Sex in America? Don't ask

Many Americans aren't asking about their partner's sexual history before jumping into bed.
A new national poll of the 56,000 Americans, finds only 39 percent of people ask a new lover if they are infected with HIV. The survey also discovered that 42 percent of respondents were unaware of their current partner's HIV status.
Most of the 56,000 Americans surveyed are concerned about the possibility of contracting HIV or a sexually transmitted (STD), however.
The survey found women were more likely to initiate discussions about HIV and STDs with their sex partners than men (48 percent and 33 percent, respectively) and that African-Americans were more likely than Latinos or whites to talk about the diseases.
Julius Schachter, editor of the journal Sexually Transmitted Diseases, says that one of the reasons for the low number of people knowing their partners' HIV status is that many still view HIV as a disease affecting only white gay men and injection-drug users.
Men also commonly believe that it is much more difficult for them to contract an STD from a woman than it is for women to be infected by men, Schachter said.
The Joint United Nations Programme on HIV/AIDS estimates 40 million people worldwide are currently living with HIV/AIDS, and most of them don't know they have the virus.
A recent Centers for Disease Control and Prevention study concurs. It found the rate of new HIV infections among men who have sex with men are nine times higher than among women and heterosexual men, because many were unaware of their infection.
The Journal of Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndromes found that denial of HIV risk factors and fear of being HIV positive were the principal reasons for not being tested.
Jack D. Bissett, M.D., myDNA Medical Advisory Board member, said that engaging in sexual activity in this modern era, in contrast to 30 years ago, carries significantly greater risks.
This, he said, is due to substantial changes in social behaviors over the past three to four decades.
"Sex education efforts need to include information aimed at encouraging individuals to honestly assess their own risk factors for STDs," Bissett said, "as well as encouraging open discussion with potential sex partners regarding possible risk factors prior to engaging in unprotected sexual activity."
from My DNA