Sexual risk behavior and history of sexually transmitted diseases in relation to casual travel sex during different types of journeys.

Abstract

The study investigated if women with experience of casual travel sex, with a previously unknown man abroad, on different types of journeys (charter, vagabond, business and education trips), differ with regard to sexual risk behavior and history of sexually transmitted diseases (STDs). The study population consisted of 996 women. Of these, 27.7% admitted that they had had casual sex during journeys. The remaining women were used as a comparison group. History of STDs and sexual risk behaviors were investigated. The frequency of women who had more than ten lifetime sexual partners were greatly increased in all groups, as compared to the controls. A history of gonorrhea was most frequent among the charter travellers. A history of genital chlamydial infection was most common among the vagabond travellers. The lowest frequencies of a history of STDs was observed in women engaging in casual sex on 'business' journeys and they had significantly less often a history of STDs as compared to the charter travellers. A high frequency of STDs were seen in women who had experience of casual sex on different types of journeys. Women on business trips, although they had a similar sexual risk behaviour as the other groups of travellers, had less often a history of STDs.