Travel and Risky Business: Navigating Sex, Contraception, and New Relationships Abroad
"Unpack the surprising truths about international travel's impact on women's sexual health and contraceptive choices."
International travel is a popular pursuit, especially among young adults. While pre-travel preparations often focus on vaccinations and preventing illness, a crucial aspect is frequently overlooked: sexual and reproductive health. A new study sheds light on the unique risks and behaviors of female university students traveling internationally, offering valuable insights for both travelers and healthcare providers.
Previous research primarily examined travelers' risk of contracting sexually transmitted infections (STIs), but the recent study specifically investigates contraceptive practices and the likelihood of forming new sexual partnerships during international trips. Moreover, the study addresses a critical gap by comparing travelers to non-travelers, helping to isolate the impact of travel itself rather than pre-existing behavioral patterns.
By understanding these potential risks, young women can make informed decisions about their sexual health while traveling, and healthcare providers can offer targeted guidance to ensure their well-being.
Travel & Sex: What's the Real Connection?
The study, conducted via an online survey in 2016-2017, compared 340 female university students who had recently traveled internationally with 170 students planning to travel. The researchers analyzed two key outcomes: contraceptive lapse (inconsistent or incorrect use) and the formation of new sexual partnerships.
- New Partnerships: Travelers were 70% more likely to report forming a new sexual partnership compared to pre-travelers.
- Contraceptive Use: The type of contraceptive used seems to have played a role. While similar numbers of travellers and pre-travellers reported being on the pill, pre-travellers were significanlty more likely than travellers to report the use of condoms and withrawal.
Research on Travel-Related Sexual Health
The listed sources point to several strands of research on sexual health during international travel, including a study of female university students and a 2022 qualitative study of services for travelling young adults. The student study snippet reports that its sample size was determined by previously described primary outcomes and that researchers used Stata SE 14; it does not provide results in the supplied material. A 2024 paper examines attendances by people who disclosed sexual violence during international travel, describing such violence as underreported and noting that pre-travel advice often focuses on broader tourist safety. The available snippets therefore identify research topics and methods, but provide limited findings to summarize.
Limits of Travel-Related Evidence
Evidence about sexual and reproductive health outcomes among female travellers does not, by itself, establish that travel caused those outcomes. The cited source emphasizes that few studies compare travellers with nontravellers, leaving the relationship between travel and observed outcomes unclear. This comparison gap limits how confidently researchers can attribute contraceptive lapses or new sexual partnerships to travel itself.
Risk and Prevention Before Travel
The CDC says that being away from home may reduce some travellers’ inhibitions and contribute to sex with new, unknown, or multiple partners; alcohol, drugs, and geosocial networking apps may also be involved. A 2019 review similarly identifies travellers who have sex with a new partner abroad as potentially at high risk for HIV and other sexually transmitted infections. Both sources point to pre-travel planning as a prevention opportunity, with the review specifically highlighting counselling during a pre-travel clinic visit.
Staying Safe and Healthy on Your Adventures
The study's findings highlight the importance of pre-travel counseling that addresses sexual and reproductive health. While many travelers focus on vaccinations and preventing infectious diseases, it's crucial to consider the potential impact of travel on sexual behavior.
A Gap in Pre-Travel Services
A qualitative study interviewed 13 professionals working in Ottawa travel clinics, travel organizations, or sexual health clinics serving young adults. Its thematic analysis was informed by a sexual health framework and drew on themes developed inductively and deductively. The study’s reported results say sexual health was not common in pre-travel interventions, pointing to a potential gap in services for travelling young adults.
Travel, Social Connection, and Sexual Wellness
The CDC’s 2026 edition notes that travel can bring a desire for new social interactions and experiences, and that being away from home may contribute to sexual and behavioural risks, including sex with new, unknown, or multiple partners. Alcohol, drugs, and geosocial networking apps are also noted as possible contributors to reduced inhibition. Separately, a January 2024 article describes sexual wellness as a growing travel-industry trend focused on healthy sexuality, intimacy, and pleasure.
Mobility and STI Prevention
A March 2026 article identifies sexually transmitted infections, including drug-resistant STIs, as a significant public health challenge amid rising international travel. A related collection calls for attention to the broader social, cultural, and structural factors shaping the sexual health needs of mobile populations. It focuses on international mobility and the transmission of sexually transmitted infections and blood-borne viruses.
Risk-Taking During Travel
A study of Swedish youth used a variant of a case-crossover method that took time into consideration. Its authors report that participants increased their sexual risk-taking while abroad and that travel itself increased sexual risk-taking. A separate project describing young Canadian adults says its goal is to assess the impact of international travel on sexual health and reports having conducted a national survey of sexually active young travellers.
Here's what you can do to stay informed and prepared:
<ul><li><b>Talk to Your Doctor:</b> Schedule a pre-travel consultation with your healthcare provider to discuss your contraceptive options, STI prevention, and emergency contraception.</li><li><b>Plan Ahead:</b> Pack condoms and ensure you have access to reliable contraception throughout your trip.</li><li><b>Be Informed:</b> Research local laws and healthcare services related to sexual health at your destination.</li><li><b>Communicate:</b> Open communication with sexual partners is essential for making informed decisions about safer sex.</li></ul>By taking these steps, you can prioritize your sexual health while enjoying all the exciting experiences that international travel has to offer.