title: Getting the terminology right in sexual health research: the importance of accurately classifying fuck buddies among men who have sex with men.
abstract: The aim of this report was to raise the issue of the definition and classification of partner terminology in men who have sex with men (MSM) research, particularly in regards to 'fuck buddies'. If definitions in research differ from general consensus in the MSM population, it is possible that public health strategies will be ineffective as the target population may be inaccurate.
  
  
  
  Thirty semistructured interviews with MSM attending the Melbourne Sexual Health Centre were conducted, focusing on the willingness to change sexual practices to reduce the risk of pharyngeal gonorrhoea. As part of these interviews, men were also asked their views on the terminology they used to describe their relationships and sexual partners.
  
  
  
  The degree of emotional attachment often defined the type or classification of relationships. There was a consensus among men that partners they engaged with for 'sex only' were classified as casual partners and partners with whom there was an emotional attachment or formalisation of the relationship were classified as 'regular partners'. However, the classification of 'fuck buddy' as a regular or casual partner was less clear.
  
  
  
  Further research is needed to ascertain the ways in which men conceptualise sexual relationships and define or classify partner types, particularly 'fuck buddy' relationships. A third category for sexual relationships should be considered to encapsulate fuck buddy relationships.
authors.affiliation: Melbourne Sexual Health Centre, Alfred Health, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia.|Central Clinical School, Faculty of Medicine, Nursing and Health Sciences, Monash University, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia.
authors.forename: Clare
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Bellhouse
authors.affiliation: Melbourne Sexual Health Centre, Alfred Health, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia.|Central Clinical School, Faculty of Medicine, Nursing and Health Sciences, Monash University, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia.
authors.forename: Sandra
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Walker
authors.affiliation: Melbourne Sexual Health Centre, Alfred Health, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia.|Central Clinical School, Faculty of Medicine, Nursing and Health Sciences, Monash University, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia.
authors.forename: Christopher K
authors.initials: CK
authors.lastname: Fairley
authors.affiliation: Melbourne Sexual Health Centre, Alfred Health, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia.|Central Clinical School, Faculty of Medicine, Nursing and Health Sciences, Monash University, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia.
authors.forename: Eric Pf
authors.identifier: 0000-0003-1766-0657
authors.initials: EP
authors.lastname: Chow
authors.affiliation: Melbourne Sexual Health Centre, Alfred Health, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia.|Central Clinical School, Faculty of Medicine, Nursing and Health Sciences, Monash University, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia.|Department of General Practice, University of Melbourne, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia.
authors.forename: Jade E
authors.initials: JE
authors.lastname: Bilardi
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001315:Australia / Q000453:epidemiology; D018451:Homosexuality, Male / Q000523:psychology; D006801:Humans; D007407:Interviews as Topic; D008297:Male; D009769:Object Attachment; D012309:Risk-Taking; D012725:Sexual Behavior / Q000502:physiology / Q000523:psychology*; D000074384:Sexual Health / Q000145:classification; D012747:Sexual Partners / Q000145:classification* / Q000523:psychology; D000072339:Sexual and Gender Minorities / Q000145:classification*; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D009626:Terminology as Topic
keywords: CLINICAL STI CARE; GAY MEN; HEALTH PROMOTION; QUALITATIVE RESEARCH; SEXUAL BEHAVIOUR