The Meaning of 'Regular Partner' in HIV Research among Gay and Bisexual Men: Implications of an Australian Cross-Sectional Survey

Estimates of the proportion of HIV infections coming from within regular sexual relationships among gay and bisexual men (GBM) vary widely. Research surveys use various partner type categories, but there is little understanding of how men classify their partners. We conducted an online cross-sectional survey of Australian GBM exploring sexual relationships, including 2057 men reporting on 2566 regular partnerships. 

Just over half of the partnerships were considered 'relationships', while the remainder were non-romantic 'fuckbuddy'-style arrangements. In multivariable analysis, factors associated with considering the partnership a 'relationship' were: using a 'romantic' descriptor, partnership length, monogamous agreements, any condomless anal sex with each other, love, and commitment. The category of 'regular partner' can mask diverse partnership types, which have different meanings to GBM, associated behaviours, and HIV risks. 

Certain HIV prevention techniques may be more suited to particular types of partnerships. 'Fuckbuddy' arrangements need to be more explicitly acknowledged in HIV prevention.

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By:  Bavinton BR1, Duncan D2, Grierson J3, Zablotska IB4, Down IA4, Grulich AE4, Prestage GP4,5.

• 1Kirby Institute, University of New South Wales, Sydney, NSW, 2052, Australia. bbavinton@kirby.unsw.edu.au.
• 2University of New England, Armidale, Australia.
• 3Anglia Ruskin University, Cambridge, England, UK.
• 4Kirby Institute, University of New South Wales, Sydney, NSW, 2052, Australia.
• 5Australian Research Centre in Sex, Health and Society, La Trobe University, Melbourne, Australia. 
• AIDS Behav. 2016 Mar 12.

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Gender Preference in the Sexual Attractions, Fantasies, and Relationships of Voluntarily Castrated Men

INTRODUCTION:

Some men seek castration outside a clear medical need. This study explored how their sexuality changed after castration.

AIM:

To explore changes in preferred gender(s) of sexual attraction, fantasy, and relationships in voluntarily castrated men with or without gonadal hormone therapy.

METHODS:

A questionnaire was posted at http://www.eunuch.org that yielded data on men who had been voluntarily castrated physically (n = 198) or chemically (n = 96).

MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES:

Respondents were asked to report retrospectively on their sexuality, including their sexual activity and which gender(s) they were sexually attracted to, fantasized about, or had sexual relations with 6 months to 1 year before and after castration.

RESULTS:

A substantial proportion of men remained sexually active after castration; 37% had sex at least several times per week. Most respondents did not report a change in preferred gender(s) of attraction (65%, n = 181), fantasies (62%, n = 169), or sexual relationships (66%, n = 163), although approximately 20% to 30% of respondents did report such changes and 8% to 11% became non-sexual after castration. Respondents who were attracted to and fantasized about "only men" or who had sexual relationship with "only women" before castration were the least likely to report a change subsequent to castration. Respondents who were taking neither supplemental testosterone nor estrogen were more likely to report (i) becoming attracted to no one, (ii) fantasizing about no one, and (iii) becoming sexually inactive.

CONCLUSION:

Sexual changes in voluntarily castrated men vary and can be influenced by various factors including the use of supplemental testosterone or estrogen therapy.

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By:  Handy AB1, Jackowich RA2, Wibowo E3, Johnson TW4, Wassersug RJ5.

• 1Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada.
• 2Department of Psychology, Queen's University, Kingston, ON, Canada.
• 3Vancouver Prostate Centre, Vancouver Coastal Health Research Institute, Vancouver, BC, Canada.
• 4Department of Anthropology (Emeritus), California State University-Chico, Chico, CA, USA.
• 5Department of Medical Neuroscience, Dalhousie University, Halifax, NS, Canada; Australian Research Centre in Sex, Health and Society, La Trobe University, Melbourne, VIC, Australia. Electronic address: Richard.wassersug@ubc.ca. 
• Sex Med. 2016 Mar;4(1):e51-9. doi: 10.1016/j.esxm.2015.11.001.

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Older Sexual Partners and Adolescent Females' Mental Health

CONTEXT:

The physical health detriments associated with adolescent females' having older romantic partners are well documented. However, little is known about the relationship between having an older partner and females' subsequent mental health.

METHODS:

Two waves of data from 1,440 participants in the National Longitudinal Study of Adolescent Health were analyzed. The sample was restricted to females in grades 7-12 who had not had sex at Wave 1 (1994-1995) and reported at least one romantic relationship by Wave 2 (1996). A lagged dependent variable approach with ordinary least-squares regression measured changes in depression and self-esteem associated with sexual and nonsexual relationships with same-age and older partners. Intimate partner violence was tested as a mediator.

RESULTS:

Compared with respondents reporting a nonsexual relationship with a same-age partner, those reporting a nonsexual relationship with an older partner, sex with a same-age partner or sex with an older partner experienced greater increases in depression between surveys; mean predicted depression levels at Wave 2 ranged from 7.7 to 9.0 across these groups (possible range, 0-27). Intimate partner violence explained one-third of the difference between those who had had sex and those who had not had sex with same-age partners. Fewer associations were found for self-esteem, and differences between groups were small.

CONCLUSIONS:

Health correlates of adolescent sexual behavior go beyond physical health outcomes. Future research should identify mechanisms through which relationships, especially those with older partners, are associated with declines in mental health.

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By:  Meier A1, Erickson GA2, McLaughlin H3.

• 1Department of Sociology, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis. meierann@umn.edu.
• 2Department of Criminal Justice and Forensic Science, Hamline University, St. Paul, MN.
• 3Department of Sociology, Oklahoma State University, Stillwater.
• Perspect Sex Reprod Health. 2016 Feb 26. doi: 10.1363/48e8316.

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Sexual Relationships in Last 12 months among Men Who Have Sex with Men in Nepal

Background

Men who have sex with men (MSM) are marginalized, hidden, underserved and at high risk for HIV in Nepal. We examined the association between MSM sub-populations, psychosocial health problems and support, access to prevention and non-use of condoms.

Methods

Between September-November of 2010, a cross-sectional survey on HIV-related risk behavior was performed across Nepal through snowball sampling facilitated by non-governmental organizations, recruiting 339 MSM, age 15 or older. The primary outcomes were: (a) non-use of condoms at least once in last three anal sex encounters with men and (b) non-use of condoms with women in the last encounter. The secondary outcome was participation in HIV prevention interventions in the past year.

Results

Among the 339 MSM interviewed, 78% did not use condoms at their last anal sex with another man, 35% did not use condoms in their last sex with a woman, 70% had experienced violence in the last 12 months, 61% were experiencing depression and 47% had thought of committing suicide. After adjustment for age, religion, marital status, and MSM subpopulations (bisexual, ta, meti, gay), non-use of condoms at last anal sex with a man was significantly associated with non-participation in HIV interventions, experience of physical and sexual violence, depression, repeated suicidal thoughts, small social support network and being dissatisfied with social support. Depression was marginally associated with non-use of condoms with women. The findings suggest that among MSM who reported non-use of condoms at last anal sex, the ta subgroup and those lacking family acceptance were the least likely to have participated in any preventive interventions.

Conclusions

MSM in Nepal have a prevalence of psychosocial health problems in turn associated with high risk behavior for HIV. Future HIV prevention efforts targeting MSM in Nepal should cover all MSM subpopulations and prioritize psychosocial health interventions.

Full article at:  http://goo.gl/0Gchu8

By:   Keshab Deuba,1,* Anna Mia Ekström,2,3 Rachana Shrestha,4 George Ionita,5 Laxmi Bhatta,4 and Deepak Kumar Karki6

¹Department of Public Health Sciences, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden

²Division of Global Health (IHCAR), Department of Public Health Sciences, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden

³Department of Infectious Diseases, Huddinge, Karolinska University Hospital, Stockholm, Sweden

⁴Nobel College, Pokhara University, Kathmandu, Nepal

⁵United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), Kathmandu, Nepal

⁶National Centre for AIDS and STD Control, Kathmandu, Nepal

University of Washington, United States of America

* E-mail: moc.liamg@k4abued

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