The sexual behaviour of bisexual men in relation to HIV transmission

Abstract

Relatively little is known about the behaviour of bisexual men which may help in assessing their role in HIV transmission. A sample of 60 behaviourally bisexual men were asked about their sexual behaviour with male and female partners and their perceptions of risk of HIV infection. Only a minority of men engaged in unprotected anal sex with their male partners while two thirds had unprotected vaginal sex with their female partners. This asymmetrical pattern of sexual behaviour reflects a differential perception of risk of HIV infection with male and female partners. A quarter of the men had unprotected penetrative sex with both male and female partners in the previous year. The pattern of risk behaviour varied amongst men living in gay, heterosexual or bisexual contexts.