Sexually transmissible infections (STIs) are changing. This questionnaire-based study aims to understand the role of kissing, oral sex and group sex on the spread of STIs. The questionnaire is open each year from March to April.
How to get involved
This study runs each year between March and April. If you are seeking STI services at Melbourne Sexual Health Centre between March and April and you are 16 years or older we will ask you to complete the questionnaire.
You can choose to take part or not.
What's involved
If you agreed to participate in this project, we will ask you to complete a short questionnaire about your recent sexual practices. You will need to complete the questionnaire at the Melbourne Sexual Health Centre. The questionnaire will take approximately 3-5 minutes.
STIs and how partner meet
We looked at the connections between the methods of meeting partners, sexual practices and STIs in heterosexuals. Most participants reported using only one method to meet sexual partners. Methods included:
- social venues
- through friends and family
- the internet
- dating apps
- sex venues
We found that heterosexuals who met partners at social venues had a more than threefold risk of testing positive for any sexually transmissible infection.
Ethics
All research in Australia involving humans is reviewed by an independent group of people called a Human Research Ethics Committee (HREC). The ethical aspects of this research project have been approved by the Alfred Hospital HREC.
This project will be carried out according to the National Statement on Ethical Conduct in Human Research (2007). This statement has been developed to protect the interests of people who agree to participate in human research studies. Approval has been given by the Alfred Hospital HREC which reviews ethics applications for research carried out at the Melbourne Sexual Health Centre.
Researchers
Principal investigator
Student investigators
Publications
Factors associated with group sex in heterosexual males and females attending a sexual health clinic in Melbourne, Australia: a cross-sectional survey
Heidi Constantinou A B , Christopher K. Fairley, Catriona S. Bradshaw , Edmond P. H. Choi , Kate Maddaford , Tiffany R. Phillips, Eric P. F. Chow
(2022), Sexual Health,
DOI: 10.1071/SH21224
A cross-sectional study of male and female kissing partners among men who have sex with men
Eric P. F. Chow, Tiffany R. Phillips, Julien Tran, Ei T. Aung, Kate Maddaford and Christopher K. Fairley
(2022), Sexual Health,
DOI: 10.1071/SH21184
Associations Between Methods of Meeting Sexual Partners and Sexual Practices Among Heterosexuals: Cross-sectional Study in Melbourne, Australia
Constantinou, H., Fairley, C. K., Hocking, J. S., Bradshaw, C. S., Choi, E. P. H., Maddaford, K., Phillips, T. R., & Chow, E. P. F.
(2021), JMIR Form Res,
DOI: 10.2196/26202
Group Sex Among Men Who Have Sex With Men in the Era of PrEP: A Cross-Sectional Study
Phillips TR, Fairley CK, Bradshaw CS, Hocking JS, Choi EPH, Ong JJ, Tabesh M, Maddaford K, Chow EPF
(2021), Journal of Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndromes,
Paying for Sex Among Males and Females: A Cross-Sectional Survey in Melbourne, Australia
Chow EPF, Hocking JS, Bradshaw CS, Phillips TR, Tabesh M, Donovan B, Maddaford K, Chen MY, Fairley CK
(2021), Sexually Transmitted Diseases,
Oral, Vaginal and Anal Sexual Practices among Heterosexual Males and Females Attending a Sexual Health Clinic: A Cross-Sectional Survey in Melbourne, Australia.
Phillips TR, Constantinou H, Fairley CK, Bradshaw CS, Maddaford K, Chen MY
(2021), International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health,
Associations between oral sex practices and frequent mouthwash use in heterosexuals: a cross-sectional survey in Melbourne, Australia
Phillips TR, Fairley CK, Bradshaw CS, Tabesh M, Maddaford K, Hocking JS, Chow EPF
(2021), BMJ Open,
Group sex events among female sex workers in Melbourne, Australia
Turek EM, Fairley CK, Tabesh M, Phillips TR, Chow EPF
(2020), Sexual Health,
DOI: 10.1071/SH20136
Oro-anal sexual practice among female sex workers in Melbourne: implication for extragenital gonorrhoea and chlamydial transmission
Chow EPF and Fairley CK
(2020), Sexual Health,
DOI: 10.1071/SH19219