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Condom-Associated Erectile Function, But Not Other Domains of Sexual Functioning, Predicts Condomless Insertive Anal Sex Among Young Men Who Have Sex with Men

  • Special Section: Social and Behavioral Science with Gay and Bisexual men in the Era of Biomedical Prevention
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Abstract

Condoms effectively prevent against HIV, especially when used in conjunction with biomedical strategies such as PrEP and viral suppression. However, consistent use of condoms in the real world has been a continual health promotion challenge, even among populations at highest risk, such as young men who have sex with men (YMSM). Inconsistent condom use may be related to poor sexual functioning, but limited research exists. The analytic sample comprised 688 racially diverse YMSM aged 16–29 (M = 22.9 years) living in Chicago, IL (19.2% living with HIV). Using multivariable logistic regression, we examined longitudinal associations between condom-associated sexual functioning (erectile function, orgasm satisfaction, global satisfaction, and anal discomfort) and condomless insertive anal sex (CIAS) and condomless receptive anal sex (CRAS) 6 months later. CIAS at Time 2 was associated with condom-associated erectile function at the bivariate and multivariable levels, even after controlling for CIAS at Time 1 (p < .05). Condom-associated erectile function, orgasm satisfaction, and global satisfaction predicted Time 2 CRAS in bivariate models, but none remained significant in the multivariable models. Age, having had a serious partner in the past 6 months, and HIV/PrEP status at Time 2 were significant predictors of CIAS/CRAS in some but not all models. Future interventions to improve consistent condom use should specifically highlight information and skills on how to use condoms within real-world contexts rather than from a clinical perspective. Our results also support the importance of biomedical strategies for those who have continued problems with sexual functioning when using condoms.

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Acknowledgements

The authors would like to thank the entire RADAR research team, particularly Antonia Clifford for overseeing the project and Daniel T. Ryan for data management. We also thank the RADAR participants for sharing their experiences with us.

Funding

This work was supported by the National Institute on Drug Abuse at the National Institutes of Health (U01DA036939; PI: Mustanski). The content is solely the responsibility of the authors and does not necessarily represent the official views of the National Institute on Drug Abuse or the National Institutes of Health. The sponsor had no involvement in the conduct of the research or the preparation of the article.

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Correspondence to Dennis H. Li.

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The authors declare no conflicts of interest.

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All study activities were conducted with oversight from the Northwestern University Institutional Review Board.

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RADAR participants provided written consent, and parental/guardian consent was waived for those < 18 years old.

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Appendix

Appendix

Adaptation of patient-reported outcomes measurement information system, sexual function and satisfaction (PROMIS-SexFS) measures for condom use.

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Li, D.H., Newcomb, M., Macapagal, K. et al. Condom-Associated Erectile Function, But Not Other Domains of Sexual Functioning, Predicts Condomless Insertive Anal Sex Among Young Men Who Have Sex with Men. Arch Sex Behav 49, 161–174 (2020). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10508-020-01642-w

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10508-020-01642-w

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