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BACKGROUND: Chemsex is the intentional use of drugs to enhance sexual activity. Chemsex drug use among men who have sex with men (MSM) is associated with sexual behaviors that increase sexually transmitted infection (STI) risks and adverse mental health outcomes. However, published data are largely based on MSM recruited from STI clinics. There are limited data about use of chemsex drugs among national samples of MSM in the United States. Using data from the American Men’s Internet Survey (AMIS), we assessed the prevalence and correlates of use of chemsex drugs among sexually active MSM in the United States. METHODS: We used data from the 2017 to 2020 AMIS cycles to examine the prevalence of chemsex drug use in the past 12 months among MSM. We calculated prevalence ratios (PR) and 95% confidence intervals (CI) to compare chemsex drug use across demographic, behavioral, and mental health factors. RESULTS: Of 30,294 MSM, 3,113 (10.3%) reported chemsex drug use in the past 12 months. Of the 3,113 MSM who reported chemsex drug use, 65.1% reported ecstasy use, 42.5% reported crystal methamphetamine use, and 21.7% reported GHB use. Factors associated with chemsex drug use included condomless anal sex (PR = 1.93, 95%=1.69–2.20), problem drinking (PR = 2.36, 95% = 2.13–2.61), bacterial STI test (1.84, 95% CI = 1.68–2.02) and probable serious mental illness (PR = 1.92, 95% = 1.76–2.09). CONCLUSION: Chemsex drug use is associated with behaviors that increase STI risk and mental distress among MSM. Health programs that serve MSM can consider screening for chemsex drug use and offering sexual and mental health promotion and risk reduction interventions when necessary.

Background: HIV prevention programmes that include pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) for men who have sex with men (MSM) and transgender women (TGW) in South Africa have not been widely implemented. Objectives: The authors examined oral PrEP uptake, adherence, and adverse events among HIV-uninfected MSM and TGW to inform intervention acceptability and feasibility. Method: In 2015, MSM and TGW in two South African cities were offered a comprehensive package of HIV prevention services, including daily oral PrEP, and were followed for one year. Different models of PrEP delivery were used at each site. Adherence was measured using self-report and pill-count data and tenofovir-diphosphate (TFV-DP) concentrations. Results: Among 135 participants who were eligible for PrEP, 82 (61%) initiated PrEP, of whom 67 (82%) were on PrEP at study end. Participants were on PrEP for a median of 294 out of 314.5 possible days (93% protected days). The median time from PrEP initiation to discontinuation or study end was 305 days (interquartile range: 232–325 days). Across the follow-up time points, 57% – 72% of participants self-reported taking protective levels of PrEP and 59% – 74% were adherent to PrEP as indicated by pill counts. Fewer (≤ 18%) achieved protective TFV-DP concentrations of ≥ 700 fmol/punch in dried blood spots. Side effects, while typically mild, were the most commonly cited reason by participants for early PrEP discontinuation. Conclusion: Many MSM and TGW initiated and maintained PrEP, demonstrating that PrEP can be successfully delivered to South African MSM and TGW in diverse programmatic contexts. Biologic adherence measures suggest MSM and TGW may experience challenges taking PrEP regularly. Counselling for coping with side effects and motivating daily pill taking is recommended to support South African MSM and TGW in achieving protection with PrEP.

Supplemental material, sj-docx-1-jmh-10.1177_15579883231168602 for The Impact of the COVID-19 Pandemic on Sexual Behavior and HIV Prevention and Treatment Services Among U.S. Men Who Have Sex With Men in the Post-Lockdown Era by Laura M. Mann, Travis Sanchez, Rob Stephenson, Patrick S. Sullivan and Samuel M. Jenness in American Journal of Men's Health

Supplemental material, sj-docx-2-jmh-10.1177_15579883231168602 for The Impact of the COVID-19 Pandemic on Sexual Behavior and HIV Prevention and Treatment Services Among U.S. Men Who Have Sex With Men in the Post-Lockdown Era by Laura M. Mann, Travis Sanchez, Rob Stephenson, Patrick S. Sullivan and Samuel M. Jenness in American Journal of Men's Health

Supplemental material, sj-docx-2-jmh-10.1177_15579883231168602 for The Impact of the COVID-19 Pandemic on Sexual Behavior and HIV Prevention and Treatment Services Among U.S. Men Who Have Sex With Men in the Post-Lockdown Era by Laura M. Mann, Travis Sanchez, Rob Stephenson, Patrick S. Sullivan and Samuel M. Jenness in American Journal of Men's Health

Supplemental material, sj-docx-1-jiv-10.1177_08862605231169755 for Targeted Violence as a Risk Factor for Posttraumatic Stress Disorder Among Cisgender Gay, Bisexual, and Other Men Who have Sex with Men in the United States by John Mark Wiginton, Sarah M. Murray, Stefan D. Baral and Travis H. Sanchez in Journal of Interpersonal Violence

Supplemental material, sj-docx-1-jmh-10.1177_15579883231168602 for The Impact of the COVID-19 Pandemic on Sexual Behavior and HIV Prevention and Treatment Services Among U.S. Men Who Have Sex With Men in the Post-Lockdown Era by Laura M. Mann, Travis Sanchez, Rob Stephenson, Patrick S. Sullivan and Samuel M. Jenness in American Journal of Men's Health

Supplemental material, sj-docx-1-jiv-10.1177_08862605231169755 for Targeted Violence as a Risk Factor for Posttraumatic Stress Disorder Among Cisgender Gay, Bisexual, and Other Men Who have Sex with Men in the United States by John Mark Wiginton, Sarah M. Murray, Stefan D. Baral and Travis H. Sanchez in Journal of Interpersonal Violence

Additional file 1.

BackgroundMen who have sex with men (MSM) are disproportionately affected by human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) and there is evidence that this population is participating in increasingly risky sexual behavior. These changes are occurring in the context of new modes of online social interaction—many MSM now report first meeting their sex partners on the Internet. Better monitoring of key behavioral indicators among MSM requires the use of surveillance strategies that capitalize on these new modes of interaction. Therefore, we developed an annual cross-sectional behavioral survey of MSM in the United States, the American Men's Internet Survey (AMIS). ObjectiveThe purpose of this paper was to provide a description of AMIS methods. In addition we report on the first cycle of data collection (December 2013 through May 2014; AMIS-2013) on the same key indicators used for national HIV behavioral surveillance. MethodsAMIS-2013 recruited MSM from a variety of websites using banner advertisements or email blasts. Adult men currently residing in the United States were eligible to participate if they had ever had sex with a man. We examined demographic and recruitment characteristics using multivariable regression modeling (P

The American Men’s Internet Survey (AMIS) is an annual Web-based behavioral survey of men who have sex with men (MSM) living in the United States. This Rapid Surveillance Report describes the third cycle of data collection (September 2015 through April 2016; AMIS-2015). The key indicators are the same as previously reported for AMIS (December 2013-May 2014, AMIS-2013; November 2014-April 2015, AMIS-2014). The AMIS survey methodology has not substantively changed since AMIS-2014. MSM were recruited from a variety of websites using banner advertisements and email blasts. Additionally, participants from AMIS-2014 who agreed to be recontacted for future research were emailed a link to the AMIS-2015 survey. Men were eligible to participate if they were age 15 years and older, resided in the United States, provided a valid US ZIP code, and reported ever having sex with a man. We examined demographic and recruitment characteristics using multivariable regression modeling (P

Background: Preexposure prophylaxis (PrEP) is available as a daily pill for preventing infection with the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV). Innovative methods of administering PrEP systemically or topically are being discussed and developed. Objective: The objective of our study was to assess attitudes toward different experimental modalities of PrEP administration. Methods: From April to July 2015, we recruited 1106 HIV-negative men who have sex with men through online social media advertisements and surveyed them about their likelihood of using different PrEP modalities. Participants responded to 5-point Likert-scale items indicating how likely they were to use each of the following PrEP modalities: a daily oral pill, on-demand pills, periodic injection, penile gel (either before or after intercourse), rectal gel (before/after), and rectal suppository (before/after). We used Wilcoxon signed rank tests to determine whether the stated likelihood of using any modality differed from daily oral PrEP. Related items were combined to assess differences in likelihood of use based on tissue or time of administration. Participants also ranked their interest in using each modality, and we used the modified Borda count method to determine consensual rankings. Results: Most participants indicated they would be somewhat likely or very likely to use PrEP as an on-demand pill (685/1105, 61.99%), daily oral pill (528/1036, 50.97%), injection (575/1091, 52.70%), or penile gel (438/755, 58.01% before intercourse; 408/751, 54.33% after). The stated likelihoods of using on-demand pills (median score 4) and of using a penile gel before intercourse (median 4) were both higher than that of using a daily oral pill (median 4, P