect mental health and these include history of trauma and stigma from the disease.[10][11]
Promiscuity in adults
[edit]Sexual promiscuity in adults, as with adolescents, presents substantial risks to physical, mental, and socioeconomic health. Having multiple sexual partners is linked with risks such as maternal deaths and complications, cancers, sexually transmitted infections, alcohol, and substance use, and social condemnation in some societies.[12] A higher number of sexual partners poses a greater risk of contracting sexually transmitted infections, mental health issues, and alcohol/substance use.[12] Adults, however, are generally found to be less at risk of certain pregnancy and labor complications, such as cephalopelvis disproportion, than adolescents, while being at higher risk for other labor complications.[4][13]
Physical health effects
[edit]Promiscuity in adults has detrimental effects on physical health. As the number of sexual partners a person has in his or her lifetime increases, the higher the risk he or she contracts sexually transmitted infections.[12] The length of a sexual relationship with a partner, the number of past and present partners, and pre-existing conditions are all variables that affect the development of risks in a person's life.[14] Promiscuous individuals may also be at a higher risk of developing prostate cancer, cervical cancer, and oral cancer as a result of having multiple sexual partners, and combined with other risky acts such as smoking, and substance use, promiscuity can also lead to heart disease.[12]
Studies have also shown that individuals who engage in long-term relationships, as opposed to hypersexual and promiscuous behavior are less likely to fall victim to domestic violence.[12]
Mental health effects
[edit]According to research conducted by Sandhya Ramrakha of the Dunedin School of Medicine, the probability of having a substance use disorder increased linearly with an increase in the number of sexual partners.[15][non-primary source needed] This was particularly greater for women, however, there was no correlation with other mental health risks.[15] This contrasts other studies that find there indeed is a correlation between mental health risk and multiple sexual partners.[16]
References
[edit]- ^ "PROMISCUOUS | meaning in the Cambridge English Dictionary". dictionary.cambridge.org. Retrieved 2019-05-06.
- ^ "Is There a Price to Pay for Promiscuity?". EverydayHealth.com. Retrieved 2019-05-06.
- ^ Gerlach, N. M.; McGlothlin, J. W.; Parker, P. G.; Ketterson, E. D. (2011). "Promiscuous mating produces offspring with higher lifetime fitness". Proceedings. Biological Sciences. 279 (1730): 860–866. doi:10.1098/rspb.2011.1547. PMC 3259935. PMID 21881136.
- ^ a b c d e Bledsoe, Caroline H.; Cohen, Barney; Cohen, B. (1993). Read "Social Dynamics of Adolescent Fertility in Sub-Saharan Africa" at NAP.edu. doi:10.17226/2220. ISBN 978-0-309-04897-2. PMID 25144052.
- ^ a b "STDs in Adolescents and Young Adults - 2017 Sexually Transmitted Diseases Surveillance". www.cdc.gov. 2019-01-11. Retrieved 2019-05-06.
- ^ a b c d The Royal Australian College of General Practitioners. "RACGP - Psychological distress and risky sexual behaviours among women aged 16–25 years in Victoria, Australia". www.racgp.org.au. Retrieved 2019-05-12.
- ^ Bennett, David L; Bauman, Adrian (2000-07-29). "Adolescent mental health and risky sexual behaviour". BMJ: British Medical Journal. 321 (7256): 251–252. doi:10.1136/bmj.321.7256.251. ISSN 0959-8138. PMC 1118255. PMID 10915107.
- ^ a b c d Influence of Stigma, Shame and Perceived Risk upon Sexual Behaviour. [Unpublished doctoral dissertation]. University of Birmingham School of Psychology. https://etheses.bham.ac.uk/id/eprint/4581/1/Doran13ClinPsyD_vol.1.pdf
- ^ a b Centers for Disease Control. "How STDs Impact Women Differently From Men" (PDF).
- ^ Magidson, Jessica F.; Blashill, Aaron J.; Wall, Melanie M.; Balan, Ivan C.; Wang, Shuai; Lejuez, C. W.; Blanco, Carlos (April 2014). "Relationship between psychiatric disorders and sexually transmitted diseases in a nationally representative sample". Journal of Psychosomatic Research. 76 (4): 322–328. doi:10.1016/j.jpsychores.2013.12.009. ISSN 0022-3999. PMC 4000753. PMID 24630184.
- ^ Brewer, Antonia; Colbert, Alison M.; Sekula, Kathleen; Bekemeier, Betty (September 2020). "A need for trauma informed care in sexually transmitted disease clinics". Public Health Nursing (Boston, Mass.). 37 (5): 696–704. doi:10.1111/phn.12784. ISSN 1525-1446. PMID 32776628. S2CID 221101111.
- ^ a b c d e "Is There a Price to Pay for Promiscuity?". EverydayHealth.com. Retrieved 2019-05-31.
- ^ "Labor complications: 10 common problems". Medical News Today. 27 June 2018. Retrieved 2019-05-31.
- ^ A Guide To Taking a Sexual History. CDC.
- ^ a b Ramrakha, Sandhya; Paul, Charlotte; Bell, Melanie L.; Dickson, Nigel; Moffitt, Terrie E.; Caspi, Avshalom (2013). "The Relationship Between Multiple Sex Partners and Anxiety, Depression, and Substance Dependence Disorders: A Cohort Study". Archives of Sexual Behavior. 42 (5): 863–872. doi:10.1007/s10508-012-0053-1. ISSN 0004-0002. PMC 3752789. PMID 23400516.
- ^ "How Casual Sex Can Affect Our Mental Health". Psychology Today. Retrieved 2019-05-12.