Saliva Use as a Lubricant for Anal Sex Is a Risk Factor for Rectal Gonorrhoea among Men Who Have Sex with Men, A New Public Health Message
BACKGROUND:
Apart
from penile-anal intercourse, other anal sexual practices (rimming, fingering
and saliva use as a lubricant for anal sex) are common among men who have sex
with men (MSM). The aim of this study is to evaluate whether these anal sexual
practices are risk factors for rectal gonorrhoea in MSM.
METHOD:
A
cross-sectional survey was conducted among MSM attending Melbourne Sexual
Health Centre between 31 July 2014 and 30 June 2015. Rectal gonorrhoea cases
were identified by culture.
RESULTS:
Among
1312 MSM, 4.3% (n=56) had rectal gonorrhoea. Other anal sexual practices were
common among MSM: receptive rimming (70.5%), receptive fingering or penis
dipping (84.3%) and using partner's saliva as a lubricant for anal sex (68.5%).
Saliva as a lubricant was significantly
associated with rectal gonorrhoea after adjusting for potential confounding
factors. Receptive rimming and fingering or penis dipping were not
statistically associated with rectal gonorrhoea. The crude
population-attributable fraction of rectal gonorrhoea associated with use of
partner's saliva as a lubricant for anal sex was 48.9% (7.9% to 71.7%).
CONCLUSIONS:
Saliva
use as a lubricant for anal sex is a common sexual practice in MSM, and it may
play an important role in gonorrhoea transmission. Almost half of rectal
gonorrhoea cases may be eliminated if MSM stopped using partner's saliva for
anal sex.
- 1Melbourne Sexual Health Centre, Alfred Health, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia Faculty of Medicine, Central Clinical School, Nursing and Health Sciences, Monash University, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia.
- 2Melbourne Sexual Health Centre, Alfred Health, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia.
- 3Melbourne School of Population and Global Health, University of Melbourne, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia.
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