The problem was deemed particularly bad in the US, which has one of the highest prevalences of STIs in the developed world. Since 2000, cases of Chlamydia have doubled, and cases of Gonorrhoea have increased by 40% in the same time frame. Most startlingly, Syphilis cases increased by 400%. These cases were largely recorded in young people aged 20 to 34.
The rise of dating apps during this time has only helped exacerbate this problem, and a new study has shown how this has happened.
Don’t leave your sexual health to chance. Get a comprehensive health STI check with Better2Know’s Platinum Screen.
The internet has created all sorts of new ways to help people court and develop new romantic relationships over the last 25 years. While early versions of dating sites were deemed the preserve of the desperate and the lonely, that all changed with the widespread adoption of smartphones in the early 2010s and the dating applications that were developed soon after, like Tinder, Bumble, OKCupid, Grindr, and others. The average person suddenly had several channels to meet new people.
In 2022, Dr Jaquetta Reeves, assistant professor at the College of Nursing and Health Innovation at the University of Texas in Arlington, and her colleagues used an anonymous online questionnaire to interview 122 young adult college students between 19 and 35 years old. The students were predominantly from northern Texas.
The students were asked if they had ever used a dating app and then invited to give information about their sexual behaviour. This information included their total number of sexual partners, how they used sexual health clinics on campus, any prior STIs, and whether they engaged in unprotected sex. They were also asked if they had met any sexual partners on dating apps, whether they were in a committed relationship, or if they were in open relationships or had “friends with benefits”.
Dating app use was more common among White (47%) than Black (12%) students, more common among men (64%) than women (33%), and more common among heterosexual people (86%) than those who identified as gay or bisexual (14%).
What did it show?
The study showed differences between students who used the apps and those who never used them:
Those who admitted to having more than one sexual partner during the previous year were more than two times more likely to use an app for dating than those with only one partner.
Participants who reported having sex in combination with alcohol were around 1.5 times more likely to use an app.
Those whose first sexual encounter took place between the ages of 16 and 19 were 1.5 times more likely to use an app than those whose first sexual encounter came later.
Students who had gotten STI testing at their campus clinic were almost 2 times more likely to use an app.
Students who had tested positive for HIV were 33% more likely to use an app.
What does it mean?
Reeves and her colleagues concluded that there was a significant positive association between the use of dating apps and engagement in risky sexual behaviours among the students who used them. But which is the chicken, and which is the egg?
In all likelihood, the causality between risky sexual behaviours and dating app use likely flows both ways. It’s easy to find casual partners on dating apps, which can lead to risky behaviours like unprotected sex. On the other hand, people who are already engaging in risky sexual activities might use dating apps to find like-minded people.
Final thoughts
The conclusions drawn from Reeves are quite clear:
“The study highlights a significant association between dating app use and engagement in condomless sexual activity among college students. University health clinics play a critical role in providing sexual health services and can enhance their impact by expanding access to testing, contraception, and inclusive, sex-positive education. Future research should explore the long-term effects of dating app use on sexual health and evaluate the effectiveness of app-based interventions in promoting safer sexual practices.”
If you’re concerned about a recent sexual encounter you’ve had through a dating app, you can get tested with Better2Know. Browse our home test kits or book an appointment at a sexual health clinic by clicking the button below.
With World AIDS Day coming up on December 1, we thought we’d shine a light on the state of HIV in the world today and the progress being made fighting the infection, both in the UK and around the world.
Who hasn’t used ChatGPT? The popular large language model (LLM) has been the fastest-adopted application in the history of the internet, and hundreds of millions of people worldwide use it every day, along with AI models from its competitors like Microsoft, Google, and Anthropic.
But what do people actually use these LLMs for? A question that becomes particularly relevant to us as Better2Know is whether people are using these LLMs to self-diagnose STIs.
It’s a fascinating topic. Read on to find out more.
Human genitals come in all shapes and sizes. Some features of genitals may be larger, smaller, differently shaped, and come in different colours and textures.
One concern we hear from our customers is about a fairly common condition called pearly penile papules (PPP).
But what are they? Should you be concerned if you have them?
For the most part, sexually transmitted infections can be easily treated. The vast majority respond well to antibiotics, and most other infections can be cured with effective treatments overseen by a doctor.
But some infections are fighting back. Many bacteria are gaining an edge in the arms race between pathogens and pharmaceuticals.
And one of the bacteria that is getting an edge is one that most people haven’t even heard of: Mycoplasma genitalium.
So, what’s going on here? Keep reading to find out!
Around 3,689 cases were diagnosed in hospitals in England in the first four months of 2024, a significant rise from 2,128 cases in all of 2023.
Universities nationwide have reported students complaining of small red dots and rashes on their skin. These infections have caused considerable discomfort and distress. The infection also seems to have taken hold in many parts of the north of England.
Young people have always had a lot of sex. For decades, public health campaigns tried to urge younger people to protect against unwanted pregnancies and sexually transmitted infections by encouraging regular testing and consistent condom use.
Many sexually active people assume that sexually transmitted infections (STIs) only affect the genital area. While symptoms like Genital Warts, unusual discharge, lesions, and chancres might prompt a visit to a sexual health clinic, STIs can also present with lesser-known symptoms.
While it may surprise some people, diarrhoea can very occasionally be a sign of an STI.
If you’re experiencing diarrhoea and think a sexually transmitted disease might be causing it, keep reading to find out more.
No one likes getting sick, and most people, if given the option, would like to avoid getting a sexually transmitted infection (STI).
STIs are incredibly common – millions of sexually active people contract these infections every day. And while the vast majority of infections can be cured with medication, a select few infections are permanent once you get them.
However, this fact doesn’t mean that you have to worry. Most individuals can lead happy and healthy lives if these infections are caught early and treated.
But which infections can’t be cured, and how are they treated? Keep reading as we explore the incurable STIs, available treatments, and more.
Bleeding from the genitals can be a deeply concerning and alarming symptom.
While many things can cause bleeding from the genitals, you may want to consider the possibility of a sexually transmitted infection (STI).
Certain STIs can lead to bleeding, whether it’s between periods, during or after intercourse, or from other parts of the body. Understanding which sexually transmitted infections can cause this symptom and recognising the importance of early detection and treatment is crucial for maintaining sexual health.
This blog aims to illuminate which STIs can cause bleeding, the mechanisms behind this symptom, and the importance of seeking medical advice if you experience any unusual bleeding. By increasing awareness, we hope to encourage proactive health measures and reduce the stigma associated with STIs.
Getting tested for STIs can be very stressful, and the idea of doing it at home, while for some may be more convenient than going to a clinic, can introduce some uncertainty.
Because of this uncertainty, some people struggle with collecting a blood sample at home.
If you’re using a Better2Know Home Test Kit, here’s a step-by-step guide for taking your own blood sample.
HeHealth’s Calmara, an app that claimed to help women identify male sexual partners with STIs by analysing pictures of genitals using AI, has been shut down after a US Federal Trade Commission (FTC) investigation.
Many people can find getting tested at home a bit daunting. Even with all the convenience a home test kit provides, it can be hard to know if you’re doing things right.
If you’ve ordered one of Better2Know’s swab sample kits to get tested for an STI, here are some instructions on collecting a high-quality sample for your test.
Sexual health is an important aspect of your overall health. Maintaining it can take a lot of thought and consideration.
With STIs continuing to have profound effects on those who get them, it’s important to ensure people have the tools they need to maintain their sexual health.
Home test kits for STIs offer a safe, convenient, and accurate way for people to get a full view of their sexual health status, giving them the information they need to manage their health or get treated if required.
Here are a few reasons why home test kits are a great option for most people.
Conceiving can be very difficult for many individuals and couples. There are all sorts of conditions and lifestyle choices that can hinder one’s ability to get pregnant.
Sexually transmitted infections (STIs) can seriously affect your fertility. But there is one infection that not many people may consider a serious concern for fertility issues.
A lot of research has been conducted in recent years around the effect HPV can have on fertility. Should you be worried?
When most people think of Human Papillomavirus (HPV), they think of the virus that causes genital warts – a symptom that is, for the most part, benign.
However, years of public health messaging have helped draw clear connections between HPV and negative health outcomes, particularly for women.
When most people think of STIs, they tend to think of infections that affect the genitals. However, one of the lesser-known aspects of some STIs is that they can infect several parts of the body.
One STI that can infect many parts of the body is Gonorrhoea, which can infect the genitals, eyes, throat, and even the rectum.
But how does this happen?
If you’re concerned that you may have an anal Gonorrhoea infection, keep reading to find out more. The more knowledge you have, the more effectively you can respond.
Face rashes can come in all shapes and sizes, and not all of them are harmful or necessarily something to be concerned about. A face rash, can be here today and gone tomorrow.
Face rashes are usually caused by something, whether it’s an allergic reaction to new clothes, an outbreak of acne, or an insect bite. Some face rashes can also be caused by STIs.
If you have a face rash and you’re concerned about whether it may be caused by an STI, keep reading to find out more about what may have caused it.
Contraception is a vital part of maintaining your sexual health. While it can be instrumental in helping to prevent unplanned pregnancies, it also plays a crucial role in the prevention of sexually transmitted infections (STIs).
However, it’s important to note that not all forms of contraception provide protection against STIs. That’s why it’s essential to use the right type of contraception for your lifestyle and circumstances and to combine this with regular STI testing.
In this blog, we’ll review several different types of contraception you can use, how they help prevent STIs, how they can be used, and who should use them.
Defining sexual relationships is far from a one-size-fits-all endeavour. Sex can be a deeply personal and often complex matter that can have a profound impact on our lives.
At Better2Know, we understand the importance of being clear about we mean when we talk about “sexual relationships”.
In this blog post, we aim to unravel the intricacies of sexual relationships, explore their diverse forms, and shed light on the potential risks they may entail. By fostering an open and non-judgmental conversation about this topic, we hope to empower our readers to make informed decisions about their sexual health.
