Please remember, this column is designed to help the consumer seeking behavioral-health information, and not intended to be any form of psychotherapy or a replacement for professional, individualized services. Opinions expressed in the column are those of the columnist and do not represent the position of other SelfhelpMagazine.com staff.

Question

Are sexually transmitted diseases created by having many partners or does the disease have to exist with one of the persons?

Answer

Yours is certainly a question for the 90s with all the talk and advertising campaigns that promote monogamy as one of the ways to reduce the risk of AIDS and other sexually transmitted diseases (STDs). The risk of having multiple partners is the increase of the pool of people who may harbor one or more of the bacteria, viruses, or parasites that, when snuggling in the harbor of a warm, welcoming (though unsuspecting) host or hostess, can flourish into a full blown and sometimes deadly STD (see a previous question & answer).

So the answer to your question is that the STD has to exist within a partner (or contaminated blood products from a needle exchange or transfusion) in order for transmission to take place. While multiple partner sex does not create an STD -- and monogamous sex does not guarantee (because one can be absolutely sure only about one's own fidelity) protection from an STD -- the gamble is clearly greater with more partners.

03/18/98

Dr. Al Cooper, clinical director at the San Jose Marital and Sexuality Centre (408-248-9737), runs the training program for Counseling and Psychological Services at Stanford University. Dr. Cooper is internationally known for his work in sexuality and is freqently interviewed by the media. He currently writes a column in Men's Health Magazine.

Dr. Coralie Scherer coordinates online services for the Centre and specializes in sexual trauma, women's issues, and marital therapy.