To investigate the association between rectal douching, rectal cytokine/chemokine levels, and microbial communities in sexual minority men (SMM) engaging in receptive condomless anal sex (CAS), highlighting its significance in HIV/STI risk.
Key Findings:
SMM who douched reported more receptive CAS partners compared to nondouching SMM, indicating a potential risk factor.
Elevated levels of rectal cytokines/chemokines linked to immune activation and inflammation were observed in douching SMM, suggesting increased HIV/STI risk.
Douching was associated with lower microbial richness, evenness, and Shannon diversity, which may contribute to immune dysregulation.
Significant correlations were found between microbial diversity metrics and rectal cytokine/chemokine levels, indicating a complex interaction.
Interpretation:
Douching among SMM engaging in receptive CAS may exacerbate rectal inflammation and alter microbial communities, potentially increasing HIV/STI risk, thus informing targeted prevention strategies.
Limitations:
Cross-sectional design limits causal inference, making it difficult to establish direct relationships.
Self-reported data may introduce bias, affecting the reliability of the findings.
Sample size may not be representative of all SMM, limiting the generalizability of the results.
Conclusion:
Douching practices may identify SMM at higher risk for HIV/STI due to altered immune responses and microbial communities, underscoring the need for targeted prevention strategies.
by Courtney A Broedlow, Angela McGaugh, Tiffany R Glynn, Emily M Cherenack, Charlene Miller, Maria L Alcaide, Jose A Bauermeister, Christian Grov, Robert Parisi, Darling Martinez, Adam W Carrico, Nichole R Klatt, Jennifer A Manuzak
