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Background: Although as many as one-in-four MSM across studies have been shown to meet a recent sex partner at private sex parties, little research to date has examined STD history among MSM regularly attending this venue.
Objectives: (1) To examine STD and behavioral risk factors among MSM attending sex parties in
Methods: In 2009, 103 MSM who reported attending three or more sex parties in the past 12-months completed an in-depth, interviewer-administered comprehensive assessment battery. Logistic regression procedures examined risk factors associated with lifetime STD diagnosis.
Results: Participants reported a mean age of 44 (SD=10.8), attending an average of 7 (SD=7.4) sex parties in the past 12-months, and 53% were HIV-infected. The majority (57%) reported ever being diagnosed with one or more STDs: 41% gonorrhea, 26% syphilis, 19% chlamydia, 11% HCV, 10% HSV. Factors associated with lifetime STD diagnosis include: higher education (OR=1.33;p=0.04); number of sex parties attended in the past 12-months (OR=1.08;p=0.04); reporting that condom use is “very difficult” (OR=2.23;p=0.05); number of unprotected insertive anal sex acts at sex parties attended in the past 12-months (OR=1.16;p=0.006); and using drugs at the most recent sex party they attended, including poppers (OR=2.53;p=0.03), crystal methamphetamine (OR=3.72;p=0.02), and Viagra (OR=4.25;p=0.03). In a multivariable model adjusting for age and race/ethnicity, significant unique predictors of lifetime STD diagnosis include: number of unprotected insertive anal sex acts at sex parties attended in the past 12-months (AOR=1.17;p=0.006); and using poppers during sex at the most recent sex party they attended (AOR=2.83;p=0.03).
Conclusions: Insertive anal sex and substance use were risk factors highly associated with elevated STD history among MSM attending sex parties in
Implications for Programs, Policy, and/or Research: Interventions are needed to address sexual risk behaviors in the context of sex parties, in particular targeting substance use and STD/HIV transmission behavior.