Sexually Transmitted Infections In Men Research Articles

Frequent chlamydia and gonorrhoea but very infrequent syphilis among men who have sex with men using HIV pre-exposure prophylaxis in West Africa

ObjectivesAlthough oral pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) for HIV is being rolled out in West Africa, data on sexually transmitted infections (STIs) in PrEP users are scarce. We assessed the prevalence, incidence...

Sexually Transmitted Infections in Male Patients with Urethritis.

(1) Background: Sexually Transmitted Infections (STIs) in men are a significant public health problem due to the consequences they can have, such as chronic diseases, infertility, cancer, and even death. This study aimed to determine the frequency of microorganisms associated with STIs in men with urethritis attending urology consultations, and to explore their clinical correlations. (2) Methods: A population that attended the urology consultation of the University Hospital "Dr. José E. González" was studied. Written consent was obtained, and interviews and clinical history were conducted about specific risk factors identifying signs and symptoms associated with any genitourinary condition; after that, urine samples were collected. Identification of C. trachomatis, N. gonorrhoeae, U. urealyticum, and M. genitalium was based on amplifying species-specific DNA fragments. (3) Results: A total of 200 patients were included. The mean age was 55 years (20-95). According to the interviews, only 32.5% (n = 65) had received prior sex education. Additionally, 75% (n = 150) do not usually use any protection during sexual intercourse. Regarding clinical factors, 69.4% (n = 138) presented burning or pain when urinating. Molecular analysis revealed the presence of C. trachomatis to be 9.5% (n = 19), with U. urealyticum at 13% (n = 26), and M. genitalium at 2% (n = 4). (4) Conclusions: This is the most extensive molecular epidemiological study of the frequency of STIs in men in Mexico in third-level care and its association with different risk factors. As reported globally, a similar frequency of C. trachomatis, U. urealyticum, and M. genitalium was detected.

Cognitive social capital as a health-enabling factor for STI testing among young men in Stockholm, Sweden: A cross-sectional population-based study

ObjectiveTo assess whether different forms of cognitive social capital increased the relative probability of testing for sexually transmitted infections (STIs) among young men living in Stockholm, Sweden. MethodsA population-based cross-sectional study was conducted in 2017 with men aged 20–29 years living in Stockholm County, Sweden (n = 523). The main outcome was STI testing patterns (never tested, tested only within a12-monthperiod, tested only beyond a12-monthperiod, repeatedly tested). The main exposure were two forms of cognitive social capital: social support (having received help, having someone to share inner feelings with) and institutionalized trust (in school, healthcare, media). Data were analyzed using weighted multivariable multinomial logistic regression to obtain adjusted weighted relative probability ratio (aRPR). ResultsAfter adjusting for confounding factors, receiving help (aRPR: 5.2, 95% CI: 1.7–16.2) and having someone to share inner feelings with (aRPR: 3.1, 95% CI: 1.2–7.7) increased the relative probabilities of young men testing for STIs, but only for those testing beyond a 12-month period. Trust in media increased the relative probability of STI testing for those testing only within a 12-month period (aRPR: 2.6, 95% CI: 1.1–6.1) and for those testing repeatedly (aRPR: 3.6, 95% CI: 1.5–8.8). ConclusionYoung men in Stockholm County exhibit distinct STI testing patterns. Social support and trust in media were factors that increased the probability of being tested for STIs, with this effect varying according to the young men's STI testing pattern. Further studies are required to explore how trust in media might promote STI testing in this population.

Associations between Awareness of Sexually Transmitted Infections (STIs) and Prevalence of STIs among Sub-Saharan African Men and Women.

Treatments for HIV and other STIs are not readily available in sub-Saharan Africa and other resource-limited areas, where the prevalence of HIV and other STIs is high. In the absence of treatment and laboratory infrastructure to monitor treatment efficacy, increasing awareness of STIs and STI screening are crucial components of STI prevention programs. In the current study, we sought to estimate the awareness of STIs in resource-limited countries and evaluate the strength of the association between the awareness of STIs and STIs infection. We did a secondary analysis of data obtained from 2019 women and 794 men enrolled in a community-based study that was conducted from November 2002 to March 2003 in the Moshi Urban District of Northern Tanzania. We found gonorrhea, syphilis, and HIV/AIDS were well-known among the study participants. However, their awareness of other STIs, including herpes, was very low. We also found that the awareness of STIs was not associated with STIs in men, but women who had prior knowledge of gonorrhea, syphilis, and HIV had a twofold higher risk of testing positive for an STI. Education programs aimed at increasing awareness of STIs are needed in the region. The majority of the existing STI education programs in the region focus exclusively on HIV/AIDS. The expansion of the existing AIDS/HIV education programs needs to be strengthened to include information about other STIs.

Vaginitis and Sexually Transmitted Diseases

Sexually transmitted infections (STIs) are among the most common causes of infectious illness worldwide, and therefore, familiarity with the recognition and management of these infectious pathogens is critical for physicians. This chapter reviews the epidemiology and transmission of STIs and describes the principles of taking a sexual history, reporting STIs, and screening for them. Urethritis, vulvovaginitis, mucopurulent cervicitis, pelvic inflammatory disease (PID), and genital ulcer disease are discussed. STIs in men who have sex with men is discussed, as is anorectal STIs in women. One figure shows a Gram stain in gonorrhea; the other shows ectopic pregnancy and tubal infertility in PID. This review contains 2 figures, 24 tables, and 89 references. Keywords Vulvovaginitis, sexually transmitted infection, herpes, gonorrhea, urethritis, human papilloma virus, syphilis, chlamydia, viral hepatitis, pelvic inflammatory disease

Association between number of sexual partners and utilization of family planning and sexually transmitted infection services by men aged 15-44 in the United States.

Unintended pregnancy and sexually transmitted infections (STIs) pose a huge public health problem in the United States. Efforts towards reducing unintended pregnancies have previously focused on women, but the role of men in family planning and preventing unwanted pregnancy is becoming clearer. The primary objective of the study was to fully examine the utilization of family planning services by men in the US, and to determine whether factors such as race, health insurance type and number of sexual partners influenced their utilization and receipt of family planning services and STI-related health services. Data were from the 2006-2010 National Survey on Family Growth (NSFG) study conducted in the US. The study sample comprised 7686 men aged 14-44 who ever had sex with women, and who had had at least one sexual partner in the 12 months before the survey. The receipt of family planning and STI-related health services by this group of men was estimated. The results showed that non-Hispanic Black men were more likely to receive family planning and STI-related services than Hispanic and non-Hispanic White males. Given that non-Hispanic Black men are disproportionately affected by STIs and are a high-risk group, the finding that this group received more family planning and STI services is a positive step towards reducing the disproportionately high prevalence of STIs in men in this under-privileged population.

Surveillance systems for sexually transmitted infections

Sexually transmitted infections (STIs) continue to exert a substantial public health burden globally but surveillance remains a challenge, especially in the developing world. We reviewed STI surveillance systems in various regions globally and used available data to provide an overview of recent trends in STI epidemiology. STI surveillance systems in the developing world are often limited and restricted to ad hoc cross-sectional surveys; however, available data suggest that these areas are disproportionately affected by STIs, with a higher burden in marginalized groups such as sex workers. Developed countries typically have established surveillance systems. Recent reports suggest many of these countries are experiencing rising diagnoses of STIs in men who have sex with men (MSM) and an increasing contribution of HIV-positive MSM to STI epidemics. There is considerable variability in the surveillance for STIs globally, ranging from active or passive, to sentinel, laboratory or clinic-based systems. Given different levels of resources and patterns of healthcare provision, it is difficult to compare surveillance data across regions; however, available data suggest that considerable inequality in STI burden exists. In resource-limited settings, syndromic surveillance with periodic laboratory assessments is recommended to monitor trends in STIs.

Two urine-based sexually transmitted infection screening interventions targeting young men in football club settings (SPORTSMART): a pilot randomised controlled trial

BackgroundYoung people remain at highest risk for sexually transmitted infections (STIs), and engaging men in the UK in effective STI screening is challenging. England's national chlamydia screening programme has failed to reach the desired coverage in men. Sports venues might appeal to men as sites of STI screening, although the use of such venues has not been widely explored in the UK. Our recent random probability survey of men's attitudes to STI screening in Britain showed that in men who regularly participate in sport, just over half were willing to access self-completed screening kits at sporting venues. Other work suggests that sporting role models (popular opinion leaders [POLs]) offer potential for successful promotion of health behaviours. Because football is the highest participation team sport in England, we designed the SPORTSMART trial to develop and assess two models for promotion of STI screening in men in football clubs in London. We aimed to develop two replicable interventions for delivering STI screening in football clubs, including screening promoted by POLs; and to assess feasibility and acceptability of these interventions. MethodsWe undertook a cluster pilot randomised controlled trial with three groups in men aged 18–35 years within six amateur football clubs (clusters) in London recruited between October and December, 2012. Interventions were POL (team captain) and poster-promoted screening; sexual health adviser and poster-promoted screening; and poster-promoted screening only (control). Men were invited to use urine-based self-sampling kits for chlamydia and gonorrhoea, returning their sample to an on-site collection container or mailing it to the study sexual health clinic for routine testing and clinical management. The target was to recruit 200 men to estimate the overall acceptance rate with adequate precision. Six football clubs with two teams each of men aged at least 18 years were grouped by similar characteristics into three pairs and then randomly allocated to the study groups. Participants were unmasked after allocation. Masking of investigators during implementation or assessment was not feasible. A detailed process investigation assessed the extent and quality of intervention delivery and the mechanism, context, and responses of the participants. Robust standard errors acknowledging clustering of participants by team were used for analyses. Ethics approval was granted by the National Research Ethics Service, study 13/SC/0029. Club managers gave consent during the recruitment period. Signed informed consent was provided by team captains (POLs) before the intervention. Football team members opted in to testing by completing the kit offered but could opt out of the intervention at any time. FindingsAcross the three groups, 153 men received the intervention and 90 accepted the offer of screening (59%, 95% CI 35–79). Although acceptance rates varied substantially by club, they were broadly similar across groups: POL led 28 of 56 (50%); health adviser led 31 of 46 (67%); and control 31 of 51 (61%). Process assessment confirmed that the interventions were delivered in a standardised way across the arms. However, the control group was unintentionally enhanced by some team captains, who actively publicised the screening events. There were no adverse effects reported. InterpretationThese findings suggest that young men in football settings find both POL-led and health adviser-led STI screening interventions acceptable and uptake is high compared with existing community testing models. Although the poster-promoted screening control group was intended to be uninfluenced by football club POLs, this intention was not practically possible; many captains were enthusiastic and encouraged their players to participate in screening. This factor resulted in POL influence regardless of group allocation. A health economics assessment is in process. A full-scale randomised controlled trial is needed to examine the broader implications of this approach to men's STI screening in the UK. FundingThis research is funded by a National Institute for Health Research programme grant for applied research.

P3.142 Epidemiology of STI in Men Having Sex with Men in Italy, 1991–2010

BackgroundIn recent years, sexually transmitted infections (STI) have been increasing among men who have sex with men (MSM) in several industrialised countries. The objective of this study was to assess...

Vaccination against sexually transmitted infections

This review discusses the vaccines available for the prevention of sexually transmitted infections (STIs), and focuses on the contribution of these vaccines to the control of three infections: hepatitis A, hepatitis B and human papillomavirus (HPV). Hepatitis A is an STI in men who have sex with men (MSM). The introduction of the vaccine has resulted in the almost complete disappearance of epidemics of infection despite vaccine coverage of only 30-50% in MSM. In contrast hepatitis B infection sexual transmission both in MSM and heterosexuals continues at low but significant levels despite similar vaccine coverage. The two HPV vaccines are highly effective for the HPV types they contain, and for some related HPV types. Countries using the quadrivalent vaccine have experienced dramatic falls in genital warts in younger women, and to a lesser degree in heterosexual men but not homosexual men. Vaccines for hepatitis A, B and HPV have been highly effective in controlling STI at a community level.

Men's sexual health matters: promoting reproductive health in an international context.

Recent concern regarding the control of sexually transmitted infections (STIs) has resulted in an increased interest in the sexual health of men. This interest has primarily focused on strategies to 'encourage and enable men to take responsibility for their sexual and reproductive behaviour and their social and family roles' (United Nations 1994). Whilst men are deemed to have 'responsibilities', women are said to have 'rights' with regard to making choices about reproductive health and accessing appropriate and effective services. Here it is argued that, whilst provision of services and interventions against STIs in men should never be at the expense of those for women, it is often clinically easier and more effective to diagnose and treat men with STIs compared to women in resource-poor settings. Indeed, this may prove to be an effective strategy in controlling the spread of STIs, and hence reducing the disproportionate burden of their complications suffered by women. The paper reviews key issues in relation to improved service delivery for sexual and reproductive health in men, notably: the heterogeneity of male populations; current knowledge regarding men's sexual behaviour; the role of sexuality; methods of studying sexual behaviour in resource poor countries; men's own concerns in relation to sexual and reproductive health; and where and how they access treatment. It is argued that the time has now come to determine and address men's sexual health needs if we are to expect them to participate fully as responsible partners in improving and protecting their own and others' sexual and reproductive health.