--- ---  # Study: Committed Couples Use Condoms Less Often by [Alexandra Sifferlin](https://time.com/author/alexandra-sifferlin/) ## Alexandra Sifferlin Mar 11, 2014 9:15 PM UTC  Close up of colorful condoms Close up of colorful condomsSporrer/Rupp—Getty Images/Cultura RF by [Alexandra Sifferlin](https://time.com/author/alexandra-sifferlin/) ## Alexandra Sifferlin Mar 11, 2014 9:15 PM UTC Couples in committed relationships are less than committed to using condoms. According to a new study, couples in casual relationships regularly used condoms only 33.5% of the time, and only 14% of the time in serious relationships. Dutch researchers surveyed 2,144 men and women, and asked them about their sexual activities with their four most recent sexual partners. They found that condom use among heterosexual couples is influenced more by the type of relationship they have than other factors such as gender. Irregular condom use was more common as relationships progressed and people were together for longer periods. Interestingly, the more highly-sexed couples were, the less likely they were to use condoms, whether in serious or casual relationships. For instance, couples who experimented with sex acts like sex-related drug use and anal sex were more likely to report irregular condom use. Couples of the same ethnicity were also less likely to use condoms. The researchers believe that public health messaging for condom use could improve by focusing on what type of couples are less likely to use them, Reuters [reports](http://www.reuters.com/article/2014/03/11/us-couples-condom-idUSBREA2A18920140311). But the study was criticized for not defining the parameters of “irregular use.” The study is published in the journal, _Sexually Transmitted Infections_. \[[_Reuters_](http://www.reuters.com/article/2014/03/11/us-couples-condom-idUSBREA2A18920140311)\] Couples In Committed Relationships Less Likely To Use Condoms ```json [{"@context":"https://schema.org","@type":"NewsArticle","@id":"https://time.com/20255/study-committed-couples-use-condoms-less-often/","mainEntityOfPage":{"@type":"WebPage","@id":"https://time.com/20255/study-committed-couples-use-condoms-less-often/"},"headline":"Study: Committed Couples Use Condoms Less Often","datePublished":"2014-03-11T21:15:34.000Z","dateModified":"2026-04-13T08:54:59.717Z","description":"A new study finds that couples in serious relationships only regularly use condoms 14 percent of the time, compared to 33.5 percent in more casual relationships. Researchers also find that regular condom use declines as people are together longer","url":"https://time.com/20255/study-committed-couples-use-condoms-less-often/","keywords":["Sex","Living","Sexual Health","condoms"],"thumbnailUrl":"https://static.time.com/v3/assets/bltea6093859af6183b/blt46b2c66cb14c38ff/698684f1810bbb6245c906b4/127545597-copy.jpg?branch=production&width=1200&quality=75&auto=webp&crop=1200:675&height=675","author":[{"@type":"Person","name":"Alexandra Sifferlin","jobTitle":null,"url":"https://time.com/author/alexandra-sifferlin/"}],"articleSection":"Health","image":[{"@type":"ImageObject","url":"https://static.time.com/v3/assets/bltea6093859af6183b/blt46b2c66cb14c38ff/698684f1810bbb6245c906b4/127545597-copy.jpg?branch=production&width=1200&quality=75&auto=webp&crop=1200:675&height=675","width":1200,"height":675,"headline":"127545597","caption":"127545597","creditText":"Sporrer/Rupp—Getty Images/Cultura RF","representativeOfPage":true}],"publisher":{"@type":"Organization","name":"Time","url":"https://time.com/","logo":{"@type":"ImageObject","url":"https://time.com/images/logo.png","width":528,"height":156},"foundingDate":"March 3, 1923","sameAs":["https://www.facebook.com/time","https://www.instagram.com/time/?hl=en","https://twitter.com/time","https://www.pinterest.com/timemagazine"]}},{"@context":"https://schema.org","@type":"BreadcrumbList","itemListElement":[{"@type":"ListItem","position":1,"item":{"@id":"/section/health/","name":"Health"}},{"@type":"ListItem","position":2,"item":{"@id":"/tag/sex/","name":"Sex"}},{"@type":"ListItem","position":3,"item":{"@id":"https://time.com/20255/study-committed-couples-use-condoms-less-often/","name":"Study: Committed Couples Use Condoms Less Often"}}]}] ```