In a recent study conducted at the University of Michigan, testosterone loaded guys aged 18 and 19 were found to have a more accepting attitude towards condoms and safe sex practices than low-testosterone males. High testosterone levels are linked to boldness, confidence, and high risk life choices. These results are the first to demonstrate a link between higher testosterone levels and less risk-taking in any domain to date.

According to researcher Sari van Anders, “safe sex behaviors and people who engage with them can be seen in a negative light. The ‘social risk’ of insisting on using a condom might require more boldness and confidence than having unprotected sex.” The new findings reveal that safe sex could feel like a riskier move than unprotected sex does to men.

The study consisted of 78 men answering questions about their health, sexual activity, and attitudes towards condom use. Each man provided a saliva sample to measure testosterone levels. 

The results revealed that men with higher testosterone levels had more positive attitudes about safe sex than lower-testosterone men. It’s possible that men get an ego boost (and testosterone boost) from safe-sex practices since it signifies them as knowledgeable about sex and bumps up their social status. Although this study was focused just on attitudes, actual behavioral research is in the works to see whether the testosterone-safe sex link holds up behaviorally.

ONE Condoms will be tracking the development of this research as more findings come to light. ONE wants to make condoms as socially acceptable as toothpaste and safe sex as second nature as wearing a seatbelt. ONE Condoms donates a portion of each sale to HIV/AIDS prevention efforts at home and abroad.

So, tell us fellas. Do you think you high T levels make more accepting of safe sex practices?