A brand new examine has confirmed what most sexually energetic homosexual males will already know: Much less of us are utilizing condoms when we’ve intercourse in comparison with ten years in the past.
The examine, printed in AIDS and Behavior, was carried out by researchers on the College of Washington. It drew its knowledge from the American Males’s Web Survey (2014-2019). It regarded particularly at males who’ve condomless anal intercourse with males who are usually not on PrEP.
The variety of males within the examine having condomless intercourse rose by 2.2% every year. Nonetheless, the rise was better in youthful males (rising 7.2% per yr for these aged 15-24 years) and Hispanic males (rising 18%).
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General, condom use remained extra fashionable than PrEP. This may be partly as a consequence of obstacles to acquiring PrEP, amongst different elements. Round 15% of the lads had been taking PrEP.
The overwhelming majority of males questioned believed condoms to be “very efficient” (60%) or “considerably efficient” (36%) at stopping HIV transmission.
Nonetheless, 24% mentioned they “by no means” used condoms, in comparison with 50% who mentioned they “at all times” or “typically” used them. The rest mentioned they not often used them.
Clearly, there’s numerous guys having condomless intercourse who are usually not on PrEP. If their associate is HIV optimistic and undetectable, they can not go on the virus. Nonetheless, not everybody is aware of their HIV standing or is on therapy.
Apart from HIV, condoms also can assist stop the transmission of different STIs. The rise in gonorrhea and syphilis diagnoses within the US lately is partly associated to declining condom use.
Lead creator, Steven Goodreau, a professor of anthropology, praised PrEP but in addition highlighted the benefits of condoms.
“Various things work for individuals in numerous circumstances and occasions of their lives. PrEP has many advantages. It’s one thing that doesn’t must occur within the second, one thing a person can determine on as an alternative of getting to barter with a associate. Some individuals actually don’t like condoms and aren’t going to make use of them, so PrEP gives another choice for them.
“However like most pharmaceutical interventions, it means individuals have to find out about it and be repeatedly tied to the healthcare system.”
“There are all types of issues taking place in individuals’s lives — from unstable housing to coping with psychological well being and substance use — that make taking a tablet day-after-day not the best factor to do. So, PrEP has positives but in addition challenges,” he mentioned in a press statement.
“The identical with condoms. They’re far cheaper and far simpler to entry. For some individuals the shortage of each day routine is a plus. They stop a a lot wider vary of sexually transmitted infections, not simply HIV. However additionally they take their very own type of planning and negotiation. Ultimately, I see each as key to decreasing HIV transmission charges.”
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The Biden administration introduced in 2022 that it was taking a look at launching a 10-year $9.8 billion nationwide supply program for PrEP. It’s a part of efforts to finish HIV transmission by 2030.
Goodreau believes that though that though such initiatives are nice, we should additionally promote condom use.
“Earlier than PrEP got here out, HIV prevention for homosexual and bisexual males had condoms as a central pillar — maybe the central pillar — for about three many years. After all, we had been all uninterested in speaking about them. So, I get why, when PrEP got here out, it was seen as a miracle and the pendulum swung in that course. Nevertheless it’s a decade into PrEP supply and I believe it’s time to have a look at that and say, ‘Is it time for the pendulum to swing again a bit?’”
He continued, “I’d like individuals to have open, trustworthy, honest conversations about how a lot condom promotion we’ve been doing. What messages have we been placing out? What haven’t we been doing, and why? Is it as a result of there aren’t of us who would profit from these conversations, or are we simply uninterested in having them?”
He additionally mentioned that studying about safer intercourse in faculties is of important significance.
“LGBTQ+ inclusive intercourse schooling is extraordinarily essential. Solely about half of U.S. excessive faculties have it, and that’s a key first place for younger, homosexual and bisexual males to study concerning the completely different prevention strategies and what would work for them given the place they’re in life.”
He additionally recommended that some courting apps may do extra to spotlight condom use as a desire.
“Ultimately, it’s key to keep in mind that issues like condom use are extremely topic to social norms — many individuals use what they see and listen to from their friends and past as a information for their very own selections,” he mentioned. “Even just a bit bit extra consideration to the subject could assist to get lots of these conversations began once more.”
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