Objectives

This study examined in both sexes whether genital mycosis is as strongly associated with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) sexual risk behavior as are other sexually transmitted diseases.

Methods

Heterosexuals in the French National Survey of Sexual Behavior who reported a history of either mycosis or another sexually transmitted disease in the previous 5 years were compared with heterosexuals who reported no such disease.

Odds ratios were adjusted for age, education, place of residence, and number of sexual partners.

Results

Among men, mycosis and other sexually transmitted diseases showed similar associations with age and number of sexual partners.

Among women, mycosis was also associated with a high number of sexual partners, albeit to a lesser extent than other sexually transmitted diseases.

Lifetime experience of heterosexual anal penetration was reported significantly more often by men with a history of mycosis.

Conclusion

These results suggest that most male mycosis is sexually acquired and constitutes a self-reported indicator as good as other sexually transmitted diseases for high risk.

Female mycosis may help define an intermediate HIV risk group.