As an obstetrician and gynecologist, I inevitably encounter the embarrassing topic of "sex" during consultations for many diseases, especially when asked about the number of sexual partners, which is extremely awkward and difficult to talk about.
Recently, the BMJ sub-journal "Sex and Reproductive Health" conducted a detailed study on this "lifestyle," and the results showed that people who have more than 10 sexual partners in their lifetime have a significantly increased risk of cancer.
It's important to note that while the risk is higher for women with 10 or more sexual partners, it doesn't mean those with fewer than 10 are immune. Don't say I didn't warn you; having more than one could mean paying the price for your past infidelity. This applies to both men and women!
Let me give you a quick look at the research results you're interested in.
Previous research has rarely explored the link between the number of sexual partners and physical health. To fill this gap, researchers used information collected for the Longitudinal Study of Aging in the UK (ELSA), a nationwide longitudinal study of people aged 50 and over living in the UK.
Between 2012 and 2013, researchers surveyed 5,722 participants about the number of their sexual partners, including 2,537 men and 3,185 women.
The number of sexual partners was recorded in segments: 0-1, 2-4, 5-9, and 10 or more. Participants were also asked to assess their health and record any conditions or illnesses that affected their daily activities.
The average age of the participants was 64, and nearly three-quarters were married. Approximately 28.5% of the men reported having had 0-1 sexual partners to date; 29% reported 2-4; 20% reported 5-9; and 22% reported 10 or more. The corresponding figures for women were: slightly less than 41%; 35.5%; slightly less than 16%; and close to 8%.
The data shows that, regardless of gender, people with more sexual partners tend to be younger, single, and have either very high or very low wealth. These individuals with more sexual partners also tend to smoke and drink more frequently and engage in more vigorous physical activity each week.
However, don't take it personally. This is just a data analysis. Don't start "Sherlock Holmes-style observation" of your partner just because they smoke, drink, or exercise frequently.
Having multiple sexual partners is definitely not a good thing!
Analysis revealed that people with more sexual partners are more likely to be diagnosed with cancer.
Women with 10 or more sexual partners were 91% more likely to develop cancer than women with 0-1 sexual partners (OR 1.91, 95% CI 1.04-3.51). Men with 2-4 sexual partners in their lifetime were 57% more likely to develop cancer than those with 0-1 sexual partners, while men with 10 or more sexual partners were 69% more likely to develop cancer (OR 1.69, 95% CI 1.01-2.83).
But that's not the end of the story; the number of sexual partners is not only related to cancer.
While the number of sexual partners was not associated with reported long-term health conditions in men, it was correlated in women. A moment of silence for the women who are again implicated in this issue.
Women with 5-9 or more sexual partners are 64% more likely to have long-term restrictive diseases than women with 0-1 sexual partners (OR 1.64, 95% CI 1.15-2.35).
However, this is only an observational study, and it is still unknown why people with more sexual partners have an increased risk of cancer.
However, researchers believe these findings are consistent with previous studies that sexually transmitted infections are linked to the development of several cancers and hepatitis.
The study did not obtain specific information about the cancers the patients had, but based on previous research results, it is speculated that the increased risk of these cancers may be caused by known sexually transmitted infections.
Researchers suggest that if further research can establish a causal relationship between the number of sexual partners and subsequent health problems, then simply asking how many sexual partners you have might be enough to prompt someone at risk of cancer to get a checkup. This seems to be a good signal to encourage regular checkups.
Think about all the good things you've done in the past, and hurry up and book a medical check-up!
Although there is no clear relationship between the number of sexual partners and the risk of cancer, reducing the number of sexual partners can indeed reduce the likelihood of various sexually transmitted diseases and other infectious diseases.
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