Use of reality "female condoms" for anal sex by US men who have sex with men. HIVNET Vaccine Preparedness Study Protocol Team.
OBJECTIVE
This study assessed use of Reality "female condoms" for anal sex by HIV-seronegative men who have sex with men and are at high risk for HIV infection.


METHODS
Self-administered questionnaires were completed by 2277 participants in a 6-city prospective cohort study.


RESULTS
Of the 1084 (48%) men who had heard of using the female condom for anal sex, 145 (13%) reported using it in the prior 6 months. Users were at greater risk than nonusers: 47 receptive and 35 insertive users reported problems, including bleeding by the receptive partner (4).


CONCLUSIONS
Redesign of the female condom could increase acceptability and use by men who have sex with men and could address possible safety concerns.
Gross
M
M
Abt Associates, Inc, Cambridge, Mass., USA. michael_gross@abtassoc.com
Buchbinder
S P
SP
Holte
S
S
Celum
C L
CL
Koblin
B A
BA
Douglas
J M
JM
D000328:Adult; D017280:Condoms / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D004867:Equipment Design; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D016017:Odds Ratio; D012725:Sexual Behavior / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D014481:United States / Q000453:epidemiology