Quality of Sex Life and Perceived Sexual Pleasure of PrEP Users in the Netherlands

Mart Van Dijk; John B. F. De Wit; Thomas E. Guadamuz; Joel E. Martinez; Kai J. Jonas

doi:10.1080/00224499.2021.1931653

Quality of Sex Life and Perceived Sexual Pleasure of PrEP Users in the Netherlands

Mart Van Dijk^*, John B. F. De Wit, Thomas E. Guadamuz, Joel E. Martinez, Kai J. Jonas

^*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › Academic › peer-review

Abstract

Next to its benefits for HIV prevention, PrEP may have psychosocial benefits relating to improved quality of sex life. The aim of the current study was to investigate the onset of changes in the quality of sex life and sexual pleasure of PrEP users in the first months of commencing PrEP use. Moreover, we investigated what factors were related to the quality of sex life of PrEP users. We recruited 145 participants via the Dutch PrEP-advocacy website PrEPnu.nl, and they received follow-up questionnaires after three and six months. We found that PrEP users reported an increase in the quality of their sex life, which was related to reduced fear of HIV since they started using PrEP but not to decreased condom use. PrEP users were more interested in experimenting with sex practices, but they did not always feel more desirable as a sex partner because of PrEP use. Health-care providers and health promotion campaigns could emphasize the positive effects of PrEP on the quality of sex life, in addition to the HIV-preventive effects of PrEP, to decrease PrEP stigma and increase PrEP uptake.

Original language	English
Pages (from-to)	303-308
Number of pages	6
Journal	Journal of Sex Research
Volume	59
Issue number	3
Early online date	17 Jun 2021
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1080/00224499.2021.1931653
Publication status	Published - 24 Mar 2022

Keywords

SOUTH LONDON FINDINGS
DRUG-USE
DEMONSTRATION PROJECT
RISK COMPENSATION
GAY MEN
PREEXPOSURE
MOTIVATIONS
PREVENTION
STRATEGIES
ADHERENCE

Access to Document

10.1080/00224499.2021.1931653Licence: CC BY-NC-ND

Cite this

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title = "Quality of Sex Life and Perceived Sexual Pleasure of PrEP Users in the Netherlands",

abstract = "Next to its benefits for HIV prevention, PrEP may have psychosocial benefits relating to improved quality of sex life. The aim of the current study was to investigate the onset of changes in the quality of sex life and sexual pleasure of PrEP users in the first months of commencing PrEP use. Moreover, we investigated what factors were related to the quality of sex life of PrEP users. We recruited 145 participants via the Dutch PrEP-advocacy website PrEPnu.nl, and they received follow-up questionnaires after three and six months. We found that PrEP users reported an increase in the quality of their sex life, which was related to reduced fear of HIV since they started using PrEP but not to decreased condom use. PrEP users were more interested in experimenting with sex practices, but they did not always feel more desirable as a sex partner because of PrEP use. Health-care providers and health promotion campaigns could emphasize the positive effects of PrEP on the quality of sex life, in addition to the HIV-preventive effects of PrEP, to decrease PrEP stigma and increase PrEP uptake.",

keywords = "SOUTH LONDON FINDINGS, DRUG-USE, DEMONSTRATION PROJECT, RISK COMPENSATION, GAY MEN, PREEXPOSURE, MOTIVATIONS, PREVENTION, STRATEGIES, ADHERENCE",

author = "{Van Dijk}, Mart and {De Wit}, {John B. F.} and Guadamuz, {Thomas E.} and Martinez, {Joel E.} and Jonas, {Kai J.}",

note = "Funding Information: This work was supported by the Aids Fonds [P-13301]. This work was supported by the Dutch Aidsfonds under Grant P -13301, made available to the last author. Funding Information: This work was supported by the Dutch Aidsfonds under Grant P-13301, made available to the last author. Publisher Copyright: {\textcopyright} 2021 The Author(s). Published with license by Taylor & Francis Group, LLC.",

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AU - Guadamuz, Thomas E.

AU - Martinez, Joel E.

AU - Jonas, Kai J.

N1 - Funding Information: This work was supported by the Aids Fonds [P-13301]. This work was supported by the Dutch Aidsfonds under Grant P -13301, made available to the last author. Funding Information: This work was supported by the Dutch Aidsfonds under Grant P-13301, made available to the last author. Publisher Copyright: © 2021 The Author(s). Published with license by Taylor & Francis Group, LLC.

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N2 - Next to its benefits for HIV prevention, PrEP may have psychosocial benefits relating to improved quality of sex life. The aim of the current study was to investigate the onset of changes in the quality of sex life and sexual pleasure of PrEP users in the first months of commencing PrEP use. Moreover, we investigated what factors were related to the quality of sex life of PrEP users. We recruited 145 participants via the Dutch PrEP-advocacy website PrEPnu.nl, and they received follow-up questionnaires after three and six months. We found that PrEP users reported an increase in the quality of their sex life, which was related to reduced fear of HIV since they started using PrEP but not to decreased condom use. PrEP users were more interested in experimenting with sex practices, but they did not always feel more desirable as a sex partner because of PrEP use. Health-care providers and health promotion campaigns could emphasize the positive effects of PrEP on the quality of sex life, in addition to the HIV-preventive effects of PrEP, to decrease PrEP stigma and increase PrEP uptake.

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KW - MOTIVATIONS

KW - PREVENTION

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KW - ADHERENCE

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