Skip to main page content
U.S. flag

An official website of the United States government

Dot gov

The .gov means it’s official.
Federal government websites often end in .gov or .mil. Before sharing sensitive information, make sure you’re on a federal government site.

Https

The site is secure.
The https:// ensures that you are connecting to the official website and that any information you provide is encrypted and transmitted securely.

Access keys NCBI Homepage MyNCBI Homepage Main Content Main Navigation
. 2021 Jun;9(3):100341.
doi: 10.1016/j.esxm.2021.100341. Epub 2021 Mar 28.

Lubrication Practices and Receptive Anal Sex: Implications for STI Transmission and Prevention

Austin Lee  1 , Thomas W Gaither  2 , Marvin E Langston  3 , Stephanie E Cohen  4 , Benjamin N Breyer  5
Affiliations

Lubrication Practices and Receptive Anal Sex: Implications for STI Transmission and Prevention

Austin Lee et al. Sex Med. 2021 Jun.

Abstract

Introduction: Implications of lubricant use in men having sex with men (MSM) are poorly characterized, particularly associations with sexual behavior and rectal sexually transmitted infection (STI) risk.

Aim: We sought to clarify covariates associated with lubrication type including differing sexual preferences and rectal STI prevalence.

Methods: Primary English-speaking individuals ≥18 years old visiting San Francisco City Clinic (SFCC) between April and May of 2018 who endorsed lubricant use during receptive anal sex within the last 3 months were studied. Associations between lubrication type used and collected covariates were assessed using Kruskal-Wallis analysis of variance for continuous variables and Chi-squared test for categorical variables. We used logistic regression to examine the association between lubrication type and rectal STI test result.

Main outcome measures: Rectal STI test positivity.

Results: From all enrolled participants, 179 completed the survey and endorsed use of a lubricant during receptive anal sex within the last 3 months. Silicone lubricant users had the most sexual partners in the last 3 months (13 [mean] ± 30 [SD], P= .0003) and were most likely to have a history of gonorrhea. Oil-based lubricant users had the most partners with whom they had receptive anal sex in the last 3 months (7 ± 6, P= .03). Water-based lubricant users most commonly used a condom in their last sexual encounter and had the fewest sexual partners in the last 3 months (4 ± 4, P= .0003). Spit/saliva lubricant use was associated with positive rectal STI result.

Conclusion: Silicone and oil-based lubricant users were more likely to report condomless receptive anal sex and to have a history of gonorrhea while spit/saliva lubricant use associated with positive rectal STI acquisition. Lee A, Gaither TW, Langston ME, et al. Lubrication Practices and Receptive Anal Sex: Implications for STI Transmission and Prevention. Sex Med 2021;9:100341.

Keywords: Anorectal; Lubrication; Practice; Sexually Transmitted Infection.

PubMed Disclaimer

References

    1. Davis TW, Goldstone SE. Sexually transmitted infections as a cause of proctitis in men who have sex with men. Dis Colon Rectum. 2009;52:507–512. - PubMed
    1. Frieden TR, Harold Jaffe DW, Rasmussen SA. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention MMWR Editorial and Production Staff (Serials) MMWR Editorial Board; 2015. Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report Sexually Transmitted Diseases Treatment Guidelines, 2015.
    1. Cornelisse VJ, Sherman CJ, Hocking JS. Concordance of chlamydia infections of the rectum and urethra in same-sex male partnerships: a cross-sectional analysis. BMC Infect Dis. 2017;17 doi: 10.1186/s12879-016-2141-7. - DOI - PMC - PubMed
    1. Jin F, Prestage GP, Mao L. Incidence and risk factors for urethral and anal gonorrhoea and chlamydia in a cohort of HIV-negative homosexual men: the health in men study. Sex Transm Infect. 2007;83:113–119. - PMC - PubMed
    1. Fox J, Fidler S. Sexual transmission of HIV-1. Antiviral Res. 2010;85:276–285. doi: 10.1016/j.antiviral.2009.10.012. - DOI - PubMed

LinkOut - more resources