Thaindian News

NEW YORK (BNO NEWS) — The New York City Health Department on Wednesday called on women to use condoms during anal sex, saying fewer women than homosexual men use protection during anal intercourse.

A report from the department showed that more than 100,000 New York City women engage in anal intercourse each year, and only a small percentage of those use protection. “Tens of thousands of New Yorkers are engaging in sexual behavior that is especially risky,” said Dr. Thomas Farley, New York City Health Commissioner. “Many people are aware of the risk of HIV when men have sex with other men, but this report shows that a large number of women also are putting themselves at high risk through unprotected anal sex. For both men and women, the overall message is clear: Never engage in unprotected anal sex. Use a condom every time.”

The report found that women are less likely than men who have sex with men to use condoms during anal sex. It showed that only 23% of women used a condom during anal sex, while 61% of men who have sex with other men used a condom.

The New York City Health Department says that past studies have shown that anal exposure to HIV poses 30 times more risk than vaginal exposure. Anal membranes are also more easily damaged during sex, facilitating the spread of infection.

While condoms are especially important for people who engage in anal intercourse, so is HIV testing. Yet the new report finds that women who engage in unprotected anal sex have lower testing rates than women who always use condoms during anal sex – 35% versus 63%, respectively. By the same token, women who had unprotected anal sex were the least likely to report that a health care provider had offered HIV testing during the past year. Only 11% of the highest-risk women (versus 47% of those using condoms) said a provider had recommended testing in the past year – even though 94% of them had seen one.

The report does not estimate the HIV burden among women who engage in unprotected anal sex, but most HIV infections diagnosed in women result from heterosexual intercourse. Among women with known sources of exposure, heterosexual contact accounted for 90% of the infections diagnosed in New York City in 2008.

The report further finds that unprotected anal sex is most common among younger women and those with multiple partners. Women 18 to 24 years old are nearly six times more likely than those aged 45 to 64 to report unprotected anal sex (11% versus 2%). And whereas 15% of women with three or more sex partners reported engaging in anal sex in the past year, the figure was just 4% among those with one partner. Reports of anal sex in the past year are similar across race and ethnicity, with Asian women reporting 8%, white women 7%, Hispanic women 6% and black women 4%.

To combat sexually transmitted infections - in a city where approximately 74,000 new sexually transmitted infections are reported each year, along with 3,800 new HIV diagnoses - the department says health care providers should offer sexually transmitted infections and HIV testing to all patients, regardless of their stated sexualy history.

It further advises everyone to use condoms during anal sex. Free NYC Condoms and other alternative male condoms, in addition to female condoms and lubricant, are available at locations throughout New York City. (More information can be found on www.nyc.gov/condoms).

Unless partners are in mutually monogamous relationships, people who have had unprotected sex - the department recommends - should get tested for HIV and other sexually transmitted infections at least once a year. Free, confidential screening is available at Health Department clinics with no appointment required. (Call 311 for clinic locations and hours of operation.) Those services are available to people 12 and older without parental notification and without regard to immigration or insurance status.

The department also recommends people who exposed any partners to a sexually transmitted infections (including HIV) to tell them so they can be tested and treated if necessary. People who want help notifying partners, or who want to do so anonymously, can find assistance by calling 311 or visiting inSPOT NYC (www.inspot.org/Newyorkcity).