Adventurous study launched
Gay men who engage in adventurous sex are being invited to take part in a new research project by the National Centre in HIV Social Research.
The project arose out of an earlier study that found a correlation between HIV transmission and adventurous sex. It was found that men who were more sexually adventurous were more likely to become HIV-positive.
National Centre researcher Gary Smith told Sydney Star Observer the survey is about seeking more complex answers.
An interesting aspect of this finding is that the practices deemed adventurous, for example, fisting, S/M, bondage, water sports and fetishes, were not in themselves high risk for HIV transmission, Smith said. This fact makes clear that seroconversion may be related to but is not caused by adventurous sex.
The project focuses upon positive and negative men. Smith said although adventurous sex is correlated with HIV transmission, there are many men who are sexually adventurous but remain HIV-negative.
We’re not only interested in the ways in which adventurous sex is related to HIV transmission, but also in how men who engage in adventurous sex prevent HIV transmission from occurring, Smith said.
The Sexual Adventurism and Sydney Gay Men (SAS) study is being conducted in consultation with representatives from ACON, AFAO, NAPWA, NSW Health and the National Centre in HIV Epidemiology and Clinical Research. If you would like to participate please contact Gary Smith on 9385 6410 or at [email protected]. All interviews are confidential.
