Is the Risk for Sexually Transmissible Infections (STI) Lower among Women with Exclusively Female Sexual Partners Compared with Women with Male Partners? A Retrospective Study Based on Attendees at a Norwegian STI Clinic from 2004 to 2014

Background:

The prevalence of and the risk for sexually transmissible infections (STIs) for women engaging in same-sex sexual behaviour was investigated among women attending an STI clinic.

Methods:

Data from electronic medical records were reviewed and logistic regression used to estimate the odds ratio (OR) of STIs. Women reporting life-time exclusively female partners (WSW) and women reporting female and male partners (WSWM) were compared with women reporting exclusively male partners (WSM). Outcomes included: Chlamydia trachomatis, Mycoplasma genitalium, Neisseria gonorrhoea, HIV and syphilis.

Results:

The study population comprised 103 564 women (WSW 641, WSWM 12 010 and WSM 90 913). Overall prevalence of STIs was 8%. Crude OR of STIs for WSW: 0.56 (95% CI 0.39-0.81), for WSWM: 0.99 (95% CI 0.92-1.06) compared with WSM. Multivariate analysis revealed an interaction effect between same-sex sexual behaviour and smoking. Among non-smokers; WSW adjusted OR was 0.41 (95% CI 0.21-0.80), WSWM adjusted OR was 0.91 (95% CI 0.81-1.02) compared with WSM. Among smokers; WSW adjusted OR was 1.03 (95% CI 0.63-1.67) for WSWM adjusted OR was 1.00 (CI 95% 0.93-1.13), compared with WSM.

Conclusion:

This study, including the largest cohort of women reporting life-time exclusively female partners in an STI study, shows that WSW generally are at lower risk for acquiring STIs than WSM. Smoking WSW, however, had the same risk for acquiring bacterial STIs as WSM and WSWM. Our study suggests that all WSW should receive the same encouragement to test for STIs as WSM.

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By:  Sol-Britt Molin ^A B F, Birgitte Freiesleben De Blasio ^C D and Anne Olaug Olsen ^A B E 

^A Department of Rheumatology, Dermatology and Infectious Diseases, The Olafia Clinic p.o.b.4763, Oslo University Hospital, 0506 Oslo, Norway. 
^B Norwegian National Advisory Unit on Sexually Transmitted Infections, The Olafia Clinic p.o.b.4763, vv0506 Oslo, Norway. 
^C Oslo Centre for Biostatics and Epidemiology, Department of Biostatics, p.o.b1122 Blindern, Institute of Basic Medical Sciences, University of Oslo, 0317 Oslo, Norway. 
^D Department of Infectious Disease Epidemiology, Division of Infectious Disease Control, Norwegian Institute of Public Health, p.o.b.4404 Nydalen, 0403 Oslo, Norway. 
^E Institute of Clinical Medicine, University of Oslo, p.o.b.1171 Blindern, 0318 Oslo, Norway. 
^F Corresponding author. Email: solmol@ous-hf.no 

Sex Health. 2016 Apr 7. doi: 10.1071/SH15193. 

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Comparison of Drugs Used by Nightclub Patrons & Criminal Offenders in Oslo, Norway

The aim of this study was to investigate psychoactive drug use among nightclub patrons by analysing samples of oral fluid and compare with findings in blood samples from criminal suspects. 

We hypothesized that the profile of illicit drug use among nightclub patrons is different from what we observe in those forensic cases. Research stations were established outside nine popular nightclubs with different profiles and patron-characteristics in downtown Oslo. Data and sample collection was conducted on Fridays and Saturdays in March and May 2014. Individuals and groups who entered defined recruitment zones from 23:00 to 03:30 were invited to participate in this voluntary and anonymous study. Oral fluid was collected using the Intercept Oral Fluid Sampling Device. Methanol was added to increase the recovery of cannabinoids from the device. Sample preparation was performed using liquid-liquid extraction with ethyl acetate/heptane (4:1) after adding internal standards, ammonium carbonate buffer pH 9.3 and Triton X100. The first 80 samples were analysed for 122 substances, which included psychoactive medicinal drugs, classical illicit drugs and new psychoactive substances (NPS). Based on the findings and discussions with police and customs authorities, the remaining oral fluid samples were analysed for 46 substances. 

Among the 500 samples collected during the study period, we found illicit drugs in 25.4% and medicinal drugs in 4.2% of the samples. The most prevalent substances were: cocaine 14.6%, THC 12.4%, amphetamine/methamphetamine 2.8%, diazepam 1.2% and clonazepam 1.0%. Various NPS were found in 1.4% of the samples. 

The prevalence of drugs in blood samples from criminal suspects were for cocaine 3.4%, THC 34.7%, amphetamine/methamphetamine 37.0%, diazepam 12.0%, and clonazepam 29.3%. Multi-drug use was more common among criminal suspects (41.3%) than among club patrons (6.8%). 

The results showed that the drug use pattern among nightclub patrons was substantially different from the drug use pattern manifested by individuals apprehended by the police suspected for criminal conduct.

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By:  Gjerde H1, Nordfjærn T2, Bretteville-Jensen AL2, Edland-Gryt M2, Furuhaugen H3, Karinen R3, Øiestad EL3.

• 1Division of Forensic Sciences, Norwegian Institute of Public Health, PO Box 4404, Nydalen, NO-0403 Oslo, Norway. Electronic address: hallvard.gjerde@fhi.no.
• 2Norwegian Institute for Alcohol and Drug Research (SIRUS), PO Box 565, Sentrum, NO-0105 Oslo, Norway.
• 3Division of Forensic Sciences, Norwegian Institute of Public Health, PO Box 4404, Nydalen, NO-0403 Oslo, Norway. 
• Forensic Sci Int. 2015 Dec 30;265:1-5. doi: 10.1016/j.forsciint.2015.12.029

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