“Cum Play” among Gay Men

Authors: Garrett Prestage Michael Hurley Graham Brown

Publish Date: 2013/03/22

Volume: 42, Issue: 7, Pages: 1347-1356

PDF Link

Abstract

The exchange of semen often referred to as “cum play” has featured in gay literature and may be a unique aspect of many gay men’s sexual behavior We investigated the prevalence of “cum play” and its context among 1153 HIVnegative and 147 HIVpositive Australian gay men in an online survey Receptive cum play partner ejaculating or rubbing his semen over participant’s anus or participant using partner’s semen as lubricant was reported by one in six HIVnegative and one quarter of HIVpositive men on the same occasion of protected anal intercourse with a casual partner PAIC HIVnegative men who engaged in receptive cum play during PAIC often believed that their partner was HIV seroconcordant and tended to trust that partner They were also generally more optimistic about the likelihood of HIV transmission and they often only used condoms at their partners’ instigation Cum play was not uncommon and highlights the narrowness or danger of focusing on condom use without considering the implications of broader sexual practices and their meaning for sexual health promotion “Safe sex” for some gay and bisexual men does not necessarily mean consistent commitment to condom use or to avoiding semen exchange Many feel confident in their knowledge of their partner’s HIV serostatus and only use condoms with these partners at their partner’s request Their commitment to safe sex may not necessarily be compromised by their practice of cum play but the extent to which this could represent a risk for HIV transmission depends on the reliability of their assessment of their partners’ HIV serostatusThis study was commissioned and funded by the Departments of Health in the states of NSW Victoria South Australia and Western Australia Indirect support was also provided by the Queensland Health Department The Kirby Institute is affiliated with the Faculty of Medicine University of New South Wales The Australian Research Centre in Sex Health and Society ARCSHS is affiliated with the Faculty of Health Sciences La Trobe University The Kirby Institute and ARCSHS receive funding from the Commonwealth of Australia Department of Health and Ageing

Keywords: