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Constantinou H, Fairley CK, Bradshaw CS, Choi EPH, Maddaford K, Phillips TR, Chow EPF. Factors associated with group sex in heterosexual males and females attending a sexual health clinic in Melbourne, Australia: a cross-sectional survey. Sex Health 2022; 19:39-45. [PMID: 35292129 DOI: 10.1071/sh21224] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/11/2021] [Accepted: 01/02/2022] [Indexed: 11/23/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND There have been limited studies of group sex among heterosexual individuals. This study aimed to explore the factors associated with group sex among heterosexual males and females to improve risk assessment guidelines and inform sexually transmitted infection (STI) screening requirements. METHODS A cross-sectional survey was conducted among heterosexual males and females aged ≥16 years attending the Melbourne Sexual Health Centre between March and April 2019. The survey asked about group sex participation, methods used to meet sexual partners, number of casual and/or regular partners, and injection drug use (IDU) in the previous 3 months. HIV and STI (chlamydia, gonorrhoea, syphilis) diagnoses were extracted. A multivariable logistic regression was conducted to identify the factors associated with group sex participation. RESULTS A total of 698 participants (325 males, 373 females) were included and 4.7% (33/698) had participated in group sex in the previous 3 months. The proportion who participated in group sex increased with age (2.1% in 16-24 years, 5.5% in 25-34 years, 7.8% in ≥35 years, ptrend=0.010). Meeting partners at sex venues (e.g. brothels) was associated with the highest odds of participating in group sex (aOR=5.74, 95% CI: 1.20-27.44), followed by dating apps (aOR=2.99, 95% CI: 1.36-6.58), friends/family (aOR=2.99, 95% CI: 1.34-6.69) and social venues (e.g. bar) (aOR=2.73, 95% CI: 1.18-6.30). Group sex was strongly associated with STI positivity (aOR=6.24, 95% CI: 2.41-16.13). There was no association between group sex and sex, casual and/or regular partners, HIV positivity or IDU. CONCLUSION Heterosexual individuals participating in group sex had a six-fold risk of testing positive for STIs. Including group sex in a sexual history is useful to determine STI risk and inform testing practices. Safe sex messages on group sex that are delivered through multiple methods (e.g. at sex venues, social venues and dating apps simultaneously) would be beneficial.
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Affiliation(s)
- Heidi Constantinou
- Melbourne Sexual Health Centre, Alfred Health, Melbourne, Vic. 3053, Australia; and Central Clinical School, Faculty of Medicine, Nursing and Health Sciences, Monash University, Melbourne, Vic. 3004, Australia
| | - Christopher K Fairley
- Melbourne Sexual Health Centre, Alfred Health, Melbourne, Vic. 3053, Australia; and Central Clinical School, Faculty of Medicine, Nursing and Health Sciences, Monash University, Melbourne, Vic. 3004, Australia
| | - Catriona S Bradshaw
- Melbourne Sexual Health Centre, Alfred Health, Melbourne, Vic. 3053, Australia; and Central Clinical School, Faculty of Medicine, Nursing and Health Sciences, Monash University, Melbourne, Vic. 3004, Australia; and Centre for Epidemiology and Biostatistics, Melbourne School of Population and Global Health, The University of Melbourne, Melbourne, Vic. 3053, Australia
| | - Edmond P H Choi
- School of Nursing, The University of Hong Kong, Pokfulam, Hong Kong
| | - Kate Maddaford
- Melbourne Sexual Health Centre, Alfred Health, Melbourne, Vic. 3053, Australia
| | - Tiffany R Phillips
- Melbourne Sexual Health Centre, Alfred Health, Melbourne, Vic. 3053, Australia; and Central Clinical School, Faculty of Medicine, Nursing and Health Sciences, Monash University, Melbourne, Vic. 3004, Australia
| | - Eric P F Chow
- Melbourne Sexual Health Centre, Alfred Health, Melbourne, Vic. 3053, Australia; and Central Clinical School, Faculty of Medicine, Nursing and Health Sciences, Monash University, Melbourne, Vic. 3004, Australia; and Centre for Epidemiology and Biostatistics, Melbourne School of Population and Global Health, The University of Melbourne, Melbourne, Vic. 3053, Australia
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Chow EPF, Phillips TR, Tran J, Aung ET, Maddaford K, Fairley CK. A cross-sectional study of male and female kissing partners among men who have sex with men. Sex Health 2022; 19:27-32. [PMID: 35241217 DOI: 10.1071/sh21184] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/22/2021] [Accepted: 11/30/2021] [Indexed: 11/23/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Kissing may be a risk factor for gonorrhoea. Past studies have focused on male kissing partners among men who have sex with men (MSM). This study aimed to examine the kissing practices of MSM who kiss male and female partners. METHODS We conducted a cross-sectional survey at the Melbourne Sexual Health Centre (MSHC) between March and April 2019. Men attending the MSHC, aged ≥16years who reported any sexual contact with another man in the previous 12months were invited to participate in the survey. Data about the number of kissing-only (kissing without sex), kissing-with-sex, and sex-only (having sex without kissing) partners in the previous 3months were collected. Men were asked to report the number of male and female partners separately. RESULTS There were 357 MSM included in the survey. Most men (97.2%, n=347) had kissed or had sex with another man, whereas 16.0% (n=57) had kissed or had sex with a female partner in the previous 3months. Of the 57 men, 26.3% (n=15) had only kissed a female partner without having sex. The mean number of male partners for kissing-only was 5.5 (s.d.=6.6), kissing-with-sex was 5.0 (s.d.=6.6) and sex-only was 3.9 (s.d.=4.3). The mean number of female partners for kissing-only was 4.2 (s.d.=6.9), kissing-with-sex was 3.8 (s.d.=4.9) and sex-only was 3.2 (s.d.=3.4). CONCLUSION MSM not only kiss men in the absence of sex, but also kiss women in the absence of sex. Gonorrhoea could be transmitted between MSM and women via kissing in the absence of sex.
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Affiliation(s)
- Eric P F Chow
- Melbourne Sexual Health Centre, Alfred Health, Melbourne, Vic. 3053, Australia; and Central Clinical School, Faculty of Medicine, Nursing and Health Sciences, Monash University, Melbourne, Vic. 3004, Australia; and Centre for Epidemiology and Biostatistics, Melbourne School of Population and Global Health, The University of Melbourne, Melbourne, Vic. 3053, Australia
| | - Tiffany R Phillips
- Melbourne Sexual Health Centre, Alfred Health, Melbourne, Vic. 3053, Australia; and Central Clinical School, Faculty of Medicine, Nursing and Health Sciences, Monash University, Melbourne, Vic. 3004, Australia
| | - Julien Tran
- Melbourne Sexual Health Centre, Alfred Health, Melbourne, Vic. 3053, Australia; and Central Clinical School, Faculty of Medicine, Nursing and Health Sciences, Monash University, Melbourne, Vic. 3004, Australia
| | - Ei T Aung
- Melbourne Sexual Health Centre, Alfred Health, Melbourne, Vic. 3053, Australia; and Central Clinical School, Faculty of Medicine, Nursing and Health Sciences, Monash University, Melbourne, Vic. 3004, Australia
| | - Kate Maddaford
- Melbourne Sexual Health Centre, Alfred Health, Melbourne, Vic. 3053, Australia
| | - Christopher K Fairley
- Melbourne Sexual Health Centre, Alfred Health, Melbourne, Vic. 3053, Australia; and Central Clinical School, Faculty of Medicine, Nursing and Health Sciences, Monash University, Melbourne, Vic. 3004, Australia
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Martín-Sánchez M, Case R, Fairley C, Hocking JS, Bradshaw C, Ong J, Chen MY, Chow EPF. Trends and differences in sexual practices and sexually transmitted infections in men who have sex with men only (MSMO) and men who have sex with men and women (MSMW): a repeated cross-sectional study in Melbourne, Australia. BMJ Open 2020; 10:e037608. [PMID: 33234617 PMCID: PMC7689083 DOI: 10.1136/bmjopen-2020-037608] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/09/2020] [Revised: 10/19/2020] [Accepted: 10/29/2020] [Indexed: 11/17/2022] Open
Abstract
OBJECTIVES In the 2010s, there has been an increase in sexually transmitted infections (STI) in men who have sex with men (MSM) in Australia, and since 2015 also in urban heterosexuals. Men who have sex with both men and women (MSMW) have characteristics that may differ from both men who have sex with men only (MSMO) and heterosexual men. We aimed to compare the sexual practices and the trends in HIV/STI positivity between MSMO and MSMW. DESIGN Repeated cross-sectional study. SETTING A sexual health centre in Melbourne, Australia. PARTICIPANTS MSM aged 18 years and above who attended the Melbourne Sexual Health Centre for the first time between 2011 and 2018. This includes 12 795 MSMO and 1979 MSMW. PRIMARY OUTCOME MEASURES Demographic characterics, sexual practices and HIV/STI positivity. RESULTS Compared with MSMW, MSMO were more likely to practice anal sex and to have condomless receptive anal sex with casual male partners, and less likely to have a current regular relationship. Over the 8-year period, there was an increase in condomless receptive anal sex with casual male partners for both groups (MSMO: from 46.2% to 63.3%, ptrend <0.001; MSMW: from 41.3% to 57.9%, ptrend=0.011). Syphilis positivity increased in MSMO (from 5.5% to 7.9%, ptrend=0.012) and MSMW (from 0.9% to 6.4%, ptrend=0.004) and HIV remained stable. Gonorrhoea increased among MSMO from 2011 to 2014 (from 6.7% to 9.6%, ptrend=0.002), and remained stable from 2015 to 2018. MSMO had higher odds of testing positive for gonorrhoea (adjusted OR (aOR) 1.36, 95% CI 1.13 to 1.64), chlamydia (aOR 1.39, 95% CI 1.16 to 1.67), syphilis (aOR 1.74, 95% CI 1.37 to 2.22) and HIV (aOR 4.60, 95% CI 2.43 to 8.70) than MSMW. CONCLUSIONS MSMW have overall lower condomless sex and lower HIV/STI positivity. In the last years, changes in sexual practices in MSM have affected both MSMW and MSMO leading to an increased STI risk.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mario Martín-Sánchez
- Melbourne Sexual Health Centre, Alfred Health, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
- Preventive Medicine and Public Health Training Unit, Parc de Salut Mar - Pompeu Fabra University - Agència de Salut Pública de Barcelona (PSMar-UPF-ASPB), Barcelona, Spain
| | - Richard Case
- Melbourne Sexual Health Centre, Alfred Health, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
| | - Christopher Fairley
- Melbourne Sexual Health Centre, Alfred Health, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
- Central Clinical School, Monash University, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
| | - Jane S Hocking
- Centre for Epidemiology and Biostatistics, Melbourne School of Population and Global Health, The University of Melbourne, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
| | - Catriona Bradshaw
- Melbourne Sexual Health Centre, Alfred Health, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
- Central Clinical School, Monash University, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
| | - Jason Ong
- Melbourne Sexual Health Centre, Alfred Health, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
- Central Clinical School, Monash University, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
| | - Marcus Y Chen
- Melbourne Sexual Health Centre, Alfred Health, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
- Central Clinical School, Monash University, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
| | - Eric P F Chow
- Melbourne Sexual Health Centre, Alfred Health, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
- Central Clinical School, Monash University, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
- Centre for Epidemiology and Biostatistics, Melbourne School of Population and Global Health, The University of Melbourne, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
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