Sexual Promiscuity

I've been trying to research what number of sexual partners organizations like CDC, WHO, etc. consider to be high risk. There have been a number of studies correlating rate of HIV and number or partners, but no where do they say what constitutes a lot.  This is a hard thing to study, as people don't always tell the truth, so I'll as the question here to all of you.

What number of sex partners (anal or vaginal, not oral) would all of you consider to be high, or numerous?  Just wondering, people are differerent.  Would love to hear your opinions.    

[guiltnworry]

Any takers?

[Rae1]

I'd say 10+ are a lot of partners -- depends on age. But a man or woman of my age (which you know), I'd consider at 10 or more "a lot" of partners. I've only been with two people, so who knows.

[islandfever]

Right after my risk (still the only sexual experience I ever had) my partner said he's been with over 100 different people. He was 24. :-( I've been wondering what is "normal". I read that it is much higher between homosexual people than heterosexual people though.

[longone]

What time frame are you looking for? In a week, month, year?

I think it has to be broken down in to categories. I know I will get bashed but in general heterosexuals will have many less partners than Gay or Bi people will. Speaking first hand, I can tell you many sex addicts will have anonymous sex many times a week, or 4/5 in one night, yikes!!!

Heterosexuals and a lot of Gays out socializing picking up people maybe one a week not leading to sex. Then you have many people hooking up with different people and having sex once or twice a week. So it’s a difficult question to generalize on.

I would say though if a person has three sexual partners a week that’s a lot. One has to be very promiscuous and know where to go to find that many but I can assure you they can be found.

[regularjoey]

If I had to pick a number, 15 maybe.  But like others said, it depends on age etc.

And I don't think a high number of partners necessarily means promiscuity.  I'd say 50 sex partners does not make one promiscuous, if they were all "serially monogamous" relationships.  It's the casual sex that makes one promiscuous, IMO.

[longone]

"I'd say 50 sex partners does not make one promiscuous, if they were all "serially monogamous" relationships.'

Hey Joe, how do yo find 50 monogamous relationships? The only way to do that would to get into a retirement home at say 35 years old and snach up all the widows.

[dumbo]

Nobody without an agenda will bash you for being truthful. Women who may be considered promiscuous maybe always use condoms, men too.  Or, some gay/bi men may be promiscuous and have many partners in a night/week/year etc, but they may also use condoms for these activities.  Of course not all are doing this,male or female.

So I don't know if I fully agree with the many partner theory.....it should maybe be clarified to say many partners without using condoms.  To say promiscuous is too general imo.  Who cares if a person has 1000 partners as long as that person is being responsible.  Of course it does not happen this way 100% of the time.  But if it is the majority of the time I do not see how one would be at more risk than someone who has had 30 partners without using condoms.

Sex is to be enjoyed, so the more of it the better I say.  the question is, how you go about doing it in a responsible manner for your protection and your partners.

[regularjoey]

You can be sexually active for 25+ years and you definitely can have 2 steady girlfriends within a single year.  So do the math, it's possible.  I'm not saying it's common, I'm just saying a person like that (2 steady partners a year, but nothing very long-term) would not be considered promiscuous by me...

[regularjoey]

that was to longone, sorry

[Rae1]

An expert, give me some advice?!

[guiltnworry]

Ok, so longone said to break it up into categories.  Let's say for a 30 year old never married.  What would you consider a lot?  I'm suprised at a lot of the responses, wow!  I was thinking like over 10 for a 30 year old male or female would be a lot.  I guess that's kind of reassuring??  Good conversation.

[Rae1]

10 partners at 30 wouldn't be a stretch in my opinion. Especially if you're a consistent dater or are in shorter term relationships.

[longone]

Again are we talking per year,month or week. If I was 30 again and lived in these sexed-up times I would be dead. Girls would slap you and walk home from the drive-in if you tried to feel them up. Now it's the guys that have to watch out that the girl doesn't show up at his door in the middle of the night. Ghezzzzzz what a problem men have now!!!!!!!

I would say a good looking straight guy could have about 30 encounters a year if he was simply going to normal places they go to now-a-days. Not sex clubs, after hour places, dope houses, strip clubs and the rest. Heck even an old guy like me in good shape with hair can still have a good time in a bar as long as Elvis is playing.

[guiltnworry]

WOW- 30 encounters a year!  That's crazy!  No judgments.  I'm 24 and have been with 6
(all protected except for 1) and I was questioning that!  

[guiltnworry]

LOL- Yes, yes, I know what you mean.  I thought the person I was with was promiscuous, but I would at the most, he has had 20 partners and he is 25.  Wow, 12 people or more at age 24!  I must have been sheltered or something.  

[longone]

"I must have been sheltered or something"

Stay that way it is a better way to live.

[HansrowSenoj]

I agree.... A much better way to live... Although, I was really sheltered and at first it was cool, but after I got older it wasn't all that. Like longone said, girls today are really different. Most of the older woman I know were cool with my inexperience. In fact I've had more success with older women than with younger women as a result. However, I've still never been in a relationship. Girls my age ( 24 ) want the bad boys, like chris said. The girl I lost my virginity to is 23 and she found it so hard to believe I was still a virgin at 24. Almost everytime we talk in between the time I first me her and the night we were together she would ask if I were still a virgin. And when we were together she kinda couldn't wait to help me lose it. I slipped in and she didn't even stop.... So my answer is 1.