Communicating with new sex partners: college women and questions that make a difference

Despite efforts of sexuality educators, many college women are uninfluenced by information about risks of contracting a sexually transmitted disease or initiating an unintentional pregnancy. This study used an anonymous questionnaire administered to 438 never-married undergraduate women to investigate the failure of college women to ask new sex partners about sexual histories prior to sexual intercourse. Significant differences were found between the three subsample groups: those who "almost always" (AA), "sometimes" (S), or "rarely" (R) asked their sex partners about sexual histories. At first sexual intercourse, AA group women were significantly more likely to have been in a committed relationship, to have been contracepted, and to have been older; and they were less likely to have been under the influence of alcohol or other mind-altering substances. Furthermore, AA group women also reported fewer sex partners than other respondents. They also were more likely to discuss sexually related topics with their partners, to reach sexual decisions by their own thoughts, and to set personal goals.