Rectal douching in a community sample of men and women

Rectal douching (RD) may be a vector for sexually transmitted infection (STI) acquisition. The aim of this study was to describe the relationship between RD, and the prevalence of various STIs and sexual behaviors in a sample of women and men in Long Beach, California. Five hundred and forty-seven men (mean age 42.8 years) and 530 women (mean age 37 years) recruited from a community-based setting between April 2010 and August 2014 completed the Risk Behavior Assessment and a questionnaire eliciting information on use of lubricants and enemas for vaginal intercourse (VI) and anal intercourse (AI). Participants were screened for high-risk behaviors for human immunodeficiency virus infection including injection drug use. Bivariate analyses were conducted separately for women and men. Based on the empirical results, separate logistic regression models for women and men were constructed. Sensitivity analysis was conducted to assess model fit for reduced samples of only those men and women who reported AI. For men, RD was associated with a lower odds of being hepatitis C antibody positive, greater odds of being positive for hepatitis B virus surface antigen, syphilis, and using lubricants for receptive anal intercourse (RAI). RD in women was associated with higher odds of a positive test for syphilis, ever vaginally douching for VI, and using lubricants for RAI. Men and women who practice RD report positive syphilis test results and use of lubricants for RAI. RD should not be perceived as preventing STIs.

Lubricants and rectal douching: associations with rectal gonorrhea, chlamydia, and/or syphilis infection among men who have sex with men

Despite widespread prevalence of lubricant use and rectal douching for receptive anal intercourse (RAI) among men who have sex with men (MSM), research evaluating the association of these behaviors with sexually transmitted infections (STIs) is limited. This is an observational analysis of a longitudinal cohort of predominantly Black/Latino MSM in Los Angeles. Every six months from August 2014 to January 2018, participants received STI screening and surveys evaluating lubricant use, douching, substance use, and sexual risk behaviors. General estimating equations evaluated the association between consistent lubricant use and douching for RAI with positive rectal Neisseria gonorrhoeae, Chlamydia trachomatis, and/or syphilis (positive STI). Among 313 participants across 552 study visits, 16.5% (91/552) had positive STI. Consistent lubricant use was reported in 52.7% (243/552) and rectal douching in 57.6% (318/552) of study visits. Consistent lubricant use was associated with STI diagnosis (adjusted OR [AOR] 1.81; 95% CI 1.11–2.96; p = 0.018). Each episode of rectal douching before RAI was associated with 2% increased odds of positive STI (AOR 1.02; 95% CI 1.00–1.04; p = 0.041). Among this cohort of HIV-positive and high-risk HIV-negative MSM, lubricant use and douching was common and independently associated with an STI, suggesting the utility of prevention messaging around barrier methods/condoms for sexual encounters involving douching/lubricant use.

Association between rectal douching and HIV acquisition: the mediating role of condom use and rectal bleeding in a national online sample of Chinese men who have sex with men

ObjectivesPrevious studies have demonstrated that rectal douching (RD) is associated with HIV acquisition among men who have sex with men (MSM). However, the precise mechanism underlying the association between RD and HIV remains unclear.MethodsWe recruited participants over WeChat from October 2017 to October 2018. Respondents received mailed HIV self-testing kits, uploaded images of HIV self-test results and completed an online electronic questionnaire simultaneously. The questionnaire assessed sociodemographic characteristics, RD practices and sexual risk behaviours. HIV status was measured as the result of the HIV self-testing. The Baron and Kenny statistical method was used to assess the association between RD and HIV, controlling for condomless anal intercourse (CAI) and rectal bleeding.ResultsOf 1365 participants, 39.93% (545/1365) reported RD in the past 6 months, 60.07% had multiple male sexual partners and 43.08% had CAI in the past 6 months. The prevalence of HIV, based on self-testing, was 3.37% (46/1365). Multivariable logistic analysis showed RD was significantly associated with bottom sexual role (adjusted OR (aOR) 14.0; 95% CI 9.8 to 20.2), having multiple male sexual partners (aOR 1.8; 95% CI 1.4 to 2.2), CAI (aOR 1.3; 95% CI 1.0 to 1.6), rectal bleeding (aOR 2.0; 95% CI 1.6 to 2.6) and HIV infection (aOR 1.9; 95% CI 1.0 to 3.4). Baron and Kenny analysis found both CAI (aOR 2.2; 95% CI 1.2 to 4.1) and rectal bleeding (aOR 1.9; 95% CI 1.0 to 3.4) play a mediating role in the association between RD and HIV.ConclusionsOur study results confirmed the relationship between RD and HIV, and found CAI and rectal bleeding mediated HIV infection in Chinese MSM who douched. Strategies should be encouraged to strengthen health education and reduce high-risk sexual behaviour in order to reduce the risk of HIV in MSM who use enemas. Rectal microbicides may represent an efficient means of providing HIV prophylaxis among MSM.

Rectal douching before sexual intercourse and inappropriate douching tool use associated with increased HIV infection among men who have sex with men: a cross-sectional study from Shenyang, China

Background: Rectal douching (RD) is widely practiced by men who have sex with men (MSM), and is correlated with increased risk of HIV infection. However, the mechanism of how RD increases the risk of HIV infection is not well understood, and there is limited data on RD behavior in MSM practicing anal sex in China. We examine the purpose of RD, its timing in relation to anal sex, the types of RD products used, and risky sexual behaviors among MSM reporting anal sex.Methods: Between August 2017 and December 2018, a cross-sectional study was conducted among adult MSM in Shenyang, China. Data were collected on demographics, sexual behaviors, and RD for the most recent sexual intercourse by means of interviewer-administered face-to-face questionnaires. Blood samples were collected to test for antibodies to HIV and syphilis. Multivariable logistic regression models were used to assess the risk factors associated with HIV infection.Results: A total of 515 eligible MSM participated in this survey (median age: 31 years). During the most recent anal intercourse, 28.3% (146/515) had condomless receptive anal intercourse (CRAI), 21.4% (110/515) practiced serosorting, and more than half (61.6%, 317/515) reported RD before or after anal sex. Of those practicing RD, 96.8% (307/317) conducted RD before sex, while 62.5% (198/317) conducted RD after sex. The douching devices used were primarily shower hoses (85.3%, 262/307), and relatively few MSM used commercial RD products (8.1%). The prevalence of HIV-1 and syphilis was 11.7% and 13.2%, respectively. HIV infection was positively associated with RD (adjusted odds ratio (AOR), 2.8; 95% confidence interval (CI), 1.4-5.5), practicing RD before sex (AOR, 2.3; 95% CI, 1.2–4.3), practicing RD after sex (AOR, 1.8; 95% CI, 1.0–3.1), using a shower hose for RD (AOR, 3.5; 95% CI, 1.1–13.0), condomless receptive anal intercourse (CRAI) (AOR, 2.9; 95% CI, 1.6–5.5), and using nitrite inhalants (AOR, 2.8; 95 % CI, 1.6-5.1) in the most recent anal intercourse.Conclusions: RD is popular among Chinese MSM. Improper noncommercial RD tools increase the rates of HIV infection. Public health workers and the MSM community should publicize scientific knowledge and prevention approaches relating to RD and HIV transmission to MSM, and we recommend that better tools be offered to assist in RD in order to decrease the risk of acquiring HIV.

Rectal douching among men who have sex with men in six cities in China: a cross-sectional study

Background Rectal douching, which is a common practice among men who have sex men (MSM) as a preparation for anal sex, may potentially increase the risk of HIV infection. However, little is known about the practice of rectal douching among Chinese MSM. This study investigated the characteristics of rectal douching and factors associated with rectal douching. Methods: Between January and March 2019, MSM aged ≥18 years in six cities in China were recruited to the study. Participants were asked to complete a self-administered online questionnaire. Chi-squared tests and multivariable logistic regression were used to examine factors associated with rectal douching by calculating odds ratios (ORs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs). Results: Of 485 MSM in this study, 278 (57.3%) practiced rectal douching in the preceding 6 months. The most common reasons for douching before and after anal sex were hygiene/cleanliness (78.6% and 66.1% respectively) and HIV/STI prevention (8.5% and 17.4% respectively). The most used enemas and equipment before and after anal sex were tap water (73.5% and 70.2% respectively) and showerhead hoses (76.1% and 75.2% respectively). Men who engaged in both insertive and receptive anal sex (OR 8.84; 95% CI 4.52–17.30), exclusively receptive anal sex (OR 6.56; 95% CI 3.55–12.13), condom-less anal intercourse (OR 1.64; 95% CI 1.03–2.63) and anal sex after alcohol use (OR 1.54; 95% CI 1.00–2.35) were more likely to perform douching. Conclusion: Rectal douching is common in MSM, some of whom may not realise the potential risks associated with douching. The co-occurrence of douching and other high-risk behaviours would make MSM more vulnerable to HIV. Health education aimed at informing MSM of the potential risks and addressing the high prevalence of douching are urgently needed.

1289. Douching and Rectal Inflammation in Sexual Minority Men: Implications for HIV Acquisition

Background Rectal douching is the practice of rinsing the anus and rectum prior to, or after, anal sex. Among gay, bisexual, and other men who have sex with men (sexual minority men), rectal douching is likely to enhance HIV acquisition by amplifying inflammation of the rectal mucosa. This study evaluated the association of rectal douching with rectal inflammation among sexual minority men at risk for HIV infection. Methods HIV uninfected sexual minority men who reported receptive anal intercourse in the past 3 months (N = 197) were recruited from four STI clinics in South Florida, the leading region for new HIV infections among sexual minority men in the United States. A brief survey assessed rectal douching practices and sexual behaviors in the previous 3 months. Rectal inflammation was assessed by measuring 13 human rectal inflammatory cytokines/chemokines in rectal swabs using the LEGENDplex Human Inflammation Panel in a sample of 38 participants who reported douching and condomless receptive anal intercourse (CRAI). Results Average age was 35.8 years (SD=15.4). The sample was multi-ethnic: 42% Caucasian, 38% Hispanic/Latino, 13% Black/African American, and 7% other ethnic minority. Approximately two-thirds of participants (65%) reported any rectal douching in the past 3 months and the median number times participants douched was five. Participants who douched had more CRAI partners (Cohen’s d = 0.4587; P < 0.01), and more CRAI partners to ejaculation (Cohen’s d = 0.4813; P < 0.01) compared with participants who did not douche. Participants who reported douching five or more times in the past 3 months displayed significantly higher levels of IL-8 (Cohen’s d = 0.79; P = 0.02) than those who douched less than five times. Conclusion Among sexual minority men who engage in CRAI, more frequent douching is associated with higher levels of rectal inflammation. Assessment of rectal douching should be included when evaluating HIV prevention interventions among sexual minority men, as those who douche are more likely to engage in CRAI and are at higher risk for acquisition of HIV and other sexually transmitted infection. Further mechanistic studies are needed to assess the role of rectal douching in promoting rectal inflammation. Disclosures All authors: No reported disclosures.