Relationships between Penile-Vaginal Intercourse Frequency and Condom/Contraceptive Use from 2009 to 2018: Findings from the National Survey of Sexual Health and Behavior

Abstract

Objectives: To examine changes over time in event-level condom/contraceptive use and the association between past year penile-vaginal intercourse frequency and event-level condom/contraceptive use. Methods: Data were from the 2009 and 2018 National Survey of Sexual Health and Behavior, an online probability survey of U.S. adolescents and adults. Results: The use of condoms and highly effective hormonal contraceptives decreased while long-acting reversible contraceptive use increased from 2009 to 2018 among adults. Increased penile-vaginal intercourse frequency was associated with decreased use of most contraceptive methods but an increase in condom use for adolescents. Conclusions: Sexual frequency should be considered when assessing condom/contraceptive use.

Keywords:

• Penile-vaginal intercourse frequency
• condom use
• contraceptive use
• United States

Acknowledgments

We wish to acknowledge the valuable contributions of Jonathon Beckmeyer, Brian Dodge, Devon Hensel, Michael Reece, and Stephanie Sanders in the development of the 2009 and/or 2018 waves of the National Survey of Sexual Health and Behavior.

Ethical approval

The Institutional Review Board at Indiana University reviewed and approved study protocols and questionnaires used in the 2009 and 2018 National Surveys of Sexual Health and Behavior (Protocols 081200042, 1408833205, and 1906506253).

Conflict of interest

The authors report no conflicts of interest. The authors alone are responsible for the content and writing of the paper.

Additional information

Funding

The present analyses were funded through support from the Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development (NICHD) (R03HD101726-01; MPIs Herbenick and Fu). The content is solely the responsibility of the authors and does not necessarily represent the official views of the National Institutes of Health. The 2009 and 2018 NSSHB were supported by grants from Church and Dwight Co., Inc., maker of Trojan brand sexual health products (2009 Co-PIs: Reece and Herbenick; 2018 PI: Herbenick).