Survey: Some of the riskiest sex in U.S.

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NEW YORK, Dec. 4 (UPI) -- U.S. men and women practice some of the riskiest sexual behavior in the world, the Durex Sexual Well Being global survey indicates.

Kevin Harshaw, marketing director of U.S. personal care at Reckitt Benckiser, a global consumer goods company that includes condom maker Durex, said the survey examined the sexual attitudes and behaviors of more than 29,000 people in 36 different countries.

The study indicates 60 percent of U.S. men and women didn't use any form of protection against HIV/AIDS or sexually transmitted infections when they lost their virginity versus 49 percent in Mexico and 47 percent in Columbia.

Among those who risked not practicing safer sex, the largest proportion of U.S. men and women -- 49 percent -- say they were confident their sexual partner was free of STIs, although 20 percent of all those in a relationship admit they are unsure of their partner's experience.

U.S. men claim to have an average of 20 different sexual partners in total -- versus 27 Canada, 24 in Australia, but more than 19 in France, 17 in Britain or 15 in Mexico. U.S. women say they had 10 partners on average, the same number as women in Britain and France, but more than in Canada at 9 and Italy at 8.

The survey was conducted by Harris Interactive online in 35 countries and face to face in Nigeria from Sept. 6 to Oct. 3.