Background People of Asian ethnicity represent one of the fastest-growing populations in the United States and may experience unique social and cultural challenges to accessing sexual healthcare. This analysis explores disparities in annual sexually transmitted infection screening and diagnosis rates per person-year between Asian and non-Asian people with human immunodeficiency virus in Washington, District Columbia. Methods Using District Columbia Cohort data, a longitudinal study of people living with human immunodeficiency virus receiving care in Washington, District of Columbia, we analyzed people with human immunodeficiency virus aged 18 or older with at least one year of follow-up between 2018 and 2024. Logistic regression was used to examine differences in sexually transmitted infection screening and diagnoses between Asian and non-Asian participants, while linear trend analyses were used to assess changes in the number of screenings and diagnoses between Asian and non-Asian participants. Results Among 8,679 eligible participants, 0.88% (n=76) were Asian. No significant differences in total sexually transmitted infection screenings or diagnoses were observed. However, Asian participants had higher screening rates per person-year for pharyngeal and urogenital gonorrhea, pharyngeal chlamydia, and syphilis. Chlamydia incidence was higher among Asians compared to non-Asian participants. Over 30% of both groups met the annual screening recommendation during the study period. Conclusions Asians had comparable screening rates to non-Asians, but the small sample size limits the generalizability of our findings. Nonetheless, the present study helps address an existing gap in the literature on Asian sexual health. Larger studies with detailed ethnic and social data are needed to deepen our understanding of sexual health service use within Asian communities.

The HIV incidence among Chinese men who have sex with men (MSM) is still high over the past decade. Despite HIV Pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) being an effective prevention strategy, few studies have examined PrEP uptake and adherence in China. This study examined PrEP initiation and adherence among Chinese MSM enrolled in a multi-site PrEP demonstration trial.

Generous peer review is essential for scientific review, yet many researchers experience the current review culture as unkind. Harsh reviews disproportionately affect women, researchers of color, and other under-represented groups, contributing to reduced confidence, diminished job satisfaction, and delayed career progression. In contrast, generous reviewing strengthens research quality, promotes equity, and reinforces the collaborative foundations of science. This article outlines four principles to guide a more generous approach to manuscript review: empathizing with authors, providing constructive criticism, focusing on areas of genuine expertise, and advocating for systemic improvements in academic publishing. Empathy encourages reviewers to recognize the emotional and professional labor behind every submission, framing feedback in a manner that supports learning rather than discouragement. Constructive criticism emphasizes specificity, actionable guidance, and a distinction between major and minor concerns. Reviewing within one's expertise enhances accuracy and protects against misplaced or misleading critique, while acknowledging limitations promotes humility and transparency. Finally, reviewers are well positioned to promote broader equity, including advocating for fair article processing charge policies, inclusive language support, and greater recognition of reviewer labor. Cultivating generosity in peer review does not diminish rigor; it enhances the effectiveness, fairness, and impact of scholarly communication. By adopting these principles, reviewers can help shift the culture of peer review towards one that encourages improvement, supports diverse researchers, and advances high-quality science.

Introduction The Australian pharmaceutical benefits scheme (PBS) was changed on 15-January 2021 to provide people under 18-years access to government-subsidised pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP). This study investigated healthcare and service provider's attitudes and practices in discussing PrEP and impacts to PrEP prescribing practices, and the differences in the provision of PrEP to young adults aged >18years compared to people aged <18 years. Methods An online cross-sectional survey, conducted February-November 2023, used purposive, convenience and snowball sampling to recruit healthcare providers eligible to prescribe PrEP (general practitioners (GPs), nurse practitioners (NPs)) and non-prescribing healthcare/service providers (sexual health nurses, HIV community workers) in Australia. Young people were split into three age groups for comparison between young adults (aged 18-24) and adolescents including those above (16-17-years) and below (<16-years) the age of consent in Australia. Cross-tabulation with Pearson's chi-squared (chi2) and Fisher's exact tests were performed to investigate sexual health and PrEP-related attitudes and practices. Results Of the 122 respondents, 40.2% (49/122) were nurses, 18.0% (22/122) GPs, 11.5% (14/122) HIV community workers, 11.5% (14/122) were another profession (including public health physician, LGBTIQA child and family practitioner, social worker, counsellor), 10.7% (13/122) were sexual health physicians, 6.6% (8/122) NPs and 2 were HIV specialists. Most (73.8%, 90/122) reported initiating PrEP conversations with 18-24-year-olds, compared to 13.1% (16/122) with those >16 years. Of the 48 (39.3%) eligible PrEP prescribers, 47.9%, (23/48) reported feeling 'extremely/somewhat' comfortable assessing PrEP eligibility, 41.7% (20/48) reported awareness of 2021 PBS changes, 18.8% (9/48) reported changes to prescribing practices. Prescribers were significantly more likely than non-prescribers to consider PrEP suitable (54.2% vs 35.8%, p<0.05) for clients <16-years. Conclusion Guidelines and prescribing criteria need to reflect current PBS eligibility for young people to support healthcare prescriber decision making in recommending and prescribing PrEP for young people where appropriate. Greater education, training and support is required for healthcare providers to improve provider confidence in discussing sexual health needs and recommending and prescribing PrEP to young people to optimise the possible benefits of access to sexual health services and PrEP in this priority sub-group.

Despite its high efficacy for HIV prevention, uptake of pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) is low in the US. This is particularly concerning for men have sex with men (MSM), as they are disproportionately affected by HIV. Interpersonal factors, especially the perspectives of sexual partners living with HIV, influence the use of PrEP for MSM without HIV. Therefore, understanding how MSM with HIV (MSMWH) perceive their HIV-negative sexual partners' use of PrEP can have important implications for HIV prevention efforts. The present study sought to understand MSMWH's attitudes about and outcome expectancies of their sexual partners' PrEP use.

The United States (U.S.) is experiencing an unprecedented sexually transmitted infections (STIs) epidemic. While recent provisional data show some stabilization or minor declines in case rates for chlamydia, gonorrhea, and syphilis, overall rates remain significantly higher than a decade age. Local health departments (LHDs) play a crucial role in preventing and treating STIs, but some LHDs are demonstrably more effective than others. This study utilized a positive deviance (PD) approach to identify and analyze U.S. counties with unexpectedly low STI rates.

Congenital syphilis is a preventable disease and a direct reflection of rates of syphilis in the population. Between 2013 and 2022, Australia's infectious syphilis notification rate increased six-fold in women. Between 2013 and 2022, 54% (n = 45) of congenital syphilis cases were reported in Aboriginal infants, and 61% (n = 11) of congenital syphilis-associated deaths between 2016 and 2022 occurred in Aboriginal infants. In 2018, Communicable Diseases Network Australia National Guidelines were updated, recommending syphilis serology testing five times for women during the perinatal period in outbreak areas. The aim of the study was to gain an understanding of the rates of perinatal syphilis serology testing, and to formulate recommendations on how syphilis serology testing can be improved for pregnant Aboriginal women in the Northern Territory.

Despite expanded antiretroviral therapy (ART) coverage in Nigeria, socioeconomic disparities continue to limit equitable access to HIV and reproductive health services, especially for women living with HIV (WLHIV). This study examines socioeconomic inequalities in ART access, modern contraceptive use, and unmet need for modern contraception. It further decomposes contributing factors and assesses marginal effects of key predictors.

The internet has greatly increased the ease of access to pornography and the privacy of its use, accompanied by a notable rise in consumption among young people. This review aimed to systematically review and narratively synthesise quantitative evidence on the prevalence, motivations, and content types of internet pornography use - as well as its associations with multiple domains of psychosexual well-being, including attitudes and emotions towards use, sexual self-concept, sexual desire and functioning, and compulsive use - among individuals aged 16-25 years. Following a pre-registered protocol, we originally conducted a systematic search of PubMed, PsycINFO, and Web of Science on 20 May 2024 and updated on 24 April 2025 for studies published from 1 January 2000 to 24 April 2025 that reported associations. Study quality was assessed. Twenty-seven studies (30,023 participants) were included in the systematic review. Measurement details were reported for the pornography use variables and the psychosexual well-being variables. The results indicate that most young people have used internet pornography, with a higher prevalence reported in men than women. Additionally, gender differences related to internet pornography were found in reported motivation and content types, attitudes and emotions, sexual self-concept, sexual desire and functioning, and compulsive use.

In the August issue of Sexual Health, a public health ethics analysis for and against doxycycline pre-exposure prophylaxis (Doxy-PEP) to prevent sexually transmitted infections in men who have sex with men was published. The authors discuss the potential for increasing antimicrobial resistance with Doxy-PEP use against tetracyclines in a number of pathogens. Mycoplasma genitalium is a commensal organism that is prone to developing antibiotic resistance due to a number of factors. As doxycycline is the backbone for the treatment of M. genitalium infections, antimicrobial resistance surveillance in M. genitalium needs to be prioritized as Doxy-PEP becomes increasingly used as a strategy to prevent sexually transmitted infections.

This study explored the lived experiences of transgender people in Pakistan, focusing on stigma, discrimination, family rejection, education, and unemployment and their contribution to HIV vulnerability.

Human papillomavirus (HPV) is the leading cause of sexually transmitted infections worldwide. However, its impact on sexual health is not well understood. The aim of this study was to evaluate the impact of an HPV infection diagnosis on women's sexual function and to compare it with that of other benign gynaecological diagnoses.

The high prevalence of asymptomatic Mycoplasma genitalium (MG) infection, combined with limited treatment options due to emerging antimicrobial resistance, raises important questions about the necessity of routine screening and treatment, particularly among men who have sex with men (MSM). This study aimed to determine the prevalence of macrolide and quinolone resistance in MG among HIV-positive MSM and assess its clinical relevance.

Secondary distribution of HIV self-testing (HIVST) may improve HIV testing coverage and facilitate the diagnosis of people living with HIV, but whether this effect is similar among index men who have sex with men (MSM) with different HIV status is still not clear.

This narrative review aimed to synthesize current cancer screening recommendations for transgender individuals, critically assess their content, identify inconsistencies, and highlight key evidence gaps to inform future clinical practice and policy. We searched MEDLINE, CENTRAL and Web of Science through 9 May 2025 for screening guidelines relevant to transgender individuals. We included documents from national or international bodies, academic institutions or recognized expert panels. Guidelines focused on breast, cervical, prostate, endometrial, ovarian and anal cancer. Data were extracted into a structured matrix by cancer type, screening approach and relevance to transgender populations. Of 79 sources screened, 14 met inclusion criteria. Most were transgender-specific. Recommendations varied substantially across cancer types. Breast cancer screening showed the widest divergence, with differing thresholds based on age, gender-affirming hormone therapy duration and risk stratification. For prostate, endometrial, ovarian and anal cancers, dedicated guidance was sparse or absent, often relying on extrapolation from cisgender populations. Key gaps included inconsistent terminology, lack of integration of gender-affirming hormone therapy and surgical history, and limited rationale for screening intervals and age cutoffs. Future efforts should prioritize inclusive data collection, integration of gender identity into cancer surveillance systems and development of evidence-informed, population-specific screening protocols to advance equitable care.

This scoping review aimed to identify and synthesise the extant literature regarding the use of videoconferencing platforms by gay, bisexual and other men who have sex with men to participate in sexualised drug use (SDU). Initial comprehensive database searches were conducted in September 2023 (and updated in November 2024). Backwards and forward citation chasing, journal hand searching, and contact with key opinion leaders supplemented database searches. Results and data extraction were completed in duplicate, and data synthesised narratively. Four records were included in the final synthesis. Relevant data were predominantly qualitative, and suggested that videoconferencing platform-facilitated SDU is an established, yet understudied, facet of men who have sex with men hook-up culture, conferring community connection to participants and likely diminished risk of some harms associated with classically understood SDU (e.g. communicable disease acquisition). The paucity of literature suggests videoconferencing platform-facilitated SDU is a yet understudied phenomenon of both subcultural and public health significance that may allow participants to mitigate some of the risks associated with SDU while still enjoying the community connection that motivates participation.

To investigate which sequential sexual acts involving different anatomical sites had the most affect on the transmission of gonorrhoea in men who have sex with men (MSM).

Young Rohingya refugee women in Cox's Bazar have limited knowledge of the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) and other sexually transmitted infections (STIs), and low testing rates. This study explores sociocultural and structural barriers and facilitators, including the cross-cutting issue of information challenges, affecting their HIV/STI literacy and testing. We present perspectives of young women, men, community leaders, and healthcare providers.

Sexually transmitted infections (STIs) remain a major public health concern among pregnant women in low-resource settings such as Ethiopia. Today, their true prevalence is underestimated due to syndromic management, which misses asymptomatic infections. Indeed, limited resources restrict a test and treat approach, and routine antenatal care (ANC) screening is usually confined to HIV and syphilis. This study assessed the prevalence of common STIs using routinely available diagnostic methods to generate baseline evidence for application in ANC.

Self-collected oropharyngeal swabs for gonorrhoea and chlamydia screening were widely adopted during the COVID-19 pandemic to reduce transmission risks. While self-collection is established for other anatomical sites, limited data exist on the acceptability of oropharyngeal self-collection among gay, bisexual and other men who have sex with men (gbMSM), particularly across levels of experience.

This study aims to explore the relationship between sexual orientation-related stigma and sleep quality in gay men, the mediating roles of depression and perceived social support in this relationship, and the moderating mediation effects of living alone and being only children.