Sexual Partners Research Articles

Sexual behavior is linked to changes in gut microbiome and systemic inflammation that lead to HIV-1 infection in men who have sex with men

Pathogenic changes in gut microbial composition precede the onset of HIV-1 infection in men who have sex with men (MSM). This process is associated with increased levels of systemic inflammatory biomarkers and risk for AIDS development. Using mediation analysis framework, in this report we link the effects of unprotected receptive intercourse among MSM prior to primary HIV-1 infection to higher levels of proinflammatory cytokines sCD14 and sCD163 in plasma and a significant decrease in the abundance of A. muciniphila, B. caccae, B. fragilis, B. uniformis, Bacteroides spp., Butyricimonas spp., and Odoribacter spp., and a potential increase in the abundance of Dehalobacterium spp. and Methanobrevibacter spp. in stools of MSM with the highest number of sexual partners. These differences in microbiota, together with a reduction in the pairwise correlations among commensal and short-chain fatty acid-producing bacteria with a number of sexual partners, support an increase in gut dysbiosis with the number of sexual partners. These results demonstrate the interconnectedness of sexual behavior, immune response, and microbiota composition, notably among MSM participating in high-risk sexual behaviors.

Sexual Desire is not Partner-Specific : Evidence for a Positive Association Between Desire for One's Romantic Partner and Desire for Alternative Partners.

One longitudinal study of married couples and one experiment tested the hypothesis that the experience of sexual desire for an alternative sexual partner might heighten feelings of desire for one's long-term romantic partner, and conversely, sexual desire for one's long-term partner might heighten desire for alternative partners. A daily-diary study of newlywed couples revealed that (a) on days people reported heightened interest in alternative partners, they also reported increased desire to have sex with their partner and (b) on days people reported heightened desire to have sex with their partner, they also reported increased interest in alternative partners. An experimental study of partnered individuals revealed that people primed with sexual desire for an alternative partner reported increased sexual desire for their romantic partner (relative to a control condition). People primed with sexual desire for their romantic partner, however, did not report increased sexual desire for alternatives. Taken together, these findings support evolutionary perspectives on the function of sexual desire. Findings are consistent with the broader hypothesis that sexual desire is not partner-specific.

Group sex and behavior change associated with the 2022 Mpox outbreak among men who have sex with men in Southern California.

The Monkeypox (Mpox) outbreak disproportionately affected sexually active gay, bisexual, and other men who have sex with men. To understand community-level changes in sexual behavior, we surveyed individuals in a semi-urban area in Southern California. Participants were recruited between October 2022 to April 2023, using palm cards, and geolocation-focused online advertisements on social media and dating apps. Eligible participants were male, ≥18 years, reported sex with men, residents of San Bernardino or Riverside counties, California, Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV)-negative, currently not taking pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP). Descriptive analyses were performed. Chi-square, Fisher's exact, and Student's T-tests examined the association between group sex behaviors and demographics. We enrolled 91 gay, bisexual, and other men who have sex with men with a median age of 35 years (range 18-70 years). Nearly half reported having participated in group sex in the past year. Overall, 48.9% of group sex participants reported changing their sexual behaviors to prevent Mpox transmission, with limiting the number of sex partners being the most reported prevention strategy (47.6%). To prevent Mpox infection, participants that engage in group sex reported limiting the number of sex partners (34.4%), using condoms for anal sex (16.7%), avoiding crowded social venues (14.3%), and asking partners about Mpox symptoms before sex (9.5%). Survey participants reported modest sexual behavior changes in response to the Mpox outbreak. Group sex may increase the risk for Mpox, HIV, and other sexually transmitted infections; therefore, public health messages should include specific discussion of safer group sex practices in sexual health promotion.

Invasive Neisseria meningitidis subtype C in gay, bisexual and other men who have sex with men: a systematic review

IntroductionOutbreaks of invasive Neisseria meningitidis subtype C in networks of gay, bisexual and other men who have sex with men (MSM) have been reported. We aimed to explore any factors...

Trends of chlamydia and gonorrhea infections by anatomic sites among men who have sex with men in south China: a surveillance analysis from 2018 to 2022

BackgroundChlamydia and gonorrhea notifications are rapidly rising in men who have sex with men (MSM). Currently, there are limited data on the prevalence of chlamydia and gonorrhea across various anatomical sites. Our study aimed to explore the prevalence, association and changing trends of urethral and rectal chlamydia and gonorrhea among MSM in Guangdong Province, China.MethodsWe analyzed data among MSM attending sexually transmitted infections (STI) clinics in the Guangdong governmental sentinel network between 2018 and 2022. Chi-square tests were used to compare the difference, Join-point regressions for analyzing changing trends, and multivariate logistic regressions for examining associated factors.ResultsWe included 4856 men in the analysis. Rectal chlamydia significantly increased from 13.8% to 26.4% over the past 5 years (average annual percentage change [AAPC] 19.2%, 95%CI 1.0-40.6, p = 0.043). After adjusting for covariates, chlamydia infection positively associated with main venue used to seek sexual partners (aOR = 2.31, 95%CI 1.17–4.55), having regular sexual partners in the past 6 months (aOR = 3.32, 95%CI 1.95–5.64), receiving HIV counselling and testing services (aOR = 2.94, 95%CI 1.67–5.17), receiving peer education (aOR = 1.80, 95%CI 1.14–2.83), infection with syphilis (aOR = 2.02, 95%CI 1.02–4.01) and infection with gonorrhea (aOR 7.04, 95% CI 3.01–16.48). Gonorrhea infection positively associated with having regular sexual partners in the past 6 months (aOR = 3.48.95%CI 1.16–10.49), and infection with chlamydia (aOR 7.03, 95% CI 2.99–16.51).ConclusionsTo conclude, our findings reveal a high prevalence of chlamydia infections among MSM, particularly in the rectal area. Comprehensive chlamydia and gonorrhea health services are necessary for MSM to improve sexual health.

Sexual minority men’s experiences of, and strategies for emotional intimacy in intimate partner relationships

Emotional intimacy is key to intimate partner relationship quality and satisfaction. For sexual minority men, queer and feminist theorists consistently link emotional intimacy to diverse sexual practices and partnership dynamics formulated within the relationship. This Photovoice study adds to those insights by drawing on individual photovoice interviews with 16 sexual minority men to describe participant’s experiences of, and strategies for emotional intimacy in their intimate relationships. Analysis revealed three distinct yet entwined themes: (i) embracing vulnerabilities to drive self-acceptance; (ii) building relationality with partners; and (iii) securing connections with family, friends and community. By embracing vulnerabilities to drive self-acceptance, participants spoke to embodied courage and autonomy as key components for addressing wide-ranging emotional intimacy challenges in their relationships. In theme two, building relationality with partners, participants described how empathy, trust and reciprocity underpinned collaborative work to foster emotional intimacy. Lastly, in securing connections with family, friends and community, acceptance and inclusion were key to participants’ sense of belonging and legitimacy which aided their emotional intimacy with partners. The findings provide guidance for tailored programmatic efforts to assist sexual minority men build intimate relationships.

School-Based Protective Factors for HIV Prevention in the United States: Secondary Analysis of the Youth Risk Behavior Survey 2015-2019.

This secondary analysis of the National Youth Risk Behavior Survey (years 2015-2019) examines associations between school-based protective factors (i.e., safe school environments and academic achievement) and HIV risk behaviors among sexually experienced adolescent gay and bisexual men ( n = 644), a population with the highest prevalence of undiagnosed HIV infections. Demographics included Hispanics/Latinos (25%, n = 158), Other race/ethnicity (14%, n = 88), and non-Hispanic Blacks/African Americans (13%, n = 81). Adjusted models showed that protective factors reduced odds for early sexual debut, multiple sexual partners, sex under the influence of drugs/alcohol, and condomless sex, with an additive effect demonstrated when two protective factors were present. Hispanics/Latinos had greater odds of reporting multiple sexual partners and HIV testing, indicating opportunities for school-based HIV prevention and further research. Our findings provide support for school-based programs that aim to improve social and structural determinants of health and ultimately reduce adolescent HIV burdens.

Deployment and combat experiences and their impact on partner substance use

Despite burgeoning evidence of the negative effects of service experiences on service members’ spouses/partners, limited research has examined these effects in the context of substance use. Additionally, a strong literature demonstrates the protective role relationship satisfaction can play for health-related outcomes. The goal of the present research is to examine relations between service experiences (e.g., deployment, combat exposure) and partner substance use, as well as how relationship satisfaction may buffer these effects. Data from 275 civilian partners were drawn from Operation: SAFETY (Soldiers And Families Excelling Through the Years), a longitudinal study examining health among U.S. Army Reserve/National Guard (USAR/NG) soldiers and partners. Analyses examined relations between soldier service history (baseline) and civilian partner alcohol/drug use (2-year follow-up), as well as interactions with relationship satisfaction. Models controlled for civilian partner sex and age and soldiers’ self-reported posttraumatic stress disorder symptoms and substance use. Results revealed interactions between service experiences and partner satisfaction for models predicting alcohol consumption and heavy drinking. Greater relationship satisfaction mitigated overall alcohol consumption and heavy drinking frequency among partners of soldiers with two or more deployments and among partners of soldiers with greater combat exposure. Soldier service experiences were unrelated to civilian partner drug use. The effects of deployment and combat exposure extend beyond the service member to negatively influence civilian partner alcohol consumption and heavy drinking, with relationship satisfaction buffering these risks. Interventions that assist USAR/NG soldiers and spouses in strengthening their relationships may also help protect against spouse substance use related to soldier service experiences.

Racial and Ethnic Differences in Mobile App Use for Meeting Sexual Partners Among Young Men Who Have Sex With Men and Young Transgender Women: Cross-Sectional Study.

Young men who have sex with men and young transgender women (YMSM-YTW) use online spaces to meet sexual partners with increasing regularity, and research shows that experiences of racism online mimics the real world. We analyzed differences by race and ethnicity in web-based and mobile apps used to meet sexual partners as reported by Chicago-based YMSM-YTW in 2016-2017. A racially and ethnically diverse sample of 643 YMSM-YTW aged 16-29 years were asked to name websites or mobile apps used to seek a sexual partner in the prior 6 months, as well as provide information about sexual partnerships from the same period. We used logistic regression to assess the adjusted association of race and ethnicity with (1) use of any website or mobile apps to find a sexual partner, (2) use of a "social network" to find a sexual partner compared to websites or mobile apps predominantly used for dating or hookups, (3) use of specific websites or mobile apps, and (4) reporting successfully meeting a sexual partner online among website or mobile app users. While most YMSM-YTW (454/643, 70.6%) used websites or mobile apps to find sexual partners, we found that Black non-Hispanic YMSM-YTW were significantly less likely to report doing so (comparing White non-Hispanic to Black non-Hispanic: adjusted odds ratio [aOR] 1.74, 95% CI 1.10-2.76). Black non-Hispanic YMSM-YTW were more likely to have used a social network site to find a sexual partner (comparing White non-Hispanic to Black non-Hispanic: aOR 0.20, 95% CI 0.11-0.37), though this was only reported by one-third (149/454, 32.8%) of all app-using participants. Individual apps used varied by race and ethnicity, with Grindr, Tinder, and Scruff being more common among White non-Hispanic YMSM-YTW (93/123, 75.6%; 72/123, 58.5%; and 30/123, 24.4%, respectively) than among Black non-Hispanic YMSM-YTW (65/178, 36.5%; 25/178, 14%; and 4/178, 2.2%, respectively) and Jack'd and Facebook being more common among Black non-Hispanic YMSM-YTW (105/178, 59% and 64/178, 36%, respectively) than among White non-Hispanic YMSM-YTW (6/123, 4.9% and 8/123, 6.5%, respectively). Finally, we found that while half (230/454, 50.7%) of YMSM-YTW app users reported successfully meeting a new sexual partner on an app, Black non-Hispanic YMSM-YTW app users were less likely to have done so than White non-Hispanic app users (comparing White non-Hispanic to Black non-Hispanic: aOR 2.46, 95% CI 1.50-4.05). We found that Black non-Hispanic YMSM-YTW engaged with websites or mobile apps and found sexual partners systematically differently than White non-Hispanic YMSM-YTW. Our findings give a deeper understanding of how racial and ethnic sexual mixing patterns arise and have implications for the spread of sexually transmitted infections among Chicago's YMSM-YTW.

Campylobacter spp. in men who have sex with men: A systematic review.

Campylobacter spp. has been reported to be a sexually transmissible enteric infection in men who have sex with men (MSM) since the 1980s causing an acute severe diarrhoeal illness and rarely an acute demyelinating polyneuropathy (Guillain-Barré syndrome). The aim of this review was to explore the factors seen in MSM with Campylobacter spp. We conducted a systematic review following PRISMA guidelines by searching 7 bibliographical databases in August 2024 for manuscripts in English. Initial screening was conducted by a primary author and then two authors conducted independent full-text reviews to determine the final eligible manuscripts. We only included manuscripts which explored factors seen in MSM with Campylobacter spp.. Two authors independently used the Joanna Briggs Institute critical appraisal tools to assess risk for bias. This review was registered with PROSPERO (CRD42023464803). 25 manuscripts met the inclusion criteria that included 265 MSM with Campylobacter spp.. This review has highlighted demographic factors (living with HIV, living in urban MSM districts, HIV negative MSM using HIV-PrEP), biological factors (antimicrobial resistant Campylobacter spp., having a concurrent or previous sexually transmitted infection [Neisseria gonorrhoeae, Chlamydia trachomatis, Herpes simplex virus, Hepatitis C, Mpox] current/previous enteric infection including non-pathogenic parasites [Shigella spp., Giardia duodenalis, Cryptosporidium, Entamoeba histolytica, Salmonella spp., Entamoeba hartmanii, Entamoeba coli, Endolimax nana, Iodamoeba butchlii]) and behavioural factors (condomless receptive anal sex, oral-anal sex, oral genital sex, multiple/new sexual partners, using sex on premises venues and the internet to meet sexual partners) seen in MSM with Campylobacter spp. This review has highlighted some important demographic, biological and behavioural risk factors seen in MSM with Campylobacter spp.. These data can be used to inform future public health interventions and clinical guidelines.

Functional diversity along the anteroposterior axis of the ventromedial hypothalamus.

Innate behaviors ensure animal survival and reproductive success. Defending their territory, escaping from predators or mating with a sexual partner, are fundamental behaviors determining the ecological fitness of individuals. Remarkably, all these behaviors share a common neural substrate, as they are under the control of the ventromedial hypothalamus (VMH). Decades of research have contributed to understanding the exquisite diversity of functional ensembles underlying the wide array of functions that the VMH carries out. These functional ensembles are usually distributed throughout the dorsoventral and mediolateral axes of this nucleus. However, increasing evidence is bringing to attention the functional diversity of the VMH across its anteroposterior axis. In this review, we will overview our current understanding of how different ensembles within the VMH control a wide array of animal behaviors, emphasizing the newly discovered roles for its anterior subdivision in the context of conspecific self-defense.

Characteristics of and Factors Associated With Partner Service Uptake Cascade Among People With Newly Reported HIV/AIDS Diagnoses in Southeastern China in 2022: Cross-Sectional Survey.

HIV notification and testing integrated into partner service (PS) practices among HIV-positive individuals have been proven to be an efficient approach for case finding, although it remains a weak link in China. Although nonmarital sexual activities accounted for a large proportion of newly diagnosed HIV-positive cases in China, little is known about PS uptake and associated factors within nonmarital partnerships. This study aimed to describe HIV PS utilization and its associated factors among HIV-positive individuals with nonmarital sexual partners. We recruited newly diagnosed HIV-positive individuals who had nonmarital sexual partners in 2022 in Zhejiang Province and offered them PS. We described the PS uptake cascade within sexual partner categories and analyzed the associated factors with 3 primary outcomes from the participants' perspective: nonmarital partner enumeration, HIV testing, and HIV positivity. In this study, 3509 HIV-positive individuals were recruited as participants, and they enumerated 2507 nonmarital sex partners (2507/14,556, 17.2% of all nonmarital sex partners) with contact information. Among these, 43.1% (1090/2507) underwent an HIV test, with an HIV-positive rate of 28.3% (309/1090). Heterosexual commercial partners were the least likely of being enumerated (441/4292, 10.3%) and had the highest HIV-positive rate (40/107, 37.4%). At the participant level, 48.1% (1688/3509) of the participants enumerated at least one nonmarital sex partner with contact information, 52.7% (890/1688) had a sex partner tested for HIV, and 31% (276/890) had at least one nonmarital sex partner who tested positive. Multivariate analysis indicated that gender and transmission route were associated with both nonmarital sex partner enumeration and HIV testing. Age and occupation were associated with nonmarital sex partner enumeration and HIV positivity. Compared with participants who had no regular nonmarital sex partner, those who had a regular nonmarital sex partner were more likely to enumerate nonmarital sex partners (adjusted odds ratio [aOR] 3.017, 95% CI 2.560-3.554), have them get tested for HIV (aOR 1.725, 95% CI 1.403-2.122), and have an HIV-positive nonmarital sex partner (aOR 1.962, 95% CI 1.454-2.647). The percentage of partner enumeration was low, and HIV testing rate was moderate among nonmarital partnerships of HIV-positive individuals. More efforts should be made to improve PS practices among HIV-positive individuals and address the gap in partner enumeration, especially for heterosexual commercial nonmarital partnerships. Additionally, enhancing PS operational skills among health care personnel could increase the overall efficiency of PS uptake in China.

Imposter Participants in Online Qualitative Interviews: A Protocol for Trauma-Informed and Equitable Decision-Making

Imposter participants are an emerging concern in qualitative research due to the recent increase in online recruitment and virtual interviews. Unfortunately, there is limited guidance on how to address imposter participants in an equitable, trauma-informed way. To bridge this gap, we share imposter participant red flags, challenges, and a protocol that provides questions to ask and possible activities to engage in throughout the research process from conceptualization through findings dissemination. We ground this guidance in examples from our recent study with LGBTQ+ (e.g., lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer) survivors of sexual and intimate partner violence.

Associations of Implicit and Explicit Sexual Double Standard Endorsement and Sexual Assertiveness with Sexual and Interactional Competence in Emerging Adults.

In this study, among emerging adults, we investigated the interrelationships of explicit and implicit measures of sexual assertiveness (SA) and sexual double standard endorsement (SDS) on the one hand, and different aspects of sexual and interactional competence (SAIC) on the other hand, using Partial Least Squares Path Modeling (PLS-PM) of cross-sectional data. Participants were 159 sexually active, heterosexual individuals in the Netherlands between 18 and 25 years. No exclusion criteria were used. The Sexual Competence and Interaction Competence in Youth and lifetime number of sexual partners were used to measure SAIC. Explicit SA was measured using the Hurlbert Index of Sexual Assertiveness, while Explicit SDS was assessed using the Scale for the Assessment of Sexual Standards in Youth. Two implicit association tests were performed to measure implicit SA and SDS. Participants accessed these computerized reaction time tasks via a secure online data collection platform. Results showed a strong association between the latent factors of sexual attitudes and SAIC. Greater SA and lower SDS were associated with a greater competence level. No gender effects were found.

Disclosure and Experiences of HIV-Related Stigma among Adolescents and Young Adults Living with HIV in South Africa.

Social networks expand rapidly in adolescence, increasing HIV status disclosure considerations and concerns for young people living with HIV, especially in settings where HIV-related stigma is prevalent. This study examines HIV disclosure and enacted stigma among adolescents and young adults living with HIV in South Africa. This study uses survey data from a sample of 1186 youth living with HIV, aged 14-24, and enrolled in peer support groups led by community-based organizations in KwaZulu Natal and Gauteng provinces, South Africa. Study participants completed a questionnaire on sociodemographic details, physical health, school attendance, who knew the individual's HIV status, and experiences of HIV-related mistreatment. Mixed effects logistic regression examined the association between experiences of HIV-related mistreatment and factors that may inadvertently disclose one's status, such as poor physical health and missed school, and knowledge of an individual's HIV-positive status by their caregiver, household, friends, educators, and most recent sexual partner. Almost a quarter of the sample reported an experience of HIV-related mistreatment in the past six months. After controlling sociodemographic characteristics, missed school due to illness (AOR = 1.75, 95% CI = 1.27-2.43), and knowledge of HIV status by non-family members (AOR = 2.19, 95% CI = 1.60-3.00) were significantly associated with HIV-related mistreatment. Findings suggest that experiences of enacted stigma are common among youth and linked to poor physical health and knowledge of HIV status outside the family. Effective community-level stigma reduction interventions are urgently needed. In the meantime, adolescents need individualized disclosure counseling and support managing their physical health to prevent further inadvertent disclosure and discrimination.

Comparing the Efficacy of 2 WeChat Mini Programs in Reducing Nonmarital Heterosexual Contact by Male Factory Workers: Randomized Controlled Trial.

Male factory workers in China are vulnerable to HIV transmission. Commercial and nonmarital noncommercial contacts are the driving forces of heterosexual HIV transmission among male factory workers in China. There is a lack of effective HIV interventions for male factory workers in China. The primary objective of this randomized controlled trial was to compare the efficacy of an enhanced versus the standard version of a WeChat mini program in reducing sexual intercourse with nonregular female sex partners and female sex workers among male factory workers in Shenzhen, China. A nonblinded 2-arm parallel randomized controlled trial was conducted between December 2021 and April 2023. Participants were adult male factory workers in Shenzhen who had access to a smartphone and WeChat. Those who had oral or anal sex with a man or self-reported as HIV positive were excluded. A total of 247 participants were randomly assigned to the intervention group (n=125, 50.6%) or the control group (n=122, 49.4%); 221 (89.5%) and 220 (89.1%) completed follow-up surveys at T1 (6 months after completion of the interventions) and T2 (6 months after T1). Participants in the control group had access to the standard WeChat mini program that provided basic HIV-related knowledge and information about local free HIV testing services. Participants in the intervention group had access to the enhanced WeChat mini program. The enhanced mini program covered all the information in the standard mini program. In addition, the enhanced mini program assessed users' behaviors and invited users to watch different web-based videos on reducing nonmarital sexual contacts and promoting HIV testing based on their behavioral characteristics at months 0 and 1. The videos were developed based on in-depth interviews with male factory workers. Intention-to-treat analysis was used for outcome analyses. Multiple imputation was used to replace missing outcome values at T1 and T2. At T1, fewer participants in the intervention group reported sexual intercourse with a nonregular female sex partner in the past 6 months compared with the control group (1/125, 0.8% vs 8/122, 6.6%; relative risk=0.12, 95% CI 0.02-0.96; P=.02). However, there were no between-group differences in sexual intercourse with a nonregular female sex partner at T2 (10/125, 8% vs 14/122, 11.5%; P=.36) or sexual intercourse with a female sex worker at T1 (2/125, 1.6% vs 2/122, 1.6%; P=.98) or T2 (8/125, 6.4% vs 8/122, 6.6%; P=.96). The enhanced WeChat mini program was more effective than the standard WeChat mini program in reducing sexual intercourse with nonregular female sex partners among male factory workers in the short term but not in the longer term. Improvements should be made to the WeChat mini program before implementation. ClinicalTrials.gov NCT05811611; https://clinicaltrials.gov/study/NCT05811611.

Understanding the Ebbs and Flows of Sexual Desire: A Daily Diary Study on the Temporal Associations Between Dyadic Sexual Desire and Partner Interactions

ABSTRACT Sexual desire has often been conceptualized and studied as an individual trait. However, empirical evidence suggests that there is also value in studying it as a state and dyadic construct. Through a daily diary study with a randomized controlled experimental design, we aimed to explore (i) how the roles that partners fulfill in dyadic interactions are associated with daily fluctuations in dyadic sexual desire, (ii) whether these roles can be leveraged to affect sexual desire for one’s partner, and (iii) whether effects of partner interactions on dyadic sexual desire vary by gender. In total, 163 mixed-gender couples (N = 326), with a mean age of 30.3 years (SD = 7.95), participated. During 22 consecutive days, participants reported daily on their dyadic sexual desire, as well as on several aspects of their interactions. Couples in the experimental condition additionally received assignments that manipulated their partner interactions. Analyzing our data using Multilevel Modelling techniques for longitudinal dyadic data, we found that daily dyadic sexual desire was associated with what each partner takes, gives, and receives in relation with their affiliation, sexuality and exploration needs. Additionally, women’s sexual desire was associated with what their partner reported taking, giving, and receiving during affiliative interactions, and with perceived but not enacted responsiveness to their sexuality and exploration needs. Our results suggest that daily ebbs and flows of sexual desire may be partly explained by temporal changes in interactions between partners, making them possible valuable targets for clinical interventions.

Determinants of the expression of sexual behaviour in mammals

Abstract The article contains a literature review of facts and views on the strategies of sexual behaviour in mammals, taking into account the role of the animal’s species, sex, and position in the herd. The role of the senses, brain, and hormones in the expression of animals’ sexual behaviour is discussed, as well as the role of induction of the coitus reflex and social behaviour in the reproduction of present-day wild and domesticated animals. The analysis shows that the predominant strategy of sexual behaviour in females is to attract multiple potential partners to acquire the best male. The predominant strategies in the sexual behaviour of males of most mammalian species are aimed at fertilizing as many females as possible. Expression of sexual behaviour requires the generation of a set of characteristic sexual reflexes that indicate readiness to copulate and are sexually stimulating. Animals are differ in expressing their sexual behaviour. Some individuals react quickly and dynamically to sexual stimuli and immediately begin coitus, while others require longer preparation for successful coitus. Sexual behaviour influences the status of individuals in some species. Wild mammals with high expression of the sexual behaviour typical of a given species usually occupy a dominant position, which gives them an advantage in the search for breeding partners, access to food, and the expression of preferred social behaviour. Expression of sexual behaviour is stimulated by stimuli from potential sexual partners, which induce copulatory reflexes. These reflexes have been described in numerous animal species. They should be generated in the proper order and proceed without disruption for successful coitus and fertilization to occur.

Concurrent acute cystitis, pancolitis, and tubo-ovarian abscess following laparoscopic ovarian cystectomy: a case report

BackgroundInadequate surgical interventions can lead to serious complications such as tubo-ovarian abscesses in the upper female genital system, often resulting from untreated pelvic inflammatory disease. Pelvic inflammatory disease, caused by infections like Chlamydia trachomatis and Neisseria gonorrhoeae, leads to scarring and adhesions in the reproductive organs, with common risk factors including intrauterine device use and multiple sexual partners. Pelvic inflammatory disease primarily affects sexually active young women and can manifest with varied symptoms, potentially leading to complications like ectopic pregnancy, infertility, and chronic pelvic pain if untreated.Case presentationThis case report presents a unique scenario involving a 17-year-old sexually inactive female who experienced concurrent tubo-ovarian abscess, acute cystitis, and pancolitis following laparoscopic ovarian cystectomy. Pelvic inflammatory disease and its complications are well-documented, but the simultaneous occurrence of acute cystitis and pancolitis in this context is unprecedented in the medical literature. The patient’s presentation, clinical course, and management are detailed, highlighting the importance of considering diverse and severe complications in individuals with a history of gynecological surgeries.ConclusionsOur case report highlights the need for healthcare professionals to remain vigilant for atypical presentations of gynecological complications and emphasizes the value of interdisciplinary collaboration for optimal patient care. We encourage further research and awareness to enhance understanding and recognition of complex clinical scenarios associated with gynecological procedures.

Developmental Trajectories of Transactional Sex and Age-Disparate Relationships During Adolescence: An HPTN 068 Analysis.

Transactional sex and sexual relationships with older partners increase HIV risk in adolescent girls and young women (AGYW), yet little is known about how these behaviors co-evolve over time. We characterize temporal patterns of transactional sex and age-disparate relationships among AGYW in South Africa. Longitudinal data are from a randomized controlled trial (HPTN 068) of school-aged, HIV-negative, AGYW who attended ≥ 3 study visits. We used group-based trajectory modeling to identify trajectories of transactional sex and age-disparate relationships (partner ≥ 5 years older) in the last year and assessed the interrelationship (conditional probability) between both trajectories. At baseline, median age was 14 years, 14.5% of girls were sexually active, and transactional sex (2.1%) and age-disparate relationships were uncommon (2.7%). We identified two trajectories for transactional sex ("low" [81.9%] and "increasing" [18.1%]) and two for age-disparate relationships ("low" [91.7%] and "increasing" [8.3%]). In a separate joint trajectory analysis, nearly a third (28%) had increasing trajectories for both transactional sex and age-disparate relationships, but most (53%) had a low trajectory of both outcomes. Baseline reporting of early sexual debut, depression, and inequitable gender norms were highest in the increasing transactional sex group. Prior pregnancy, early sexual debut, and IPV were highest among those with increasing age-disparate relationships. AGYW who engage in transactional sex or age-disparate partnerships in early adolescence are more likely to experience sustained engagement in both behaviors as they transition to adulthood, increasing HIV risk. Engaging girls early may maximize effectiveness of behavioral and biomedical HIV prevention efforts.