Condom Use and High-Risk Sexual Acts in Adult Films: A Comparison of Heterosexual and Homosexual Films

The study authors compared the prevalence of condom use during a variety of sexual acts portrayed in homosexual and heterosexual adult films to assess compliance with state Occupational Health and Safety Administration regulations.

From Aug. 1, 2005, to July 31, 2006, 50 heterosexual and 50 male homosexual films were randomly selected from the distributor of 85 percent of the heterosexual adult films released annually in the United States.

Condom use during penile-vaginal intercourse was observed in 3 percent of heterosexual scenes. Penile-anal intercourse, common in both heterosexual (42 percent) and homosexual (80 percent) scenes, was much less likely to be protected with condoms in heterosexual than in homosexual scenes (10 percent vs. 78 percent; P<.001). Condom use was not observed during penile-oral acts in any of the selected films.

"Heterosexual films were much less likely than were homosexual films to portray condom use, raising concerns about transmission of HIV and other sexually transmitted diseases, especially among performers in heterosexual adult films," the authors concluded. "In addition, the adult film industry, especially the heterosexual industry, is not adhering to state occupational safety regulations."

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