Role positioning influenced by knowledge - or lack of knowledge - about HIV status of partner.
Versatility in anal sex roles is a likely explanation for the continued high rate of new HIV transmissions among men who have sex with men (MSM) in the United States, results of a study published in the online edition of the Journal of Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndromes suggest.
Investigators found that almost two-thirds of HIV-negative MSM engaging in unprotected anal sex were sexually versatile, adopting both the insertive and receptive positions.
“Versatile men at high infection risk via receptive UAS [unprotected anal sex] are likely to transmit HIV via insertive UAS,” comment the authors. The results also showed that only 17% of men were exclusively insertive, suggesting that circumcision would have little impact on the course of the HIV epidemic among US MSM.
Over half of new HIV infections in the United States are among gay and other MSM. Almost all the HIV infections in this population are due to unprotected anal intercourse, and the risk of infection with HIV is especially high for men who adopt the receptive role during unprotected anal sex.
Little is known about anal sex position among high-risk MSM in the United States.
Investigators from the EXPLORE study therefore examined data obtained from over 2500 HIV-negative men reporting unprotected anal sex. Participants were recruited between 1999 and 2001 and followed for an average of 3.25. Every six months, individuals were asked which role they had adopted during unprotected anal sex: exclusively insertive; exclusively receptive; or both (versatile). The investigators conducted a series of analyses to see if there were any factors associated with role and position during unprotected anal intercourse.
