Journal article

Self-reported anal symptoms and their association with anal pathology among gay and bisexual men: a cross-sectional observational analysis

SL Goddard, IM Poynten, K Petoumenos, F Jin, RJ Hillman, C Law, JM Roberts, CK Fairley, SM Garland, AE Grulich, DJ Templeton

Sexual Health | CSIRO PUBLISHING | Published : 2021

Abstract

Background: Anal symptoms may indicate serious pathology. Receptive anal intercourse (RAI) and sexually transmissible infections (STIs) may contribute to a higher prevalence of symptoms among gay and bisexual men (GBM). This study investigated associations with anal symptoms among GBM. Methods: The Study of the Prevention of Anal Cancer was a longitudinal study of anal human papillomavirus and related lesions in Sydney, Australia. GBM aged ≥35 years were recruited from community settings between September 2010 and August 2015. Information about anal symptoms (discharge, itch, pain defecating, lump, bleeding, 'sores', tearing, tenesmus), STIs and sexual behaviours was collected. High-resoluti..

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University of Melbourne Researchers

Grants

Awarded by Merck


Funding Acknowledgements

The authors thank all the participants. In addition to the coauthors of this manuscript, the SPANC study team includes Annabelle Farnsworth, Clare Biro, Alyssa Cornall, Adele Richards, Julia Thurloe, Deborah Ekman, Ross McDonald, Marjorie Adams, Sepehr Tabrizi, Samuel Phillips, Monica Molano Luque, Simon Comben, Amber Ellis, Kirsten McCaffery, Kirsten Howard, Patrick Kelly, Daniel Seeds, Andrew Carr, Lance Feeney, Russ Gluyas, Garrett Prestage, Matthew Law, Brian Acraman, Patrick McGrath, Robert Mellor, Piero Pezzopane, Rick Varma, Julian Langton-Lockton and Winnie Tong. The SPANC study was supported by the National Health and Medical Research Council (Grant number 568971) and Cancer Council New South Wales (Grant number 13-11). Cytological testing materials were provided by Hologic Pty Ltd, Marlborough, MA, USA. The Kirby Institute is affiliated with the Faculty of Medicine, UNSW, and funded by the Australian Government of Health and Ageing.