Men's behavior change following infection with a sexually transmitted disease

An analysis of data on 20-39-year-old men participating in the 1991 National Survey of Men finds that of 466 respondents who had ever had a sexually transmitted disease (STD), 25% had sex while infected. However, 85% of these men informed their partner of their infection before having intercourse. Black men were significantly less likely than whites to have had sex while infected. Overall, 29% of men with an STD did not modify their sexual behavior or condom use. Blacks, married men and men who were affiliated with a religious group were less likely than whites, single men and those with no religious affiliation to maintain the same behavior subsequent to the diagnosis of an STD infection as before. Black men were more likely than whites to start using condoms; blacks, religious men, less-educated men and those who were older when they had their first sexual experience were the most likely to stop having sex with casual partners once they learned that they were infected with an STD.