Men Who Specifically Seek Unprotected Sex Partners Via the Internet: HIV Risk Differences Between Self-Identified Bisexual and Self-Identified Gay Men

Purpose: Recent research has revealed that men who have sex with men (MSM) who wish to engage in unprotected sex increasingly are turning to internet websites to identify potential partners. This paper focuses on HIV risk practices among MSM who use the internet to locate sex partners, and compares the rates of desired risky behaviors of self-identified bisexual and gay men.

Methods: A content analysis was conducted between September 2006 and January 2007 using a popular internet website targeting MSM who wish to locate unprotected sex partners. 1,299 profiles were coded, selected randomly by ZIP code. Data collected include age, race, sexual orientation, psychosocial factors underlying risky practices, and a wide array of sexual risk behaviors.

Results: Very high rates of HIV risk practices were sought: Most sought partners who would accept their semen orally (88%) or anally (80%); and most 78% said that they themselves would accept semen orally (78%) or anally (70%). 76% were seeking partners with whom they could engage in group sex. Whenever significant differences existed between gay and bisexual men, greater risk was identified among gay men.

Conclusions: MSM who use the internet to locate sex partners are seeking high rates of risky sexual practices. Bisexual men advertise for somewhat lower rates of risky behaviors, but their advertised-for rates of risky sex remain very high. Bisexuals may operate under false assumptions regarding their sexual safety, and attention needs to be paid to their HIV-related knowledge and the multiplicity of issues that affect their sexual decision-making.