We all know the benefits of condoms and other contraceptives to practice safe sex and prevent sexually transmitted diseases. A new study, however, found that men are more likely to forego condom use when they're having sex with attractive women.
Does Attractiveness Influence Condom Use?
Researchers from the University of Southampton and the University of Bristol in England surveyed 51 heterosexual men with ages between 18 and 69 years old. The study, which was published in the journal BMJ Open, indicated that men are more likely to ditch condom use during sex with a woman if she is attractive, according to a report from Live Science.
Anastasia Eleftheriou, the study's lead author and a public health researcher, told The Washington Post via email correspondence that men are more likely to ditch condom use with attractive women even though they believe that those women carry sexually transmitted diseases. The same findings cannot be said for less attractive women.
The research found that men use condoms during sex with less attractive females even though the women are less likely to have STDs. In addition, a man's perception of his own physical looks plays a part in the matter as well. A man who thinks of himself as attractive is less likely to use condoms.
Attractiveness Plays A Role In Both Men And Woman's Sexual Habits
Condoms have plenty of benefits in sexual intercourse. It doesn't just prevent pregnancy and sexually transmitted diseases; it's also cheap, is easy to get from different stores and community health centers and doesn't give side effects. Condoms' small and discreet packaging makes it easy to be carried around in pockets or in wallets.
Aside from these, condoms are considered as "sexy" given how they come in various shapes, styles and textures that can boost sexual pleasure for both partners, Planned Parenthood wrote. Condoms also serve as a backup pregnancy protection to the other birth control methods you're already using.
It's not just men who factor in attractiveness when it comes to unprotected sex. A study published in the Journal of Health Psychology found that women also lower their safe-sex standards for attractive men.
According to Roger Ingham, Eleftheriou's co-author in the study, there are two possible reasons why men forego condom use during sexual intercourse with attractive women. One, men probably want to reproduce more with women who they deem as more attractive. Second, men could be equating sex with attractive females with "high status," making them more open to taking risks, The Washington Post added.
