..or so say economists.
The argument runs: (some?) men will always want sex, so they will either get it for free in relationships etc., or use prostitutes. Women in 'traditional societies' who are more promiscuous than the norm; having affairs or sex before marriage, help control the spread of STDs as they are likely to have had fewer sexual partners than the prostitutes men might otherwise go to to fulfil their 'needs'. (Yes, it's heteronormative, sexist and arguably racist).
The important thing to disease control is who is having the sex. It's suggested that widespread use of prostitutes helps spread STDs because prostitutes have so many sexual partners. However, the number of partners is not the only risk factor: if prostitutes are not in a position to negotiate safer sex, then this disempowerment will in itself allow disease to spread, and is fundamental to whether the sheer number of sexual partners becomes a risk factor.
Of course, there are wives, girlfriends and other unpaid sources of female sex who may be unable to negotiate protection: prostitutes are generally especially vulnerable.
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