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Effects of prenatal stress on sexual partner preference in mice.

Three-month old, male Swiss Webster mice were born to either control dams or dams who had been prenatally stressed with light, heat, noise and handling during the last week of gestation. As adults, male offspring were tested on sexual partner preference and sexual behavior (mounting, intromissions and lordosis) with a sexually experienced male stimulus animal and a stimulus estrous female. In comparison to males born to control dams, prenatally stressed males showed a sexual partner preference for the sexually active male as demonstrated by a negative partner preference score, more and longer visits to the male's compartment, fewer and shorter visits to the female's compartment and longer latencies to and lower frequencies of mounts and intromissions of females. In addition, stressed males showed a greater frequency of lordosis and a higher lordosis quotient than did control males. This study is the first to investigate the effects of prenatal stress alone, without hormonal manipulation, on sexual partner preference using both a partner preference paradigm and measures of sexual behavior such as mounting, intromissions and lordosis. These findings support the suggestion that prenatal stress alone is enough to significantly affect sexual partner preference in male mice.

Animals↗

Power, control, and intimate partner sexual violence in Haiti.

This study sought to determine how power and control in intimate relationships influenced women's exposure to sexual violence. Multilevel modeling was used to determine the risk of partner sexual violence in the past 12 months among 2240 women aged 15-49 years who were currently married or cohabiting. The data were drawn from the 2000 Haiti Demographic and Health Survey. Strong positive effects on intimate partner sexual violence were found for husband's jealousy and perpetration of controlling behavior and women's endorsement of traditional norms concerning a husband's rights to beat his wife. Female dominance in decision making about purchases for daily household needs was positively associated with intimate partner sexual violence but its effects were mediated by relationship quality. The effect of wife's education on intimate partner violence was nonlinear. The analysis also showed that high community female headship rates were independently associated with higher risks of partner sexual violence. The findings highlight the importance of adopting a multidimensional approach to the measurement of power in sexual relationships and the need for programs to work at multiple levels to address gender-based norms and the structural factors that put women at increased risk of sexual violence.

Adolescent↗

Methamphetamine-dependent gay men's disclosure of their HIV status to sexual partners.

Disclosure of one's HIV status to a potential sexual partner has important HIV prevention implications. This paper qualitatively evaluates the social and sexual contexts that influence disclosure of HIV status among methamphetamine-dependent gay men enrolled in an outpatient drug treatment research program. As part of an open-ended, semi-structured interview, 34 HIV-positive and HIV-negative men discussed how, when, to whom and under what circumstances they reveal information about their HIV status. The four factors that influence participants' decision to disclose include: (1) an HIV-negative sexual partner's disclosure; (2) sexual venue (private versus public); (3) primary versus non-primary partner; and (4) the perceived risk of the sexual act. Sexual encounters among the men in this sample often occurred in public environments with non-primary partners, and involved use of illicit substances. In these social and sexual contexts, both HIV-positive and HIV-negative participants believed that it is HIV-negative rather than HIV-positive men who should initiate safer sex dialogue and safer sex practices. Findings are helpful in crafting HIV-prevention interventions targeting substance-using gay men whose sexual practices place them at high-risk for HIV-infection.

Adult↗

HPV-associated flat penile lesions in men of a non-STD hospital population: less frequent and smaller in size than in male sexual partners of women with CIN.

Human papillomavirus (HPV) infections and HPV-associated penile lesions are frequently found in male sexual partners of women with cervical intraepithelial neoplasia (CIN). To determine the significance of these findings, we studied the prevalence of HPV and HPV associated penile lesions in a male hospital population with non-STD complaints. Penoscopy was performed after application of acetic acid to identify flat lesions, papular lesions, condylomata acuminata and pearly penile papules (PPPs). Presence of HPV DNA in penile scrapes was tested by GP5+6+ PCR. In case of HPV 16 positivity, viral loads were quantified using a LightCycler based real-time PCR method. Comparing the non-STD male hospital population (n = 118) with the male sexual partners of women with CIN (n = 238), flat penile lesions were found in 14% vs. 60% and penile HPV in 25% vs. 59% of the men, respectively. We found that the presence of penile HPV and, in case of HPV 16 positivity, higher viral loads were associated with the presence of flat penile lesions. Amongst the HPV-positive men, flat penile lesions were more common and larger in size in male sexual partners of women with CIN than in the non-STD hospital population. HPV infections and HPV-associated flat penile lesions are commonly found in the non-STD male population. However, these lesions are less frequently present and smaller in size than in male sexual partners of women with CIN. Higher viral loads in penile scrapes of male sexual partners of women with CIN are reflected by a higher prevalence of flat penile lesions and a larger size of these lesions.

Adult↗

Penile lesions and human papillomavirus in male sexual partners of women with cervical intraepithelial neoplasia.

BACKGROUND: Genital human papillomavirus infection (HPV) is causally associated with cervical carcinomas and premalignant lesions. Limited information is available about the prevalence of HPV and penile lesions in male sexual partners of women with cervical intraepithelial neoplasia (CIN). OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to identify the presence of penile lesions and HPV in penile scrapings from male sexual partners of women with CIN. METHODS: One hundred seventy-five male sexual partners of women with CIN were screened by peniscopy after acetowhite staining and HPV testing on penile scrapings. RESULTS: Penile lesions were seen in 68% of the male sexual partners. More than one lesion type was diagnosed in 15%. Flat lesions, papular lesions, and condylomata acuminata were seen in 83%, 29%, and 4%, respectively. HPV was detected in 59% of the penile scrapings, containing mainly oncogenic HPV types. When penile lesions were present at peniscopy, 67% of penile scrapings were positive for HPV, whereas 37% were HPV-positive when no lesions were visible. CONCLUSIONS: Penile lesions are frequently found in sexual partners of women with CIN. Most of these lesions are subclinical (ie, only visible after acetowhite staining) and are often associated with the presence of high-risk HPV, indicating that male sexual partners of women with CIN might constitute a reservoir for high-risk HPV.

Adult↗

Sexual partner preference in female Japanese macaques.

Whether animals ever exhibit a preference for same-sex sexual partners is a subject of debate. Japanese macaques represent excellent models for examining issues related to sexual preference in animals because females, in certain populations, routinely engage in both heterosexual and homosexual behavior over the course of their life spans. Multiple lines of evidence indicate that female homosexual behavior in Japanese macaques is a sexual behavior, not a sociosexual one. Additional evidence indicates that female Japanese macaques do not engage in homosexual behavior simply because acceptable male mates are unavailable or unmotivated to copulate. Patterns of sexual partner choice by female Japanese macaques that are the focus of intersexual competition indicate that females of this species choose same-sex sexual partners even when they are simultaneously presented with a motivated, opposite-sex alternative. Thus, in some populations of Japanese macaques, females prefer certain same-sex sexual partners relative to certain male mates, and vice versa. Taken together, this evidence suggests that female Japanese macaques are best characterized as bisexual in orientation, not preferentially homosexual or preferentially heterosexual.

Adaptation, Physiological↗

The significance of sexual partner contact networks for the transmission dynamics of HIV.

The paper provides a brief review of the significance of heterogeneity in sexual behaviour to the transmission dynamics of HIV and the spread of AIDS. It addresses the formulation of mathematical models to encapsulate variability in the rate of sexual partner change, the structure of networks of sexual partner contact, and age dependency in sexual activity. A particular focus is the significance of high or low preference (or choice) of sexual partners from an individual's own sexual activity class (defined on the basis of partner change rate or other criteria). Numerical studies of model behaviour reveal that a high degree of assortativeness (high level of "like with like" mixing) results in a more rapid initial spread of HIV, a smaller overall epidemic, and the possibility of a multipeak or long and drawn out epidemic, by comparison with those induced by high degrees of disassortativeness (low level of "like with like" mixing) in sexual contact patterns. The structure of a sexual network is shown to be a major determinant of the temporal pattern and magnitude of an epidemic. The demographic impact of HIV in developing countries is also examined in the context of choice matrices based on age as well as sexual activity. The potential demographic impact of AIDS is shown to be enhanced by age dependency in levels of activity (high in the young and lower in older age classes), a male preference for females of younger age, and a higher efficiency of HIV transmission from male to female than vice versa. The paper ends with a discussion of the need for better quantitative data on sexual behaviour.

Adult↗

Factors affecting seropositivity to human T cell lymphotropic virus type III (HTLV-III) or lymphadenopathy associated virus (LAV) and progression of disease in sexual partners of patients with AIDS.

Fifty four sexual partners of homosexual men with the acquired immune deficiency syndrome (AIDS) were studied, of whom 32 were seropositive and 22 seronegative for human T cell lymphotropic virus type III or lymphadenopathy virus (HTLV-III/LAV) antibody, which showed that repeated exposure by anal intercourse does not necessarily lead to seroconversion. Seropositivity to HTLV-III/LAV was not associated with the absolute number of sexual partners, receptive anal intercourse, or the use of recreational drugs, but was associated with a history of other sexually transmitted diseases (STDs), particularly in the year preceding the patient's initial examination. Acquisition of an STD after the date of last sexual contact with a person with AIDS was strongly associated (p less than 0.001) with the development of persistent generalised lymphadenopathy (PGL). Concurrent or recent STDs would seem to be an important cofactor in developing antibody to HTLV-III/LAV and in the progression of infection from a person being asymptomatic to having PGL.

Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome↗

Urogenital involvements in female sexual partners of males with Reiter's syndrome.

The occurrence of urogenital involvements in female sexual partners of males with Reiter's syndrome (RS) or suspicion of RS (SRS) was studied. The possible etiological role of Chlamydia trachomatis (Ct) was demonstrated by isolation and by immunofluorescence (IF) serology. Evidence of chlamydial infection (positive isolation and/or IF titre greater than or equal to 64) was found in 35 out of 56 (62,5%) males with RS and in 9 out of 16 (56,3%) males with SRS. 43 female sexual partners of these men were studied. Evidence of present or past chlamydial infection was demonstrated in 23 of these 43 females (53,5%). This was a significantly higher frequency than that evidenced among controls studied, 14/77 verified serologically and 3/81 by isolation, p less than 0.0025 and p less than 0.005, respectively. A history of dysuria occurred in 10 out of 43 female sexual partners and in only 20 out of 364 interviewed randomly selected controls (p less than 0.00025). Abnormal urinary findings were also more frequent among the sexual partners than among the controls (p less than 0.025). The results emphasize the role of Ct as a triggering factor in RS and stress the importance of urogenital investigations among couples with RS.

Adolescent↗

Itraconazole in the treatment of vaginal candidosis and the effect of treatment of the sexual partner.

The efficacy of itraconazole in the treatment of vaginal candidosis and the effect of treatment of the sexual partner were evaluated. Women received 100 mg of itraconazole daily for five days. The sexual partners of one-half of the women were treated with the same dosage of itraconazole; the other men received placebo. Study design was double blind. Sexual relations were discontinued during treatment. On day 0 and day 30 after initiation of treatment, laboratory values were determined. At 30 days, 14% of the women whose sexual partners had received placebo and none of those whose sexual partners had received itraconazole had relapsed. These differences, however, were not statistically significant.

Adolescent↗

AIDS-related risk behavior, knowledge, and beliefs among women and their Mexican-American sexual partners who used intravenous drugs.

OBJECTIVE: To assess the risk behaviors, knowledge, and beliefs regarding human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection and acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS) among women and their sexual partners who were Mexican-American men who used intravenous drugs. DESIGN: Survey of male methadone users and their female sexual partners. PARTICIPANTS AND SETTING: Mexican-American male clients at a methadone clinic in Los Angeles, Calif, were consecutively recruited for the study. A method similar to partner contact tracing was used to identify female subjects. One hundred subjects, representing 50 male-female pairs of sexual partners, answered identical questionnaires. The responses from females were compared with those from their male partners. RESULTS: Seventy-four percent of the females disclosed that they used intravenous drugs, and 88% knew that their male partners were intravenous drug users. Of subjects who used intravenous drugs, 73% (27/37) of females and 88% (44/50) of males currently injected themselves and shared uncleaned needles. Seventy-six percent of females and 84% of males never used a condom during the previous year, and about 20% of both sexes had more than one sexual partner. Even though most of the females understood how HIV was transmitted and recognized themselves as at risk for AIDS, they continued to share needles unsafely and place themselves at risk for acquiring HIV infection through sex. CONCLUSION: This group of females and their male sexual partners engaged in multiple behaviors that may contribute to the further propagation of HIV infection.

Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome↗

Sexual partnering and risk of HIV/STD among Aboriginals.

OBJECTIVE: To examine the contribution of patterns of sexual partnering to the spread of HIV/STD infection between communities. METHODS: 651 randomly selected Aboriginals from 11 reserve communities in Ontario were interviewed. This analysis included those who had sex in the previous 12 months. Descriptive statistics and multivariate analyses identified associations with patterns of sexual partnering. RESULTS: 22% reported having partners from both within and outside the community, 51% from within only, and 27% from outside only. Those with partners from both within and outside were more likely to be male, unmarried, from a remote community, have more sexual partners and perceive that their behaviour placed them at higher risk of HIV/STD infection. They were least likely to perceive their community to be at risk from their behaviour. CONCLUSIONS: Findings suggest that Aboriginal communities are not insulated and that HIV could spread rapidly if introduced.

Adolescent↗

Testosterone increases singing and aggression but not male-typical sexual partner preference in early estrogen treated female zebra finches.

Female zebra finches given estradiol benzoate (EB) as nestlings and testosterone propionate (TP) as adults show masculinized sexual partner preference, preferring females instead of males. This suggests an organizational effect of EB on sexual partner preference in a socially monogamous species that pairs for life. It is not known whether there is an activational hormone effect on sexual partner preference in this species, or whether adult testosterone treatment is necessary for masculinized preference to be expressed. In this experiment females were injected with EB daily for the first 2 weeks posthatching. As adults they were given TP filled or empty implants. Subjects were then given two-choice preference tests with male vs female stimuli, in which singing as well as proximity to the stimuli was recorded, followed by tests in a group aviary for social behavior and pairing preference. Females with TP implants sang more than females with empty implants and were more aggressive toward other females. They did not, however, differ from females with empty implants in any measure of sexual partner preference. Neither group showed a marked preference for males; instead both groups were equally interested in males and females. Thus adult testosterone treatment is not necessary for early estrogen treated females to show a shift in sexual partner preference in the male-typical direction.

Aggression↗

HIV-infected men's practices in notifying past sexual partners of infection risk.

The researchers studied the self-reported practices of men infected with the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) in Los Angeles concerning notifying past sexual partners of their risk of infection. The sample of 111 men consisted of 87 Hispanics, 14 whites, 9 blacks, and 1 Asian. Ninety-three percent identified themselves as homosexual or bisexual, and 13 percent reported having injected a nonprescription drug. Seventy-five percent had tested HIV seropositive within the previous 8 months. Subjects were asked about notifying sexual partners with whom they had contact in the 12-months before the subject tested HIV seropositive. Of the 111 subjects, 39 (35 percent) reported that they had attempted to inform 1 or more past partners. Of those who attempted, 30 subjects (76.9 percent) reported notifying at least 1 partner. Overall, the 111 subjects reported a total of 926 individual sexual partners during the 12 months; 51 partners (5.5 percent) were informed of their risk by the subjects. A multivariate logistic regression analysis indicated that those with the most past sexual partners were least likely to attempt to notify any partner. The same inverse relationship was obtained for actual notification and may stem in part from the greater frequency of nonidentifiable partners among those reporting many encounters. The extent and quality of posttest counseling regarding partner notification was not assessed. However, rates of attempted notification were nonsignificantly higher among those who received private professional counseling, who belonged to a support group, or who received social support from family or friends. The data suggest that without concerted and culturally appropriate counseling, many HIV infected persons do not attempt to notify past sexual partners of their risk.

Adolescent↗

The shape of the distribution of the number of sexual partners.

Information on the number of sexual partners that people have is necessary for predicting the likely long term course of the AIDS epidemic. More information is required than is provided by simply stating the mean and variance of the number of partners. It is useful to find a family of curves which approximate data on the proportion of people in the various 'number of partners' categories. Two Australian surveys of the sexual behaviour of first year university behavioural science students were analysed. It was found here that log-normal distributions gave good approximations to the distribution of number of partners amongst people who had more than one partner. Gamma and negative binomial distributions gave less satisfactory fits and the truncated normal and Poisson distributions were clearly unable to match the data.

Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome↗

Failure of culture and polymerase chain reaction to detect human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) in seronegative steady sexual partners of HIV-infected individuals.

Because of concern that steady sexual partners of patients infected with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) may be infected despite negative results in tests for antibody to HIV, we studied 50 sexually active couples with discordant antibody results, assessing the agreement between these serological results and those obtained by p24 antigen testing, the polymerase chain reaction (PCR), and culture. Forty-nine of 50 seropositive sexual partners were also positive for HIV by PCR; the remaining seropositive partner was positive by culture. All seronegative partners also had negative results in the other three tests. Moreover, seronegative partners continued to have negative results in all tests for a mean follow-up period of 17 months despite ongoing sexual relations with their seropositive partners. Seronegative infection was not documented in these partners at risk for sexual transmission of HIV. HIV-negative individuals in stable, monogamous sexual relationships with HIV-infected partners apparently do not have a high incidence of infection despite continued sexual exposure.

Adult↗

Genetic influences on female infidelity and number of sexual partners in humans: a linkage and association study of the role of the vasopressin receptor gene (AVPR1A).

In humans, in contrast to animals, the genetic influences on infidelity are unclear. We report here a large study of over 1600 unselected United Kingdom female twin pairs who confidentially reported previous episodes of infidelity and total lifetime number of sexual partners, as well as attitudes towards infidelity. Our findings demonstrate that infidelity and number of sexual partners are both under moderate genetic influence (41% and 38% heritable, respectively) and the genetic correlation between these two traits is strong (47%). Conversely, attitudes towards infidelity are driven by shared and unique environmental, but not genetic, influences. A genome-wide linkage scan identified three suggestive but nonsignificant linkage areas associated with infidelity and number of sexual partners on chromosomes 3, 7 and 20 with a maximum LOD score of 2.46. We were unsuccessful in associating infidelity or number of sexual partners with a locus implicated in other mammals' sexual behavior, the vasopressin receptor gene. Nonetheless, our findings on the heritability of sexual infidelity and number of sexual partners provide support for certain evolutionary theories of human sexual behavior, as well as justifying further genetic and molecular research in this domain.

Adult↗

HIV-infected persons' knowledge of their sexual partners' HIV status.

The purpose of this study was to measure the accuracy of HIV-infected persons' knowledge of their sexual partners' HIV infection status. HIV-infected persons at two public health clinics reported their knowledge of the HIV infection status of their sexual partners. Actual HIV test results for sexual partners were then linked to survey responses. The association between reported knowledge and actual infection status of partners was estimated by kappa scores and percent agreement. Sixty-four percent (14/22) of partners thought to be infected were actually uninfected, and 42% (8/19) of partners thought to be uninfected were actually infected. The overall percent agreement was 46% (kappa = -0.06), less than that expected by random chance alone. Individuals in committed partnerships were less likely to have accurate knowledge than those in casual partnerships. In conclusion, HIV-infected individuals have poor knowledge regarding their partners' infection status. This may influence sexual behaviors that result in increased transmission.

Community Health Centers↗