Similar sexual behaviors with casual partners among gay men with and without a regular partner.
OBJECTIVE
We hypothesized that men in a relationship would engage in less risky sexual activity with their casual partners compared to men with only casual partners.


METHODS
Cross-sectional data were collected between 1999 and 2003 in a study of young human immunodeficiency virus-seronegative gay men in Vancouver, British Columbia. We assessed the substance use and sexual behaviors of 156 men and compared those having casual partners in addition to 1 regular partner for the duration of the previous year (n = 43) to those reporting only casual partners during the previous year (n = 113).


RESULTS
Men with just 1 regular partner were not significantly different from men without a regular partner with regard to sexual behaviors reportedly engaged in with casual partners, self-reported sexually transmitted infections diagnosed within the previous year, or demographic characteristics. Only previous use of poppers and higher frequencies of marijuana use were found among men without a regular partner.


CONCLUSIONS
In our cohort, young gay men in a relationship do not appear less likely to engage in risky sex with casual partners than men with casual partners only.
Kuyper
Laura M
LM
British Columbia Centre for Excellence in HIV/AIDS, St. Paul's Hospital, Vancouver, BC V6Z 1Y6, Canada.
Lampinen
Thomas M
TM
Chan
Keith
K
Miller
Mary Lou
ML
Schilder
Arn
A
Hogg
Robert S
RS
D000328:Adult; D001955:British Columbia / Q000453:epidemiology; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D018451:Homosexuality, Male; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012725:Sexual Behavior / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D012747:Sexual Partners; D012749:Sexually Transmitted Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000209:etiology / Q000517:prevention & control*