The Incidence Rate of Sexual Behaviors Among Cisgender Men Who Have Sex with Men Attending a Sexual Health Clinic

Although nuanced parameterization of sexual behavior may improve estimates from mathematical models of human immunodeficiency virus and sexually transmitted infection transmission, prospective estimates of the incidence of specific sexual behaviors among men who have sex with men (MSM) are limited. From December 2014 to July 2018, MSM with and without nongonococcal urethritis (NGU) completed weekly diaries over 3–12 weeks. Incidence rates of any sex, receptive anal sex, insertive anal sex, insertive oral sex, receptive rimming, and receptive hand–penile contact were 1.19, 0.28, 0.66, 0.90, 0.24, and 0.85 episodes per person-week, respectively, among 104 MSM with NGU at baseline, and 1.33, 0.54, 0.32, 0.95, 0.44, and 0.88 episodes per person-week, respectively, among 25 MSM without NGU at baseline. Most receptive anal sex (NGU + 83%, NGU − 86%) and insertive anal sex (NGU + 85%, NGU − 76%) episodes were condomless. MSM engaged in sex just over once per week, and condom use was infrequent. Insertive oral sex and receptive hand–penile contact were the most common behaviors.