Impacts of COVID-19 on sexual behaviour in Britain Natsal-COVID was a large (N=6654) web survey quasi-representative of the British general population. In the 4 months following lockdown in Britain in March 2020, what factors were associated with perceiving change, often declines, in sexual frequency and satisfaction? http://dx.doi.org/10.1136/sextrans-2021-055210 Access to, usage and clinical outcomes of online postal sexually transmitted infection services There has been considerable expansion in online postal self-sampling STI services, against a backdrop of reduced funding and service frag ..read more

Predicting adherence to antiretroviral therapy among people living with HIV Investigators in Shenzhen, China have developed a model that accurately estimates ART adherence behaviour. Which five key predictors did they identify? http://dx.doi.org/10.1136/sextrans-2021-055222 Sexual contact between gonorrhoea treatment and attending for a test of cure In England, among participants of all ages recruited into the ‘Gentamicin for the Treatment of Gonorrhoea’ trial, 197/540 (37%) reported sexual contact in the time between treatment and ToC. How many also reported inconsistent condom use? http://dx ..read more

From the Editor’s desk Highlights from the STI BMJ journal – Sept 2022 Changes in sexual behaviour and incidence of STIs after starting HIV PreP After starting PrEP, MSM in the Netherlands engaged more in risky sexual behaviour and had a greater incidence of gonorrhoea, whereas chlamydia and syphilis diagnoses concentrated within subgroups. http://dx.doi.org/10.1136/sextrans-2021-055227 Pharyngeal and rectal carriage of meningococcus among healthy MSM In Italy, 1 in 7 healthy MSM had N. meningitidis, usually serogroup B, isolated from pharyngeal and less commonly rectal swabs; some strains ..read more

International Conference on Human Retrovirology: HTLV 2022 On World HTLV Day (10 November 2021) we recorded a podcast on the patient, clinician and scientist’s perspective of Human T Leukaemia Virus-1 (HTLV-1). Today we present you an update on the latest International Retrovirology Conference: HTLV 22 held in Melbourne, Australia. HTLV-1 is a sexually and vertically transmitted virus that is distantly related to HIV and capable of causing severe, chronic and progressive diseases such as adult T cell leukaemia, HTLV-1 associated myelopathy (HAM/TSP) and bronchiectasis. The natural history of H ..read more

​​Inequalities lead to health disparities. This week we feature key populations to highlight how intersectionality or different marginalised identities may overlap and exacerbate these disparities. We also feature selected organisations and their work to address these issues. A key example of this intersectionality is reported by Hermazewska et al. who conducted a systematic review of lived experiences of transgender forced migrants including sex workers. This paper identified factors contributing to profound deprivation and distress in this highly minoritised group, with pervasive and persist ..read more

From the Editor’s desk   Sexual behaviours associated with incident high-risk anal human papillomavirus among gay and bisexual men by Wong et al. Why does it matter? HPV-related anal cancer disproportionally affects men who have sex with men. Vaccination and screening are key elements of effective prevention. Researchers in Sydney prospectively investigated 525 older men (35 years, median 49 years) and found that the incidence of anal infection with high-risk (HR)-HPV was 3.3 per 100 person-years. The risk increased among people with HIV and in those reporting receptive anal intercourse ..read more

Mycoplasma genitalium (MGEN) is a common sexually transmitted infection that has been mainly associated with urethritis in men and is characterised by high rates of antimicrobial resistance. Understanding of the natural history of the infection is incomplete. In this STI podcast, Dr Fabiola Martin meets Dr Emma Sweeney, Prof Catarina Brashaw and Prof Nicola Low to discuss key populations affected by MGEN, review strategies for testing and treatment, and highlight important knowledge gaps and research needs. Join us in this informative episode! Facts and Highlights MGEN is a relatively common ..read more

Beginning in March 2020, contact with individuals outside of immediate households was banned with very few exceptions. The immediate impact on mental health, physical wellness, finances, and other crucial aspects of daily life were well documented and were considered in policy formulation. However, the impact on sexual relationships and intimacy remained elusive and few tools were available to quantify the repercussions. The National Survey of Sexual Attitudes and Lifestyles (Natsal) is a face-to-face survey that since 1990 takes place every 10 years across Britain, sampling over 45,000 people ..read more

Today BMJ STI honours World Human T-cell Leukaemia Virus (HTLV) Day. More than 40 years ago, before the discovery of HIV, Bob Gallo and his team discovered HTLV-1, an oncovirus and the first recognised human retrovirus. An estimated 5-10 million individuals have been exposed to infection with HTLV type-1 globally, with specific hyperendemic regions (1). However, the true prevalence of HTLV is likely to be higher due to substantial underdiagnosis and a lack of systematic epidemiological studies. HTLV is predominantly transmitted through cell-containing bodily fluids including blood, semen, gen ..read more

Editor’s choice: Factors associated with reporting antibiotic use as STI prophylaxis among HIV PrEP users: findings from a cross-sectional online community survey, May–July 2019, UK Why does it matter? Investigators used an online community survey to study the prevalence and factors associated with self-prescribed STI prophylaxis among HIV PrEP users. Self-prescribing was reported by ~ 1 in 10 people, most commonly by those also reporting risky sexual behaviour or a recent STI diagnosis. Give us a key message: Sexual health clinicians should consider asking attendees, especially HIV PrEP user ..read more