Pandemic leads to drop in casual gay sex
A survey suggests adherence to physical distancing may have a spin-off benefit of reducing STIs
Gay and bisexual men are having far less casual sex because of COVID-19 physical distancing measures, which will likely lead to a period of fewer HIV and STI diagnoses, Australian researchers say.
A marked drop in sexual contact among men who have sex with men (MSM) presents a “novel opportunity” to disrupt STI transmission chains, they say.
The team, lead by the Kirby Institute at UNSW Sydney, surveyed 940 MSM (mean age 40) between 4 and 29 April to assess the impact of coronavirus physical distancing measures on sexual behaviour.
Most participants (88%) reported sex with other men during the six months before they first became concerned about COVID-19, which was about mid-March.
