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Noting the link between recreational
drug use and high-risk sexual behavior and sexually transmitted infections, the
authors assessed the prevalence of drug use during sex and its association with
STI (chlamydia, gonorrhea or syphilis).
The subjects of the study were
attendees at an Amsterdam STI clinic. During three periods in 2008 and 2009,
these individuals were interviewed about sexual behavior and drug use during
sex, and they underwent testing for STI. The associations between sex-related
drug use and STI were assessed separately for heterosexual men, men who have
sex with men (MSM), and women. After adjusting for high-risk sexual behavior,
the researchers examined whether drug use was associated with STI.
The study population comprised 961
heterosexual men, 673 MSM, and 1,188 women. Testing revealed that 11.9 percent
had chlamydia; 3.4 percent had gonorrhea; and 1.2 percent had syphilis.
Sex-related drug use in the six months prior was reported by 22.6 percent of
the heterosexual men, 51.6 percent of the MSM, and 16.0 percent of the women.
Sex-related drug use was found to be
associated with STI in MSM (any drugs and poppers) and in women (GHB and XTC)
but not in heterosexual men, according to multivariable analyses adjusted for
demographics (and high-risk sexual behavior in MSM). Sex-related use of poppers
was associated with STI in HIV-negative MSM but not in HIV-positive MSM,
stratified analysis in MSM showed.
“Clients reported frequent
sex-related drug use, which was associated with STI in MSM and women,” the
authors concluded. “In MSM, sex-related drug use was associated with STI after
adjusting for high-risk sexual behavior, but only in HIV-negative MSM.
Prevention measures targeted at decreasing sex-related drug use could reduce
the incidence of STI.”
The Friends of AIDS Foundation is
dedicated to enhancing the quality of life for HIV positive individuals and
empowering people to make healthy choices to prevent the spread of the HIV
virus. To learn more about The Friends of AIDS Foundation, please visit: http://www.friendsofaids.org.
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