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PubMedDate not supplied

The relationship between HIV-related knowledge and safe sexual behavior in African American women dwelling in the rural southeast.

There is an epidemiological shift toward increased rates of HIV infection in African American women, despite widely available information regarding HIV prevention. The purpose of this study was to determine the relationship between HIV-related knowledge and high-risk sexual behavior while controlling for related variables. A multivariate regression model was selected to differentiate the effects of these variables. The participants were 75 African American women, aged 18 to 38. The results indicated a positive relationship between HIV-related knowledge and high-risk sexual behaviors using the Pearson's r correlation coefficient (0.411, p < .001). Age of first sexual experience, number of lifetime sexual partners, income, educational level, and level of HIV-related knowledge were then regressed onto level of high risk sexual behavior using a hierarchical techniques. Only total years of education achieved statistical significance (p < .001 on the first step and p < .05 on the second step).

Adolescent↗

PubMed1998

History, clinical findings, sexual behavior and hygiene habits in women with and without recurrent episodes of urinary symptoms.

BACKGROUND: To compare women with and without a history of recurrent symptoms suggestive of a urinary tract infection but a current negative urine culture regarding symptoms and signs of a genital infection, carriership of sexually transmitted agents and vaginal flora changes, sexual behavior and genital hygiene practice. SETTINGS: Contraceptive attendees at family planning and youth clinics. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Two hundred and seventeen women who reported recurrent symptoms of dysuria, frequent micturition, and urgency and had a negative bacterial urine culture were recruited as cases. Seven hundred and ten culture-negative women lacking such symptoms served as controls. A careful record was made including details about gynecological symptoms, sexual behavior and genital hygiene practice. Gynecological signs were noted at gynecological examination. Genital infections, including sexually transmitted diseases, were diagnosed. RESULTS: The mean age of the two groups studied was 26.2 and 25.8 years, respectively. Symptoms, such as dysmenorrhea, vaginal discharge, genital pruritus, abdominal pain and superficial dyspareunia were more frequent in the study group than among the controls. On examination, only erythema was observed more often. However, the cases more often had a history of genital herpes and vulvovaginal candidosis. They used tampons only for menstrual purposes, and soap for genital hygiene, but more often used low-pH solutions and took hot baths less frequently. The women with recurrent urinary symptoms more often masturbated and more often had experience of anal sex and sex during menstruation than the control group. CONCLUSIONS: Sexual behavior and genital hygiene habits may play an etiological role in the lives of women with recurrent episodes of urinary symptoms with a negative bacterial urine culture.

Adult↗

PubMed1989

Effects of ATD on male sexual behavior and androgen receptor binding: a reexamination of the aromatization hypothesis.

The aromatization hypothesis asserts that testosterone (T) must be aromatized to estradiol (E2) to activate copulatory behavior in the male rat. In support of this hypothesis, the aromatization inhibitor, ATD, has been found to suppress male sexual behavior in T-treated rats. In our experiment, we first replicated this finding by peripherally injecting ATD (15 mg/day) or propylene glycol into T-treated (two 10-mm Silastic capsules) or control castrated male rats. In a second experiment, we bilaterally implanted either ATD-filled or blank cannulae into the medial preoptic area (MPOA) of either T-treated or control castrated male rats. With this more local distribution of ATD, a lesser decline in sexual behavior was found, suggesting that other brain areas are involved in the neurohormonal activation of copulatory behavior in the male rat. To determine whether in vivo ATD interacts with androgen or estrogen receptors, we conducted cell nuclear androgen and estrogen receptor binding assays of hypothalamus, preoptic area, amygdala, and septum following treatment with the combinations of systemic T alone. ATD plus T, ATD alone, and blank control. In all four brain areas binding of T to androgen receptors was significantly decreased in the presence of ATD, suggesting that ATD may act both as an androgen receptor blocker and as an aromatization inhibitor. Competitive binding studies indicated that ATD competes in vitro for cytosol androgen receptors, thus substantiating the in vivo antiandrogenic effects of ATD. Cell nuclear estrogen receptor binding was not significantly increased by exposure to T in the physiological range. No agonistic properties of ATD were observed either behaviorally or biochemically. Thus, an alternative explanation for the inhibitory effects of ATD on male sexual behavior is that ATD prevents T from binding to androgen receptors.

Amygdala↗

PubMed1978

Medial preoptic lesions and male sexual behavior: age and environmental interactions.

In all species studied, the medial preoptic area has been found to be necessary for male copulatory behavior. No recovery of sexual function from the medial preoptic area lesions appears to have been reported. This study demonstrates that rats with large lesions of the medial preoptic area exhibit adult male sexual behavior when the surgery is performed prepuberally and the rats have interacted socially with peers.

Animals↗

PubMedDate not supplied

Sexual behavior and condom use among urban women attending a family planning clinic in the United States.

In this paper I present data on risky sexual behavior and condom use among a sample of 100 adult women who attended a family planning clinic in an urban area of the United States. Although the women in this study protected themselves from pregnancy by using contraception, they engaged in sexual behaviors that put them at risk for sexually transmitted human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), including unprotected oral, anal, and vaginal intercourse, and sex with risky partners. Alcohol and drug use were also common among the women in this sample. Almost half of the participants reported a history of sexually transmitted infections. Health assessment for women using contraception should include assessment of risk factors for sexually transmitted HIV infection. All women should be counseled regarding methods of reducing their risk for HIV.

Adolescent↗

PubMed1995

Addictive sexual behavior.

A rationale for the conceptualization of repetitive sexual behaviors as an addiction is presented. Five cases treated by individual psychotherapy are described and certain problems inherent in such treatments are delineated. Other treatment approaches, such as those involving the use of medication, twelve-step groups and cognitive-behavioral techniques are also detailed.

Adult↗

PubMed1976

Gender and sexual experience as determinants in a sexual behavior hierarchy.

The present study sought to assess the influence of gender and previous sexual experience regarding the structure of the basic sexual behavior hierarchy. Results indicated that both gender and previous experience have significant effects. Overall, gender appeared to have a less substantial effect than previous experience, being more noteworthy for the similarities manifest between males and females than the few differences observed. Previous experience displayed a substantial effect, particularly in the upper portion of the hierarchy, with like-experienced groups showing marked similarity in their hierarchy patterns. Several significant gender-experience interactions were found regarding oral-genital behaviors, and a general trend was observed for females indicating negative appreciation from pre to postexperience. Males revealed positive appreciation from pre to postexperience on all but the most basic sexual behaviors. Conclusions were to the effect that while both variables influenced the hierarchy, effects were complex, and often mediated by additional factors.

Adolescent↗

PubMed2001

New evidence on the relationship between substance use and adolescent sexual behavior.

Policymakers and the public have a clear interest in encouraging teens to delay becoming sexually active or, if they are sexually active, to use birth control. Many researchers have argued that reducing substance use among teens will accomplish both of these goals, yet work in this area has failed to control for unobservables that are potentially correlated with substance use and sexual behavior. Using a variety of estimation techniques and data from National Longitudinal Study of Adolescent Health, we estimate the effects of marijuana and alcohol use on two outcomes: the probability of being sexually active, and the probability of having sex without contraception. Our results highlight the importance of controlling for unobservables and indicate that the link between substance use and sexual behavior is much weaker than previously suggested.

Adolescent↗

PubMed1986

Effects of testosterone, estrogen, and dihydrotestosterone upon aggressive and sexual behavior of female rats.

Groups of female TMD rats were treated either with estradiol benzoate (EB), dihydrotestosterone propionate (DHTP), testosterone propionate (TP), EB + DHTP (EB/DHTP), or with oil. These groups of females were tested for social aggression and for masculine and feminine sexual behavior. In addition, patterns of masculine and feminine sexual responses during the aggressive encounters, were investigated. TP-treated females of the same strain were used as opponents in the tests for aggression. In accordance with previous results, EB did not activate aggression whereas TP treatment resulted in a significant increase in aggression in females. Aggressive responses were activated by adding DHTP to EB, up to levels equal to those activated by TP. Sexual responses were observed in the tests for aggression as well as in tests for sexual behavior. The results indicated that feminine and masculine sexual responses were affected significantly by hormonal treatment. Mounting behavior in the test for aggression was activated by TP and by EB/DHTP. Lordosis and proceptive responses were inhibited in these groups as compared to EB-treated females, both in tests for aggression and in tests for sexual behavior. The results are consistent with the idea that dihydrotestosterone inhibits feminine and activates masculine sexual activity. The results also indicate that EB and DHTP synergistically activate aggression.

Aggression↗

PubMed1983

Female sexual behavior displayed by androgenized female rhesus macaques.

Adult, prenatally androgenized female rhesus macaques (female pseudohermaphrodites) that had been ovariectomized were treated with estradiol benzoate (20 micrograms/day) and paired with males at weekly intervals for 4 weeks beginning on Day 12 of injection. Their sexual behavior was compared to that of a control group of females. The sexual behavior of the males toward the two groups of genetic females (control females with normal female genitalia and hermaphrodites with well-formed male genitalia) was also observed. Females and hermaphrodites were equally receptive to male invitations to copulate. Although there were some differences in the specific components of proceptive behavior displayed by the two groups, the overall differences were negligible. Earlier studies had shown that infant and juvenile hermaphrodites resemble males in patterns of play and sexual behavior. When treated with testosterone as adults and paired with receptive females, they displayed mounting patterns typical of males--one of seven hermaphrodites achieved intromission and ejaculated. It has now been demonstrated that when treated with estrogen and paired with males, they responded as females. Hence, the capacity to behave sexually as males is not incompatible with the capacity to respond sexually as females under certain hormonal and environmental conditions.

Aggression↗

PubMed1989

Suppression of male rhesus testicular function and sexual behavior by a gonadotropin-releasing-hormone agonist.

Castrated rhesus monkeys tested in pair tests in small areas mate up to 6 yr after castration, though there is high individual variability (22,23). The generalizability of these findings to social groups in larger areas is unknown. The sexual behavior of 4 adult rhesus males tested singly with a group of 9 intact adult females was examined during short-term, counterbalanced, gonadotropin-releasing-hormone(GnRH)-agonist-induced testicular suppression and control treatment. GnRH-agonist treatment suppressed testosterone to less than 0.6 ng/ml within 16 days. Ten days later (e.g., after 26 days of GnRH-agonist treatment) males were observed for 7 days. The frequency of hiptouches, mounts, intromissons and ejaculations were significantly reduced by testicular suppression. This behavioral reduction was more marked than previously reported in pair-tested castrates during a similar time-period, suggesting testicular suppression more profoundly affects behavior in multifemale groups in larger areas. Males differed in the extent that testicular suppression reduced their sexual behavior. Male ejaculations were completely unaffected in one male and completely eliminated in another. Sexual behavior was reduced less in males with high control levels of testosterone and behavior. Behavioral suppression was unrelated to differences in female behavior and appeared to result from reduced male sexual responsiveness or motivation.

Animals↗

PubMed1999

Dual modulation of male sexual behavior in rats by central prolactin: relationship with in vivo striatal dopaminergic activity.

Prolactin (PRL) appears to be localized in several brain structures. Central, behaviorally meaningful, neural actions of this protein have been demonstrated in a large number of studies. The present report describes sexual behavioral and in vivo neurochemical data obtained from adult male rats injected intracerebroventricularly acutely (10 micrograms) or chronically (5 days; 10 micrograms/day) with ovine prolactin (oPRL). The extracellular striatal concentrations of dopamine and serotonin metabolites were estimated by HPLC measurements in microdialysis perfusates. A single (10 micrograms) administration of oPRL facilitated sexual activity and increased extracellular striatal DOPAC, HVA and 5HIAA levels, whereas five daily intracerebroventricular injections of oPRL, decreased the sexual behavior and reduced DOPAC and HVA striatal extracellular concentrations in response to a central oPRL injection. These results show that acute and chronic central oPRL treatments have stimulatory and inhibitory effects on male sexual behavior, respectively. In addition, the results suggest that striatal dopaminergic activity is increased and decreased by acute and 5-day central oPRL treatments. These data suggest that behavioral effects of PRL occur simultaneously with changes in striatal dopaminergic activity.

Animals↗

PubMed1978

On "doing" and "being" gay: sexual behavior and homosexual male self-identity.

The possible relationships between sexual behavior and homosexual male self-identity are examined within a symbolic interactionist frame-work. The presence or absence of definitions of homosexuality, the nature of these definitions, and the rules learned by the individual for their application to himself and others determined how he perceived his feelings, his behavior, and his sexual identity. The identity histories of the men illustrate how the peer groups in which they were socialized and the behavior of their friends prevented them from defining their behavior in terms of the "homosexual pattern." They began to reinterpret their behavior as "homosexual" when they perceived changes in the behavior and definitions of their behavior by their friends, or when they came into contact with self-defined homosexuals.

Homosexuality↗

PubMed2003

Assessing reliability of early adolescent girls' reports of romantic and sexual behavior.

Increasing rates of HIV among urban adolescents have raised concerns about their participation in sexual risk behaviors. The accuracy of adolescents' sexual reports is critical to the assessment of risk, which may later guide the development of public policy, interventions, and education efforts. The data presented here are part of a larger study on a range of sexual behaviors and cognitions believed to be important regarding adolescent girls' sexual choices and decision-making. Our goal here was to assess the test-retest reliability of early adolescent girls' reports of their romantic and sexual experiences. This information will contribute to our limited information base regarding sexuality research with early adolescents. Fifty urban African American and Latina girls between the ages of 12 and 14 years were recruited from community settings around New York City. A battery of sexual behavior and sexual cognition measures was administered by interviewers at two time points separated by a 3-week interval. Results indicated that the girls were highly reliable in reporting their sexual experiences, especially those experiences related to age of first romantic and sexual milestone experiences.

Adolescent↗

PubMed2000

Comparison of sexual behaviors, unprotected sex, and substance use between two independent cohorts of gay and bisexual men.

OBJECTIVE: To compare demographic characteristics, sexual practices, unprotected receptive and insertive anal intercourse, substance use and rates of HIV-1 seroconversion between two prospective cohorts of HIV-negative men who have sex with men. DESIGN: Comparative analysis of two independent cohorts. METHODS: Between May 1995 and April 1996, 235 HIV-negative Vanguard Project (VP) participants were enrolled and between January and December 1985, 263 HIV-negative participants in the Vancouver Lymphadenopathy AIDS Study (VLAS) completed a follow-up visit. The VP participants were compared with VLAS participants with respect to self-reported demographic variables, sexual behaviors, unprotected sex, substance use and rates of HIV-1 seroconversion during follow-up. RESULTS: In comparison with the VLAS participants the VP participants were younger (median age, 26 versus 34 years; P< 0.001), more likely to be non-Caucasian (75 versus 97%; P< 0.001), and were less likely to have attended university/college (35 versus 46%; P = 0.014). The VP participants reported a higher mean number of male sex partners in the previous year (15 versus 12; P= 0.026) and a higher mean number of regular partners (1.7 versus 0.6; P < 0.001). The VP participants were more likely to report engaging in receptive (92 versus 60%; P< 0.001) and insertive (90 versus 69%; P < 0.001) anal intercourse with regular partners and receptive anal intercourse with casual partners (62 versus 38%; P< 0.001). The VLAS participants were more likely to report never using condoms during insertive and receptive anal intercourse with both regular and casual partners. The VP participants were less likely to report using nitrite inhalants (34 versus 43%; P= 0.033), but more likely to report the use of cocaine (30 versus 8%; P< 0.001), LSD (21 versus 3%; P < 0.001), amphetamine (11 versus 1%; P< 0.001), heroin (3 versus 0%; P= 0.010) and methyldiamphetamine (17 versus 10%; P= 0.034). The VLAS participants were nine times more likely to report high-risk sexual behavior, after controlling for differences in age, ethnicity, substance use, and method of recruitment between cohort members. After adjustment for differences in demographics, sexual behaviors, and level of substance use, the risk ratio for seroconversion among VLAS participants remained significantly elevated compared with VP participants. CONCLUSION: These data provide evidence that men who have sex with men who were enrolled in the VP were more sexually active than their VLAS counterparts were 10 years ago as measured by self-reported numbers of regular and casual partners and frequency of anal intercourse with these partners. However, condom use appears to be significantly higher among VP participants, which has contributed to a lower rate of HIV-1 infection.

Adolescent↗

PubMed2006

Partner-specific sexual behavioral differences between phase 3 HIV vaccine efficacy trial participants and controls: Project VISION.

OBJECTIVE: To assess and compare sexual behaviors using partner-specific data between HIV-negative men who have sex with men (MSM) recruited for an HIV vaccine efficacy trial and a control group. METHODS: HIV-negative MSM from an HIV vaccine trial (n = 525) and controls (n = 732) were recruited by similar strategies and interviewed about behaviors with the 3 most recent partners in the past 6 months, obtained by audio computer-assisted self-interview (A-CASI). RESULTS: Vaccine trial participants were more likely than controls to report an HIV-positive partner (24.7% and 14.1%, respectively) or an HIV-positive primary partner (16.1% and 6.8%, respectively) and were less likely to report occasional or single-time partners of unknown HIV status (51.6% and 63.2%, respectively; P < 0.05 for each comparison). Vaccine trial participants more often reported receptive unprotected anal intercourse (UAI) during their last sexual encounter with an HIV-positive partner (adjusted odds ratio [OR] = 2.7, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.0 to 7.9). Most believed their HIV-positive partners were receiving antiretroviral treatment (ART), however, and after adjustment for perceived ART use, the association between vaccine study participation and receptive UAI with an HIV-positive partner was not significant. CONCLUSIONS: High-risk sexual behavior was reported by many VAX004 participants and controls. Differences between vaccine trial and control participants in the highest risk per contact behavior, receptive UAI with HIV-positive partners, was partly accounted for by perceived ART use. Partner level data are useful in refining risk assessment, which is important in the evaluation of HIV vaccine and other prevention trials.

AIDS Vaccines↗

PubMed1994

Effects of bromocriptine treatment on the expression of sexual behavior in male sheep (Ovis aries).

Twenty-three rams were treated twice daily with subcutaneous injections of bromocriptine or vehicle over 30 d during two seasons, spring and fall. Sexual behavior was observed and quantified to determine the effects of bromocriptine-induced hypoprolactinemia on mount attempt (MA), mount (M), and ejaculation (E) frequency of the rams upon exposure to estrous ewes. Behavioral responses and serum prolactin (PRL) concentrations were determined on a weekly basis before, during, and after the treatment period in each season. Treatment with bromocriptine caused a significant decrease in serum concentrations of PRL during both seasons (P < .01). Post-treatment period concentrations of PRL returned to pretreatment levels during the spring, whereas during the fall, post-treatment period PRL concentrations remained low (P < .05). The frequency of MA and M was lower during bromocriptine treatment relative to control rams in the spring (P < .05). The frequency of MA and M returned to pretreatment values after bromocriptine treatment was withdrawn. Ejaculation frequency tended to decrease during and after bromocriptine treatment relative to controls (P < .09). There was no effect of bromocriptine treatment on frequency of MA and M during the fall. During the fall, the frequency of E tended to decrease in bromocriptine-treated rams (P < .1). These data indicate that bromocriptine-induced hypoprolactinemia is associated with a significant diminution in expression of sexual behavior in rams. It is suggested that PRL modulates the intensity of expression of sexual behavior in rams, and this effect may be season-dependent.

Animals↗

PubMed2004

Co-regulation of female sexual behavior and pregnancy induction: an exploratory synthesis.

This paper will review both new and old data that address the question of whether brain mechanisms involved in reproductive function act in a coordinated way to control female sexual behavior and the induction of pregnancy/pseudopregnancy (P/PSP) by vaginocervical stimulation. Although it is clear that female sexual behavior, including pacing behavior, is important for induction of P/PSP, there has been no concerted effort to examine whether or how common mechanisms may control both functions. Because initiation of P/PSP requires that the female receive vaginocervical stimulation, central mechanisms controlling P/PSP may be modulated by or interactive with those that control female sexual behavior. This paper presents a synthesis of the literature and recent data from our lab for the purpose of examining whether there are interactions between behavioral and neuroendocrine mechanisms which reciprocally influence both reproductive functions.

Animals↗