New research from the University of Bristol and the University of Southampton in England has revealed that men are more likely to have sex without a condom if they find the woman attractive. The findings held true even if the men believed that the woman might have sexually transmitted diseases.
The study surveyed 51 heterosexual men between the ages of 18 and 69. They found that the men were much more willing to use a condom with a less attractive woman, even if that woman was less likely to have STDs.
The man’s perception of his own attractiveness also played a part in the decision of whether or not to use a condom. Men who considered themselves to be attractive were more willing to have unprotected sex.
Previous research has also found a link between perceived attractiveness and willingness to have unprotected sex. One previous study found that women were more willing to have sex without a condom the more attractive they found the man to be.
The new study, which focused on men, asked each participant to indicate, based on a picture, how likely they would be to have sex with a woman if they had the chance and how likely they would be to use a condom. They were also asked to estimate how many men like themselves would have unprotected sex with the woman if given the opportunity. Finally, the men were asked how likely it was that the woman had an STD. The men were also asked how attractive they considered themselves to be.
The findings highlight how irrational sexual behavior can be when avoiding infection, which the researchers say indicates that a single approach to encouraging condom use may not work.
The researchers offered two possible reasons for the study findings. Study co-author Roger Ingham, University of Southampton sexual health expert, said it may be an evolutionary holdover that leads men to want to reproduce with attractive partners. Another reason may be that having sex with an attractive woman offers higher status, so the man is more likely to take risks to acquire that status.
Study results were published in the journal BMJ Open on June 17.