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from Medical Issues
HIV-Only Sex Parties Analyzed
September 30, 2005 -
ABC News (September 28) has reported on the
growing trend among HIV-positive gays to host "POZ Parties."
These POZ parties are venues where gays are promised a "mild to wild" time with
other HIV-infected men.
Dr. Michael Clatts of the National Development and Research Institutes began
visiting POZ parties and interviewed gays at 10 different events. He and his
colleagues interviewed 115 gay men over their sexual activities and their
findings were published this month in the journal Sexually Transmitted
Infections.
According to Clatts, many of those interviewed were genuinely concerned that
they not infect those who were HIV-negative. "They were not irresponsible," said
Clatts.
One out of eight of the men interviewed said they attended POZ parties so they
didn't have to worry about infecting others. Clatts' team also apparently found
a low rate of drug use at POZ parties. "I was there. There were no drugs," said
Clatts.
Dr. Jeffrey Parsons, a psychologist at Hunter College in New York, theorized
that the lack of drug use at POZ parties could be one of the unintended
consequences of not having to worry about becoming HIV infected.
Clatts and Parsons, however, expressed concern about POZ party attendees
spreading other STDs outside of the parties. Diseases such as herpes make it
easier to spread HIV. In addition, POZ parties may serve as a catalyst for HIV
super infections, which may occur after repeated exposures.
Parsons observes, "As long as everything is out in the open, these parties can
minimize the risk of transmitting HIV."
Additional Reading: Two New Studies Describe Gay Barebacking,
Circuit Parties, And Spread of HIV; Rare STD Spreads Among Gays In Canada,
Massachusetts.
Updated: 8 February 2008
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