With the rise of new technology and apps, there is an increase in potential sexually transmitted infections (STI). Researchers from the United States have found that some mobile apps that help one find sex partners may affect the sexual health of the person.
Some apps such as Tinder and Swipe are popular among heterosexuals, while Grindr and Scruff are for homosexuals. These apps, according to researchers pose risk of sexually transmitted infections especially among gay men.
The study conducted in Los Angeles (L.A.), California revealed that STI's such as gonorrhoea and chlamydia were more common in gay men using apps than in those who meet online or in clubs.
The study focused on the impact of sex apps on sexual health among homosexuals in regions of L.A.
The study titled: "Sex on demand: geosocial networking phone apps and risk of sexually transmitted infections among a cross-sectional sample of men who have sex with men in Los Angeles county", was published by researchers from the L.A. Gay & Lesbian Center.
For the study, 7,184 gay and bisexual men were questioned at a sexual health clinic at the Gay and Lesbian Center. The study found that 34 percent of those men connected to sex partners in person like at clubs, bars or social events, whereas, 30 percent met through dating sites on Internet, while the rest of 36 percent met partners through smartphone apps and similar methods.
"Advances which improve the efficiency of meeting anonymous sexual partners may have the unintended effect of creating networks of individuals where users may be more likely to have sexually transmissible infections," BBC News quoted the researchers as saying.
The survey concluded that gay men using "hook up" app were 23 percent more likely to contract gonorrhea and 35 percent to have chlamydia compared to gay men who used social gatherings or websites to meet new sexual partners.
"Yes this is definitely something we are seeing in our sexual health and HIV clinics, both among gay men and heterosexuals. Without a doubt, technology has facilitated rapid partner change and therefore it is a perfect environment for sexually transmitted infections and HIV to spread." said Steve Taylor, a consultant in sexual health and HIV medicine at Birmingham Heartlands Hospital.
"However good the sex is, it's not worth contracting a long-term condition. Gay men today have more opportunities to meet for sex than ever before. Part of the problem is that communication on dating apps can be brief, making it easy to cut corners on important discussions like safe sex." said Justin Harbottle, a health promotion specialist at the Terrence Higgins Trust.
The details of the study was published in the journal Sexually Transmitted Infections (STI).
