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BMJ sex and repro health accepted.pdf (456.63 kB)

The relationship between chronic diseases and number of sexual partners: an exploratory analysis

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posted on 2023-08-30, 16:51 authored by Igor Grabovac, Lee Smith, Lin Yang, Pinar Soysal, Nicola Veronese, Ahmet T. Isik, Suzanna E. Forwood, Sarah E. Jackson
Background: We investigated sex-specific associations between lifetime number of sexual partners and several health outcomes in a large sample of older adults in England. Methods: We used cross-sectional data from 2,537 men and 3,185 women aged ≥50 years participating in the English Longitudinal Study of Ageing. Participants reported the number of sexual partners they had had in their lifetime. Outcomes were self-rated health and self-reported limiting long-standing illness, cancer, coronary heart disease (CHD), and stroke. We used logistic regression to analyse associations between lifetime number of sexual partners and health outcomes, adjusted for relevant sociodemographic and health-related covariates. Results: Having had 10 or more lifetime sexual partners was associated with higher odds of reporting a diagnosis of cancer than having had 0-1 sexual partners in men (OR=1.69, 95% CI 1.01-2.83) and women (OR=1.91, 95% CI 1.04-3.51), respectively. Women who had 10 or more lifetime sexual partners also had higher odds of reporting a limiting long-standing illness (OR=1.64, 95% CI 1.15 2.35). No other statistically significant associations were observed. Conclusions: A higher lifetime number of sexual partners is associated with increased odds of reported cancer. Longitudinal research is required to establish causality. Understanding the predictive value of lifetime number of sexual partner as a behavioural risk factor may improve clinical assessment of cancer risk in older adults.

History

Refereed

  • Yes

Volume

46

Issue number

2

Page range

100-107

Publication title

BMJ Sexual & Reproductive Health

ISSN

2515-1991

Publisher

BMJ

File version

  • Accepted version

Language

  • eng

Legacy posted date

2019-12-20

Legacy creation date

2019-12-20

Legacy Faculty/School/Department

Faculty of Science & Engineering

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