Medical Education - Research Publications

Permanent URI for this collection

Search Results

Now showing 1 - 5 of 5
  • Item
    Thumbnail Image
    The duration and body position during tongue-kissing among heterosexual men and women
    Tran, J ; Fairley, CKK ; Ong, JJJ ; Bradshaw, CSS ; Aung, ETT ; Maddaford, K ; Chen, MYY ; Hocking, JSS ; Chow, EPF (FRONTIERS MEDIA SA, 2022-12-22)
    BACKGROUND: Emerging data suggest tongue-kissing may transmit gonorrhea. We aim to examine the duration or body position of heterosexual men and women during tongue-kissing (henceforth, known as kissing). METHODS: A cross-sectional survey among heterosexual men and women attending the Melbourne Sexual Health Centre in Australia between May 2019 and March 2020 collected data on the duration and body position (i.e., on top of or lying down underneath) of their most recent kissing partner in the past 3 months. Univariable and multivariable linear regressions were performed to examine the association between gender and kissing duration. RESULTS: Of 2,866 individuals, 93.6% (n = 2,683) had at least one kissing partner in the past 3 months, which included 1,342 (50.1%) men and 1,341 (49.9%) women, and 87.2% (n = 2,339) had sex with their opposite-gender kissing partner. The adjusted mean duration of kissing with the most recent opposite-gender kissing partner did not differ between men and women (12.2 vs. 11.5 min, p = 0.170). More men were on top of their most recent opposite-gender kissing partner compared to women (87.9 vs. 82.9%, p < 0.001). Men reported a longer kissing duration than women when they were on top of the opposite-gender kissing partner (8.3 vs. 7.4 min, p = 0.006). More women had same-gender kissing partners than men (9.6 vs. 2.8%, p < 0.001). CONCLUSION: Men spending longer than women on top of their opposite-gender kissing partner suggests a potential alternative explanation for oropharyngeal gonorrhea being seen more commonly in women. Further research should investigate whether body positioning and duration of kissing influence the risk of gonorrhea transmission.
  • Item
    Thumbnail Image
    Kissing, fellatio, and analingus as risk factors for oropharyngeal gonorrhoea in men who have sex with men: A cross-sectional study
    Tran, J ; Ong, JJ ; Bradshaw, CS ; Chen, MY ; Kong, FYS ; Hocking, JS ; Aung, ET ; Maddaford, K ; Fairley, CK ; Chow, EPF (ELSEVIER, 2022-09)
    BACKGROUND: Our aim was to determine whether exposure to the anatomical sites (oropharynx, penis, or anus) of male partners of men who have sex with men (MSM) were independent risk factors for oropharyngeal gonorrhoea after adjusting for exposures to these sites. METHODS: In this cross-sectional study, we invited MSM who attended the Melbourne Sexual Health Centre (MSHC) in Victoria, Australia between 26-November 2018 and 31-December 2020 to complete a survey of their sexual practices in the past three months. We collected data on the number of male partners with whom men engaged in sexual activities that exposed their oropharynx to their partners' oropharynx (kissing), penis (fellatio), and anus (rimming or analingus). Only men who were aged ≥16 years, tested for oropharyngeal gonorrhoea and did not have indeterminate or invalid results were included in the final analysis. We conducted univariable and multivariable logistic regression analyses to investigate associations between oropharyngeal gonorrhoea and the three exposures to the oropharynx. FINDINGS: The median age of the 2,322 men who completed the survey was 31 years (IQR: 26-40), and 5·2% (n = 120) were diagnosed with oropharyngeal gonorrhoea. Our univariate analysis showed that oropharyngeal gonorrhoea was significantly associated with increasing number of kissing (p trend<0·0001), rimming (p trend<0·0001) and fellatio (p trend<0·0001) partners. After adjusting for all three exposures, oropharyngeal gonorrhoea was associated with increasing number of kissing (p trend =0·014) and rimming partners (p trend = 0·037) but not fellatio (p trend = 0·61). INTERPRETATION: Our data suggest kissing and rimming are important practices in oropharyngeal gonorrhoea transmission in MSM Novel interventions which target the oropharynx are required for gonorrohoea prevention. FUNDING: Australian National Health and Medical Research Council.
  • Item
    Thumbnail Image
    Trends and differences in sexual practices and sexually transmitted infections in men who have sex with men only (MSMO) and men who have sex with men and women (MSMW): a repeated cross-sectional study in Melbourne, Australia
    Martin-Sanchez, M ; Case, R ; Fairley, C ; Hocking, JS ; Bradshaw, C ; Ong, J ; Chen, MY ; Chow, EPF (BMJ PUBLISHING GROUP, 2020)
    OBJECTIVES: In the 2010s, there has been an increase in sexually transmitted infections (STI) in men who have sex with men (MSM) in Australia, and since 2015 also in urban heterosexuals. Men who have sex with both men and women (MSMW) have characteristics that may differ from both men who have sex with men only (MSMO) and heterosexual men. We aimed to compare the sexual practices and the trends in HIV/STI positivity between MSMO and MSMW. DESIGN: Repeated cross-sectional study. SETTING: A sexual health centre in Melbourne, Australia. PARTICIPANTS: MSM aged 18 years and above who attended the Melbourne Sexual Health Centre for the first time between 2011 and 2018. This includes 12 795 MSMO and 1979 MSMW. PRIMARY OUTCOME MEASURES: Demographic characterics, sexual practices and HIV/STI positivity. RESULTS: Compared with MSMW, MSMO were more likely to practice anal sex and to have condomless receptive anal sex with casual male partners, and less likely to have a current regular relationship. Over the 8-year period, there was an increase in condomless receptive anal sex with casual male partners for both groups (MSMO: from 46.2% to 63.3%, ptrend <0.001; MSMW: from 41.3% to 57.9%, ptrend=0.011). Syphilis positivity increased in MSMO (from 5.5% to 7.9%, ptrend=0.012) and MSMW (from 0.9% to 6.4%, ptrend=0.004) and HIV remained stable. Gonorrhoea increased among MSMO from 2011 to 2014 (from 6.7% to 9.6%, ptrend=0.002), and remained stable from 2015 to 2018. MSMO had higher odds of testing positive for gonorrhoea (adjusted OR (aOR) 1.36, 95% CI 1.13 to 1.64), chlamydia (aOR 1.39, 95% CI 1.16 to 1.67), syphilis (aOR 1.74, 95% CI 1.37 to 2.22) and HIV (aOR 4.60, 95% CI 2.43 to 8.70) than MSMW. CONCLUSIONS: MSMW have overall lower condomless sex and lower HIV/STI positivity. In the last years, changes in sexual practices in MSM have affected both MSMW and MSMO leading to an increased STI risk.
  • Item
    Thumbnail Image
    Treatment Outcomes for Rectal Lymphogranuloma Venereum in Men Who Have Sex with Men Using Doxycycline, Azithromycin, or Both: A Review of Clinical Cases
    Leeyaphan, C ; Ong, JJ ; Chow, EPF ; Dimovski, K ; Kong, FYS ; Hocking, JS ; Howden, B ; Bissessor, M ; Fairley, CK ; Bradshaw, C ; Read, T ; Chen, M (Wolters Kluwer, 2017-04-01)
    Background: Treatment for rectal lymphogranuloma venereum where doxycycline 100 mg twice daily for 21 days was used—either alone or together with azithromycin 1 g single dose—resulted in microbiological cure of 97%. These data support doxycycline 100 mg twice daily for 21 days as the preferred treatment for rectal lymphogranuloma venereum. This study supports the continued recommendation of doxycycline 100 mg twice daily for 21 days as preferred treatment for rectal lymphogranuloma venereum in men who have sex with men.
  • Item
    Thumbnail Image
    Incorporating digital anorectal examinations for anal cancer screening into routine HIV care for men who have sex with men living with HIV: a prospective cohort study
    Ong, JJ ; Walker, S ; Grulich, A ; Hoy, J ; Read, TRH ; Bradshaw, C ; Chen, M ; Garland, SM ; Hillman, R ; Templeton, DJ ; Hocking, J ; Eu, B ; Tee, BK ; Chow, EPF ; Fairley, CK (JOHN WILEY & SONS LTD, 2018-12-05)
    INTRODUCTION: Men who have sex with men (MSM) living with HIV have a high risk of anal cancer, which is often detected at late stages, when morbidity and mortality are high. The objective of this study was to describe the feasibility and challenges to incorporating regular digital anorectal examination (DARE) into routine HIV care for MSM living with HIV, from the perspective of patients, physicians and the health service. METHODS: In 2014, we recruited 327 MSM living with HIV, aged 35 and above from one major sexual health centre (n = 187), two high HIV caseload general practices (n = 118) and one tertiary hospital (n = 22) in Melbourne, Australia. Men were followed up for two years and DARE was recommended at baseline, year 1 and year 2. Data were collected regarding patient and physician experience, and health service use. An ordered logit model was used to assess the relationship between sociodemographic factors and the number of DAREs performed. RESULTS: Mean age of men was 51 (SD ± 9) years, 69% were Australian born, 32% current smokers, and mean CD4 was 630 (SD ± 265) cells per mm3 , with no significant differences between clinical sites. Overall, 232 (71%) men received all three DAREs, 71 (22%) received two DAREs, and 24 (7%) had one DARE. Adverse outcomes were rarely reported: anal pain (1.2% of total DAREs), bleeding (0.8%) and not feeling in control of their body during the examination (1.6%). Of 862 DAREs performed, 33 (3.8%) examinations resulted in a referral to a colorectal surgeon. One Stage 1 anal cancer was detected. CONCLUSION: Incorporation of an early anal cancer detection programme into routine HIV clinical care for MSM living with HIV showed high patient acceptability, uncommon adverse outcomes and specialist referral patterns similar to other cancer screening programmes.