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PubMed1997

An association between non-gonococcal urethritis and bacterial vaginosis and the implications for patients and their sexual partners.

OBJECTIVES: The aetiology of non-gonococcal urethritis (NGU) in a considerable proportion of men remains unaccounted for. We wished to investigate the possible aetiological role of bacterial vaginosis (BV), the commonest cause of abnormal discharge in women, in this condition. METHODS: We carried out two studies. In the first, case-control, study, we recruited men with and without NGU and examined their female partners for evidence of BV. The second, cohort design, study which ran concurrently with the first study involved recruiting women with and without BV and examining their male partners for evidence of NGU. The diagnoses of both NGU and BV were made microscopically to include symptomatic and asymptomatic individuals in both disease categories. RESULTS: In the case-control study 51 couples were recruited. Of these 39 men had NGU and 12 (31%) of their female contacts had BV. In contrast, of 12 men without NGU, only one (8%) of the female partners had BV (odds ratio 4.89, 95% CI: 0.51-42.27). When only Chlamydia trachomatis negative patients were considered, the odds ratio for an association between BV and NGU was increased to 6.77, 95% CI: 0.73-62.68). Thirty eight couples were recruited to the cohort design study. Of 17 women with BV, 12 (71%) of their male partners had NGU. In contrast, of 21 women without BV, seven (33%) of their male partners had NGU (p = 0.049, odds ratio 4.8). When only C trachomatis negative patients were considered, the significance of the association was increased (p = 0.037; odds ratio 5.42). CONCLUSIONS: An association exists between NGU and BV, and vice versa. If BV arises de novo the findings could help to explain the development of urethritis in stable sexual relationships.

Adult↗

PubMed2000

Sexual partner age preferences of homosexual and heterosexual men and women.

The sexual age preferences of 192 adults (equal groups of heterosexual men, heterosexual women, homosexual men, and homosexual women) were examined. Participants rated the sexual attractiveness of pictures of 15 male and 15 female faces arranged into five apparent average age categories ranging from 18 to 60 years. It was predicted that homosexual and heterosexual men would prefer younger partners of their preferred sex than would homosexual and heterosexual women and that age preference would not vary with participant age. Both predictions were supported, although homosexual women preferred older partners than expected. Results suggest that age and sex preferences develop independently.

Adolescent↗

PubMed1999

Estimation of the number of sexual partners for the nonrespondents to a large national survey.

For a random sample of 4548 respondents to the British National Survey of Sexual Attitudes and Lifestyles, item nonresponses were assessed by utilizing alternating least squares and optimal scaling. Of men who did not answer the question on number of lifetime partners, 61% were estimated to have had 10 or more partners, whereas 48% of female nonrespondents were estimated to have had no partners. Among the latter, the percentage of those with 10 or more partners was also elevated to the level almost twice that of respondents. However, the overall impact of the estimates on the distribution of lifetime partners was hardly noticeable due to the relatively small proportion of incomplete answers to this question. Those who did not respond to the question of number of lifetime partners were likely to be over 45 years, of lower social class, and poorer education in comparison with those who answered the question fully. A larger proportion of the former were of Asian extraction and non-Christian in comparison to the latter, particularly among women. Not providing a complete answer to the question on the number of lifetime partners was associated with the nonresponse rate in the range of 90% on the questions of STD clinic attendance and drug abuse. Heavy smoking was more prevalent among male nonrespondents in comparison to those who provided a full answer to the question on the number of lifetime partners.

Adolescent↗

PubMed1995

Multiple sexual partners and their psychosocial correlates: the population-based AIDS in multiethnic neighborhoods (AMEN) study.

In this study we examined multiple partners in a household probability sample of heterosexuals. Thirty-seven percent reported 2 or more partners in the past year, and 6% reported 5 or more partners. Significant interactions among gender, ethnicity, and relationship status revealed complex relations. African American men without a primary partner were the most likely to have multiple partners; ethnic minority women with primary partners were the least likely. Psychosocial factors associated with multiple partners were examined with the AIDS Risk Reduction Model (ARRM). Situational factors influenced how ARRM variables related to multiple partners. Perceived risk, commitment to monogamy, and communication were all important correlates. Prevention efforts must focus on increasing awareness of the risks of heterosexual transmission of HIV for people in dating relationships and on strengthening sexual communication skills with new partners.

Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome↗

PubMed2004

How are sociosexuality, sex drive, and lifetime number of sexual partners related?

In two studies (ns = 277 and 221), the authors examined the relationships among sex drive, sociosexuality, lifetime number of sex partners, and gender identity. They found that sex drive is highly and positively correlated with sociosexual orientation, and that both sex drive and sociosexual orientation are positively correlated with lifetime number of sex partners. However, partial correlations revealed that sociosexual orientation is an independent predictor of lifetime number of sex partners, whereas sex drive is not. The authors were also able to replicate and extend Mikach and Bailey's (1999) finding that gender identity is related to women's lifetime number of sex partners. More masculine women had more sex partners and had a less restricted sociosexual orientation than did less masculine women; less masculine men had a higher sex drive than did more masculine men. The findings are discussed with regard to theory and research on sex drive and sociosexuality.

Adolescent↗

PubMed2002

Intention to notify sexual partners about potential HIV exposure among New York city STD clinics' clients.

BACKGROUND: Partner notification legislation has recently been implemented in New York State. GOAL: The goal of the study was to assess willingness of individuals seeking HIV testing to (1) give counselors contact information about partners, if infected, and (2) contact partners on their own. STUDY DESIGN: Before implementation of the legislation, 1372 individuals seeking HIV testing at New York City Department of Health STD clinics completed a brief, anonymous survey. RESULTS: More than 90% of heterosexually active individuals and more than 80% of men who have sex with men (MSM) could contact sex partners with whom they had had unprotected vaginal/anal sex. Were they to test HIV-positive, almost all respondents would have been willing to notify sex partners personally; 90% of heterosexually active individuals and 80% of MSM also expressed willingness to provide contact information to providers. Respondents preferred to be notified by a sex partner rather than by a provider. Patient-referred clients reported being more comfortable with the referral than provider-referred clients. CONCLUSIONS: Voluntary partner notification performed by the index case-with notification by the provider should the former fail to occur-is recommended.

Adolescent↗

PubMed2004

[Sexual partners and practices of young homosexuals in Rio de Janeiro].

This article focuses on the organization of the erotic lives of young men who engage in homosexual practices. The reflections presented here are based on ethnographic research including observation in places of homosociability and interviews with young men in Rio de Janeiro reporting homosexual practices. By presenting erotic scenes pertaining to a homoerotic circuit and recording the sexual trajectories of young men engaging in homosexual practices, the article seeks to identify the implications of the observed erotic scripts and sex-partner patterns for the sexual health of these individuals. The text calls special attention to reports concerning the emergence of different forms of erotic interaction in childhood, as well as cross-age and crossgenerational partnerships that extend into adulthood, with a growing trend toward seeking younger partners as the young men themselves grow older. The article suggests that such phenomena require a more in-depth understanding, since they have serious implications for planning sexual health measures for young men (and boys) who engage in homosexual practices.

Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome↗

PubMed1990

Assessment by gene amplification and serological markers of transmission of HIV-1 from hemophiliacs to their sexual partners and secondarily to their children.

The transmission of HIV-1 infection from men with hemophilia A to their female sex partners and secondarily to their children was studied by serological markers including antibody, antigen, and HIV genome as detected by the polymerase chain reaction (PCR). Among 27 sex partners of 26 seropositive hemophiliacs, 5 were seropositive-PCR positive (active), 11 were seronegative-PCR positive (latent), and 11 were negative for both. These results were confirmed by testing serial serum samples and paired samples of DNA from peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) and serum from seronegative women. PCR negativity in exposed women was correlated with the use of condoms (p less than 0.01). Eight children from five couples were seronegative. However, HIV-1 infection as detected by PCR was transmitted to 60% of exposed children, including one from a seronegative-PCR positive mother.

Adult↗

PubMed1996

Medial preoptic/anterior hypothalamic lesions induce a female-typical profile of sexual partner preference in male ferrets.

In T-maze tests given to gonadectomized ferrets treated daily with estradiol benzoate (EB), females consistently prefer to approach and interact sexually with a stud male whereas male subjects, on average, prefer an estrous female. In the present experiment this sexually allomorphic pattern of partner preference was changed in males given lesions of the medial preoptic area/anterior hypothalamus (mPOA/AH). Electrolytic lesions, which caused extensive bilateral damage to the mPOA/AH, including the sexually dimorphic male nucleus (MN) of the POA/AH, led males to shift their mean preference away from the estrous female to the stud male. Their postoperative profile of partner preference more closely resembled that of sham-operated females than that of sham-operated males or of males which sustained either partial or minimal bilateral damage to the mPOA/AH so as to spare the MN-POA/AH in one or both hemispheres. Males with extensive bilateral mPOA/AH lesions, like sham-operated females, showed an even stronger preference to approach the stud male during T-maze tests in which the subjects could smell, see, and hear the stimulus animals without physically interacting with them. After receiving testosterone propionate, male ferrets with either extensive or partial lesions of the mPOA/AH showed significant deficits in neck gripping and mounting performance in tests with either female or male stimulus animals which were sexually receptive after gonadectomy and EB treatment. The present results, coupled with those of a previous study using excitotoxic mPOA/AH lesions, suggest that the male-typical profile of preference for an estrous female depends on the functional integrity of sexually dimorphic mPOA/AH neurons and the reward engendered by coital interaction with such a female. When these neurons either are destroyed experimentally (as in male ferrets with extensive bilateral mPOA/AH lesions) or are absent (as in sham-operated females), subjects are attracted by distal (possibly chemosensory) incentive cues from a stud male.

Animals↗

PubMed2004

Recruitment of minority women and their main sexual partners in an HIV/STI prevention trial.

UNLABELLED: Recruiting heterosexual couples into randomized clinical trials (RCTs) to test the efficacy of HIV/sexually transmitted infection (STI) prevention interventions is a challenge that requires innovative strategies and consideration of ethical issues, including participant safety and confidentiality. METHODS: This paper provides a brief review of the literature on minority and couple RCT recruitment and describes the development (preparation phase and protocol development) and implementation (strategies employed and barriers) of a recruitment protocol that safely enrolled 217 predominantly African American and Latino heterosexual couples into a relationship-based, HIV/STI prevention study. RESULTS: The success of this recruitment protocol with no reported adverse events demonstrates the feasibility of engaging urban minority women and men in RCTs. This study builds on a small literature base articulating specific couple recruitment strategies. CONCLUSION: More research delineating and testing specific strategies for recruiting defined populations into clinical trials is needed to advance the science of study recruitment and improve generalizability of research findings.

Adult↗

PubMed1997

T-lymphocytopaenia, opportunistic infections and pathological findings in Ghanaian AIDS patients and their sexual partners.

Ninety-nine patients at Center for Disease Control (CDC) clinical stage IV were studied. Twelve (12.12%) of these patients turned out to be HIV seronegative. Ten out of the 12 HIV negative patients were immunocompetent whereas the other two had proportional decreases in both CD4+ and CD8+ T-lymphocytes. HIV-1, HIV-2, and dual infection, were detected in 51.5%, 2%, and 22.2% respectively of clinical AIDS patients. The other 12.12% of clinical AIDS patients were indeterminate for HIV antibodies. All HIV positive patients with the exception of two, were immunocompromised with respect to CD4+ and CD8+ T-lymphocyte counts. Two healthy spouses and three children of patients who died from the disease were seronegative for HIV antibodies. Herpes simplex virus type 2 (HSV-2) and cytomegalovirus (CMV) antibody titres were higher in HIV infected than uninfected blood. Patients with chronic diarrhoea, lymphadenopathy, pneumonia, and tuberculosis, either alone or in combination of two or more of such symptoms, were found to be more likely to be confirmed by serology and immunology as definitive AIDS patients in Ghana. In postmortem studies on 20 patients, pneumonia due to tuberculosis constituted the major cause of death. Toxoplasmosis, cytomegaloviral eosophagitis and enteritis, and cryptococcosis were the major opportunistic infections detected. Programmed cell death (apoptosis) was found by the DNA gel electrophoresis method to be an unlikely major mechanism of accelerated culture induced death of PBMCs from CDC stage IV AIDS patients.

AIDS-Related Opportunistic Infections↗

PubMed1995

HIV/AIDS prevention among female sexual partners of injection drug users in Ciudad Juarez, Mexico.

A participatory community project in the US-Mexico border town of Ciudad Juarez, aimed at helping women who are sex partners of male injection drug users to reduce behaviours which increase their risk for HIV infection, is described and evaluated. The design and implementation of the project were influenced by Paulo Freire's pedagogy in the Latin American tradition of 'popular' education, by Bandura's self-efficacy concepts, and by David Warner's 'barefoot doctor' community health care methodology. Using these approaches the participants were directly involved in the development of teaching materials, and curriculum content and implementation of the project. The programme was evaluated quantitatively using NIDA's AIDS Intake and Follow-up Assessment (AIA/AFA) questionnaires, and qualitatively using open ended interviews. While the AIA/AFA questionnaires detected small changes in the frequency of condom use among the participants, ethnographic interviews detected significant changes in the nature of the behaviours which were placing the women at risk. The changes seem to stem from an increase in the degree of self-esteem, self-efficacy and awareness of the social, economic, and political constraints of their lives. These results demonstrate the need for qualitative measures to be incorporated in the evaluation of community based health education programmes. A series of recommendations is presented to facilitate further development and replication of the programme in similar populations.

Adolescent↗

PubMed1992

Prevalence of human papillomavirus infections among heterosexual men and women with multiple sexual partners.

A prospective study of 65 men and 111 women with multiple heterosexual partners was designed to assess the prevalence and potential risk factors of genital human papillomavirus (HPV) infections. In addition, the HPV reservoir in genital, rectal, and oral mucosa was examined. The specimens for the detection of HPV DNA were taken from different sites such as the urethra and coronal sulcus (men), cervix and labia minora (women), anus, rectum, tongue, and buccal mucosa (both men and women). Women underwent speculum examination and colposcopic evaluation of the anogenital region, and a smear for routine cytological classification was also taken. In men, the anogenital region was examined clinically and colposcopically. The polymerase chain reaction (PCR) was used for the detection of HPV types 6/11, 16, 18, and 33. A high prevalence of HPV infection at one or more sites was detected, in 32% of the male and in 23% of the female participants. Seventeen percent of the male distal urethral specimens were positive for HPV DNA. From the female cervical specimens 14% were found positive. Ten proctal specimens (five men and five women) were positive for HPV DNA without any discernible lesion. The persons from whom these samples were taken denied anal insertive intercourse. No oral manifestation of HPV infection was detected. In both men and women a difference between HPV DNA-positive and -negative persons was not found in relation to known risk factors associated HPV infection.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Adult↗

PubMed1998

Validity and reliability in reporting sexual partners and condom use in a Swiss population survey.

OBJECTIVES: To examine the validity and reliability of indicators of sexual behaviour and condom use in annual telephone surveys (n=2800) of the general population aged 17 to 45 for the evaluation of AIDS prevention in Switzerland. METHODS: A test-retest study with additional focused interviews was conducted on a subsample (n=138) of the respondents aged 17 to 22 years. RESULTS: The subsample included more French speaking respondents (OR: 1.7, CI: 1.1-2.5) and more people in a stable relationship (OR: 2.2, CI: 1.5-3-3) than the initial sample but did not differ in any other way, although no data is available on their attitudes towards sex. The reliability of the indicators considered was high: number of lifetime, casual sex partners in the last 6 months and condom use with them, acquisition of a new steady partner during the year and condom use with this partner, condom use at last intercourse. However, the focused interviews raised questions about the validity of some of these indicators, presumably due to imprecise wording of the questionnaire items. Among sexually active respondents, 12.5% (95% CI: 4.7-25.5) of the men included non-penetrative sex in the definition of 'sexual intercourse', but only 1.9% (95% CI: 0.1-10.3) of the women. The propensity for men of counting acts or partners with whom no penetration had taken place in the total reported sex acts or partners was not significantly associated with any socio-demographic variables. In addition, among the 15 respondents who had reported consistent condom use with casual sex partners at interview, 40% (95% CI: 16.3-67.7) admitted at reinterview that sometimes they also had unprotected sex. CONCLUSIONS: The reliability of reports on sexual behaviour and condom use in this Swiss evaluation survey is good. The indicators derived from the annual surveys are robust measures and the monitoring of trends seems to be based on reliable measurement. However, more research is required on the validity of the data.

Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome↗

PubMed2006

Young teenagers and older sexual partners: correlates and consequences for males and females.

CONTEXT: Limited nationally representative information exists on the characteristics of teenagers who had first sex at an early age with an older partner. METHODS: Gender-specific analyses were conducted of 2002 National Survey of Family Growth data from 1,838 females and 1,426 males aged 18-24. Multivariate analyses examined the associations between family and individual characteristics and having a first sexual experience before age 16 with an older partner, and between age and partners' age difference at first sex and contraceptive use and having or fathering a child as a teenager. RESULTS: Sex at a young age with an older partner was associated with not living with a biological parent at age 14 and Hispanic ethnicity for females and males, early menarche and religious attendance for females, and black race for males. Among females and males, first sex by age 16 was negatively associated with contraceptive use at first sex (odds ratios, 0.7 for each) and positively associated with a teenage birth (1.6 and 2.9, respectively); having an older first partner was associated with poor reproductive health outcomes among females. Among females, the combination of young age and an older partner at first sex was positively associated with having a teenage birth. Among males, sex before age 16 with an older partner was associated with more than twice the odds of fathering a child as a teenager compared with the odds among those who had first sex at age 16-17. CONCLUSIONS: Interventions should target specific teenage populations, including males, to dissuade them from having sex at a young age and with older partners. Also, prevention efforts should target potential older teenage partners and adult partners of young teenagers.

Adolescent↗

PubMed2004

HIV status of sexual partners is more important than antiretroviral treatment related perceptions for risk taking by HIV positive MSM in Montreal, Canada.

OBJECTIVE: To examine the role of antiretroviral treatment related perceptions relative to other clinical and psychosocial factors associated with sexual risk taking in HIV positive men who have sex with men (MSM). METHODS: Participants were recruited from ambulatory HIV clinics in Montreal. Information on sociodemographic factors, health status, antiretroviral treatment related perceptions, and sexual behaviours was collected using a self administered questionnaire. At-risk sexual behaviour was defined as at least one occurrence of unprotected insertive or receptive anal intercourse in the past 6 months. Multivariate logistic regression was performed to evaluate the associations between at-risk sexual behaviour and covariates. RESULTS: 346 subjects participated in the study. Overall, 34% of subjects were considered at risk; 43% of sexually active subjects (n=274). At-risk sexual behaviour was associated with two antiretroviral treatment related perceptions: (1) taking antiretroviral treatment reduces the risk of transmitting HIV (adjusted odds ratio (OR), 2.10; 95% confidence interval (CI), 1.16 to 3.80); and (2) there is less safer sex practised by MSM because of HIV treatment advances (OR, 1.82; CI, 1.14 to 2.90). Other factors, however, were more strongly associated with risk. These were: (1) safer sex fatigue (OR, 3.23; CI, 1.81 to 5.78); (2) use of "poppers" during sexual intercourse (OR, 6.28; CI, 2.43 to 16.21); and (3) reporting a greater proportion of HIV positive anal sex partners, compared with reporting no HIV positive anal sex partners: (a) <50% HIV positive (OR, 16.79; CI, 4.70 to 59.98); (b) > or =50% HIV positive (OR, 67.67; CI, 15.43 to 296.90). CONCLUSION: Despite much emphasis on HIV treatment related beliefs as an explanation for sexual risk taking in MSM, this concern may play a relatively minor part in the negotiation of risk by HIV positive MSM. Serosorting, safer sex fatigue, and the use of poppers appear to be more important considerations in understanding the sexual risk behaviours of HIV positive MSM.

Adult↗

PubMed1994

Self-disclosure of HIV infection to sexual partners after repeated counseling.

This study, with the objective of examining voluntary self-disclosure of HIV infection after repeated counseling, was conducted in a private setting, and designed to operate in conjunction with HIV testing. Counseling was provided at entry, and then at 3 months, 6 months, and every six months thereafter. The study was conducted among 129 HIV-positive adults; the primary risk factor was history of: males having sex with males (n = 104); injection drug use (n = 19); or heterosexual contact (n = 6). Results showed that after a mean of 2.3 years since initial HIV-positive notification, 29 percent of subjects had not disclosed the HIV infection to any present partner, and 30 percent to any past sex partner. Casual sex and lower perceived social support were significantly associated with nondisclosure. The authors conclude that even after repeated individual counseling and at least several months to inform others, about one-third of the sexually active subjects did not disclose their HIV infection to any present sex partner. Clinical and public health implications are covered.

Adolescent↗

PubMedDate not supplied

Characteristics of adolescents' sexual partners and their association with use of condoms and other contraceptive methods.

CONTEXT: While a number of studies have examined the association between individuals' characteristics and their contraceptive use, few studies have examined the influence of partners' characteristics on individuals' contraceptive use. METHODS: Using nationally representative data from the National Longitudinal Study of Adolescent Health, multiple logistic analyses were conducted to identify associations between the demographic characteristics of adolescents' heterosexual partners and adolescents' use of condoms or other contraceptive methods. RESULTS: The partners of white and black adolescents were likely to be similar to them, while the partners of Latino adolescents and of adolescents of "other" race or ethnicity were more likely to be of a different racial or ethnic group. Differences in age between adolescents and their partners were notable in all racial and ethnic groups. As adolescents age, the characteristics of their partners become more heterogeneous. The less similar adolescents and their partners are to one another--whether because of a difference in age, grade or school--the less likely adolescents are to use condoms and other contraceptive methods. CONCLUSIONS: Many adolescents have relationships with partners whose characteristics differ from theirs and with whom they are less likely to use condoms or other contraceptive methods. This behavior is more common as adolescents grow older. To provide appropriate counseling, sexuality educators and family planning providers need to consider the ways in which adolescents' relationships change as they age and discuss with them the dynamics of relationships involving partners who differ in age or other characteristics.

Adolescent↗