Abstract #161  -  Understanding sexual practices in male to male sex.
Authors:   Presenting Author:   Professor Marian Pitts - La Trobe University
Additional Authors:  Dr Jeffrey Grierson, Prof Anthony Smith, Mr Murray Couch, Dr Stephen McNally, Mr Geoffrey Smith,
Aim: The meanings of male-to-male sex (MTMS) are constructed within personal, relational, social and spatial contexts. Personal and relational contexts include the meanings of sexual practice related to personal history, sexual pleasure, sexual repertoire, and intimacy within relationships. In the domain of male-to-male sex, these contexts and their interrelationships, must be understood in their complexity in order to design and implement appropriate health promotion and prevention interventions. This study aims to describe and understand experiences of male-to-male sexual practices and to understand the meanings attached to experiences of male-to-male sex.
Method / Issue: An internet survey was designed and made available via an Internet survey provider based in the UK. The survey instrument included demographic information, attitudinal items and detailed items on sexual practice. In relation to sexual practice, participants were asked about their first experiences of MTMS; their lifetime experiences; their experience in the past year and their most recent sexual experience. In addition, participants were asked about their norms and values, the content of their social networks, any history of STI/HIV testing, internet use and disclosure and communication about MTMS.
Results / Comments: 1,117 men completed the survey which was promoted throughout Australia. Mean age of the sample was 35.5 years with a range from 16 – 76 years. Median range of lifetime male partners was 11-50, median range of partners in the last 12 months was 6-10. Age at first anal sex was 19 years; age at first oral sex was 17 years; 50.4% of the sample had never had sex with a woman. The most recent sexual experience with a man was predominately with a casual partner or one night stand (44.6%) with similar percentages being with a live in partner (18.6%), a steady partner not lived with (12.4%) or an occasional partner (19.7%); the most recent sexual partner was most commonly met through the internet (46.8%) and was most commonly known for less than 24 hours and was of similar age to the respondent. Sex occurred most frequently in the home of the respondent (33%) or their partner (33%). The range of sexual practices included kissing (75.5%), stimulating the penis with a hand (86.5%). In 34.6% of most recent sexual encounters the respondent reported insertive anal sex and 40% of respondents reported receptive anal sex, a condom was used in 46.2% of these encounters, and some form of lubricant was used in 95%. Oral sex, given or received at last sexual encounter was reported by 76% of respondents of whom around a quarter reported ejaculation. HIV status was assessed by 56% of the respondents and the assessment was made by asking (35.7%) or being told (30.3%) and 9.1% assessed HIV status by his attitude towards condoms. HIV status was disclosed by 55.6% of respondents; 79% had been tested for HIV; 8.4% reported they were HIV positive.
Discussion: We have gained further understanding of the range and diversity of sexual practices associated with MTMS. This will facilitate the development of targeted and appropriate health promotion to ensure greater safety in sexual practices.
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