Sexually transmitted diseases in Swedish women with experience of casual sex with men of foreign nationalities within Sweden

Abstract

Background. This study was performed in women who had attended the clinic for contraceptive advice to determine whether a history of casual sex with a foreign male, previously unknown to them (SFM) in their home country (Sweden), constituted an increased risk for acquiring sexually transmitted diseases (STD) as compared to women without such an experience (COMP). Methods. Of 996 women enrolled, and who were subjected to a structured deep-interview performed by midwives, 595 (59.7%) stated that they had experienced casual sex within Sweden with for them a previously unknown Swedish male (SSM). Results. A history of SFM was reported by 120 (12.0%) women. A history of chlamydial infection (26.0%) and gonorrhea (13.0%) were more common in the SFM women than in either the COMP (16.0% and 3.0%) or the SSM (19.0% and 4.0%) groups. Genital warts (8.0%) and bacterial vaginosis (23.0%) were found more often in the SFM group as compared to both the COMP (3.0% and 12.0%) and the SSM (4.0% and 13.0%) group. Women in the SFM group more often had a current genital chlamydial infection (13.0%) than those in the COMP group (8.0%.). When adjustment was made for markers of sexual risk taking, only genital warts remained significantly (p=0.05) associated with SFM as compared to both SSM and COMP. Conclusions. To conclude, the study shows that women with experience of SFM had, more often, a history of one or more STDs and were more often carriers of STD agents than those lacking experience of SFM and/or SSM. However, there was no such difference when comparing the SFM and SSM women when making adjustments for sexual risk behavior. Thus a sexual risky lifestyle is more important than the origin of the sex partner for acquiring STDs with possible exception of HIV/AIDS in the society studied.