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.

摘要

除了预防艾滋病毒的好处外，PrEP 还可能具有与提高性生活质量相关的心理社会益处。本研究的目的是调查 PrEP 使用者在开始使用 PrEP 的最初几个月内性生活质量和性快感的变化。此外，我们调查了哪些因素与 PrEP 使用者的性生活质量有关。我们通过荷兰 PrEP 倡导网站 PrEPnu.nl 招募了 145 名参与者，他们在三个月和六个月后收到了后续调查问卷。我们发现 PrEP 使用者报告说他们的性生活质量有所提高，这与他们开始使用 PrEP 后对 HIV 的恐惧减少有关，但与避孕套使用量的减少无关。PrEP 使用者更愿意尝试性行为，但由于使用了 PrEP，他们并不总是觉得作为性伴侣更受欢迎。医疗保健提供者和健康促进运动可以强调 PrEP 对性生活质量的积极影响，以及 PrEP 的 HIV 预防作用，以减少 PrEP 的耻辱感并增加 PrEP 的吸收。