Factors Associated with STI Testing Among a National Sample of MSM

Background: Public health messaging encourages Men who have sex with other men (MSM)to be tested for sexually transmitted infections (STI) and HIV frequently and regularly. While many MSM have been screened for HIV given its prioritization by public health, far fewer have been routinely tested for other STIs. Methods: To understand factors associated with STI testing among a non-clinical population, 26,257 men completed a comprehensive behavioral and health assessment after being recruited from an internet site popular among men seeking social or sexual interactions with other men. Analyses were performed using multivariate logistic regression. Results: Two separate predictive models were assessed: STI diagnosis within the past two years and STI testing within the past year. Regarding previous STI diagnosis, men who used a condom some of the time or never during both insertive (OR=1.72) and receptive (OR=1.42) anal sex were significantly more likely to have had an STI in the past two years. For STI testing, men who never used condoms during receptive anal sex were more likely to have had an STI test within the past year (OR=1.31), but men who had a STI history were less likely to have been tested (OR=0.17). Conclusions: Public health efforts should continue to emphasize screening for STI other than HIV, particularly among those men prioritized during condom promotion campaigns. In addition to the benefits of learning one's STI status, the STI screening and treatment environment itself may provide an important venue for enforcing a range of sexual health promoting behaviors.