Popular dating websites blamed for increase in STDs

Popular dating websites blamed for increase in STDs

Whether looking for a serious relationship, casual fling, or just testing the waters, there are websites available to find a partner. However, according to a new study from the University of Maryland’s Robert H. Smith School of Business, these sites are linked to a rise in sexually transmitted diseases.

The introduction of Craigslist in Florida, which allows users to post classified advertisements for casual hookups, led to a 13.5 percent increase of HIV-infection cases within a four-year period, according to the study. The dangers applied to all races, genders and sexual preferences.

“Sex can always come with a certain level of risk,” says Dr. Pranjal Shah, internal medicine physician at Advocate Good Samaritan Hospital in Downers Grove, Ill. “Many sites and apps provide people with a chance to ‘hookup’ with others, and people are at risk because they don’t know much about the person they are sleeping with.”

The study also found that it is possible that homosexual men are more likely to practice safe sex than infected heterosexuals. The study’s authors suggested that it may be a result of targeted public service announcements to homosexuals as opposed to heterosexual males.

“Regardless of sexual preference, you should practice safe sex,” says Dr. Shah. “If you use a site for this type of purpose, it is even more important that you take protection for yourself and your partner.”

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Comments

6 Comments

  1. “Many sites and apps provide people with a chance to ‘hookup’ with others, . . . ”

    No site or apps provides for a hookup any more than a dinner party, chance meeting at the supermarket or a church dance. Just another quote thrown in there to substantiate a study or claim. At least smokers did not get blamed for anything on this one.

  2. I would not consider Craigslist a dating website, nor would I consider “hooking up” as dating.

  3. Fred G. Sanford June 8, 2015 at 3:50 pm · Reply

    “Marriage is honorable in all and the bed undefiled: but whoremongers and adulterers God will judge”
    -Hebrews 13:4

    Contracting an STD is the last thing a person who engages in sex-out-of- wedlock should worry about. If you die living in disobedience to God’s word, you don’t go to Heaven, no matter what the preacher says or what people believe on their own.

    I got saved in December of 2001 and I was a fornicator, big time. God saved me from all my sins and now I hate them with a passion.
    Wait. Save yourself for your husband or wife. You think you’ll be missing out, but you won’t.

    • “[4] Who art thou that judgest another man’s servant? to his own master he standeth or falleth. Yea, he shall be holden up: for God is able to make him stand. [5] One man esteemeth one day above another: another esteemeth every day [alike]. Let every man be fully persuaded in his own mind. [6] He that regardeth the day, regardeth [it] unto the Lord; and he that regardeth not the day, to the Lord he doth not regard [it]. He that eateth, eateth to the Lord, for he giveth God thanks; and he that eateth not, to the Lord he eateth not, and giveth God thanks. [7] For none of us liveth to himself, and no man dieth to himself. [8] For whether we live, we live unto the Lord; and whether we die, we die unto the Lord: whether we live therefore, or die, we are the Lord’s. [9] For to this end Christ both died, and rose, and revived, that he might be Lord both of the dead and living. [10] But why dost thou judge thy brother? or why dost thou set at nought thy brother? for we shall all stand before the judgment seat of Christ. [11] For it is written, [As] I live, saith the Lord, every knee shall bow to me, and every tongue shall confess to God. [12] So then every one of us shall give account of himself to God.”
      -Romans 14:4-12

      “[3] But with me it is a very small thing that I should be judged of you, or of man’s judgment: yea, I judge not mine own self. [4] For I know nothing by myself; yet am I not hereby justified: but he that judgeth me is the Lord. [5] Therefore judge nothing before the time, until the Lord come, who both will bring to light the hidden things of darkness, and will make manifest the counsels of the hearts: and then shall every man have praise of God.”
      -1 Corinthians 4:3-5

      “There is only one Lawgiver and Judge, the One who is able to save and to destroy; but who are you who judge your neighbor?”
      -James 412

      “Judge not, that ye be not judged.”
      -Mathew 7:1

      “Judge not, and ye shall not be judged: condemn not, and ye shall not be condemned: forgive, and ye shall be forgiven”
      -Luke 6:37

      Fred, I think that it’s pretty clear that the Bible says to mind your own business. 🙂

  4. It’s not the fault of the dating sites. It’s not their jobs to test for STDs nor are they supposed to be in the room with couple to make them use protection. There still is a thing called “individual responsibility” for adult men and women.

  5. Natural selection at its finest. The behavior of an animal having a direct effect on the reproductive health of that animal, lowering its chances to successfully produce an offspring and pass on its genes which had already predisposed that animal to behave in a certain way. If there isn’t a study going on about this already then social/medical scientist are missing a golden opportunity. I’m a very sex positive person who would support consenting adults engaging in sexual acts (not cheating though but that’s a personal moral choice) if there were no STDs in a population, but without intelligent decision making in this reality….well…you end up with an increase in the population with genital cancers/infections/infertility ect.

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health enews Staff
health enews Staff

health enews staff is a group of experienced writers from our Advocate Health Care and Aurora Health Care sites, which also includes freelance or intern writers.