“Oh! How Modern! And... Are You Ok with That?": Consensually Non-Monogamous People’s Experiences When Accessing Sexual Health Care, 2020

Campbell, Christine and Scoats, Ryan and Wignall, Liam (2024). “Oh! How Modern! And... Are You Ok with That?": Consensually Non-Monogamous People’s Experiences When Accessing Sexual Health Care, 2020. [Data Collection]. Colchester, Essex: UK Data Service. 10.5255/UKDA-SN-855859

Data description (abstract)

The current research explored consensually non-monogamous peoples’ experiences accessing sexual healthcare. Using a mixed method approach, a sample of 67 consensually non-monogamous individuals reported having significantly lower rates of trust in healthcare professionals compared to standardised scores. 63% of participants reported disclosing their relationship status to a clinician when accessing sexual health services, whereas 37% sometimes or never disclosed. Qualitative responses were explored to explain those findings in more detail. Some participants reported a willingness to be open about their relationships, but many chose to ‘pass’ as monogamous to both simplify and streamline their interactions as well as to avoid potential stigma. Participants reported a wide range of experiences with clinicians from those who were accepting and professional, to some who displayed prejudice and withheld treatment. This research outlines some of the experiences and challenges presented to consensual non-monogamists when accessing sexual healthcare as well as providing suggestions for clinicians to help remove some of the barriers to appropriate patient care.

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