Self-report of sexually transmitted infections from 1994 to 2010 by adults living in France

Background: Since 1994, French population-based knowledge, attitudes, beliefs and practices surveys have enabled researchers to estimate trends in sexual behavioural indicators.

Methods: We estimated trends and prevalence of self-reported sexually transmitted infections during the previous 5 years among 16,095 sexually active adults aged 18-54 through five cross-sectional telephone surveys between 1994 and 2010. We then studied the factors associated with participants' most recent sexually transmitted infections other than genital candidiasis.

Results: Overall, 2.5% (95% confidence interval: 2.2%-2.9%) of women reported sexually transmitted infections within the previous 5 years, increases being continuously reported between 1998 and 2010. In contrast, men reported lower prevalence of sexually transmitted infections (1.4%; 95% confidence interval: 1.1%-1.7%), which remained stable over time. General practitioners and gynaecologists managed most sexually transmitted infections. Men notified their stable partners about infection less often than women (66% vs. 84%). Self-reported sexually transmitted infections were associated with younger age, multiple sexual partnerships and fear of sexually transmitted infections in both genders, with exclusively homosexual practices in men, and with a high educational level and recent HIV testing in women.

Conclusion: Self-reported sexually transmitted infections clearly reflect risky sexual behaviours. The lower prevalence of self-reported sexually transmitted infections among men than among women may reflect less access to screening activities for sexually transmitted infections in men.