Salivary testosterone levels are associated with Compulsive Sexual Behavior (CSB) in men but not in women in a community sample.

Background and aims: Despite the inclusion of Compulsive Sexual Behavior (CSB) as a diagnostic entity in the ICD-11 and the increasing number of studies addressing psychological factors leading to its onset and maintenance, little is known about the role of hormonal factors when accounting for this clinical condition (especially in women). This study aimed to provide insights into the association between testosterone levels (i.e., the androgen more intimately linked to sexual desire and arousability) and CSB in both men and women. Methods: A total of 80 participants (40 men [Mage = 22.31; SD = 2.93] and 40 women [Mage = 21.79; SD = 2.06]) provided a saliva sample for the estimation of the level of free testosterone and completed a battery of measures assessing CSB and other related sexual domains (sexual sensation seeking and online/offline sexual behavior). Results: In men, salivary testosterone had a positive and significant correlation with three scales assessing CSB (r between 0.316 and 0.334). In women, these correlations were small and non-significant (r between 0.011 and 0.079). In both men and women, the level of salivary testosterone had small non-significant correlations with the other domains of sexual behavior assessed. Discussion and conclusions: Individuals' level of testosterone may contribute to the etiopathogenesis of CSB, but only in men. In women, alternative psychological -i.e., motivational, behavioral, or cognitive- processes may be playing a more central role in the expression of this condition.

Sexual life of Spanish women during the lockdown by COVID-19: Differences according to sexual orientation?

The COVID-19 pandemic may have exacerbated the sexual health differences that already existed among women based on their sexual orientation. Therefore, a total of 971 Spanish women aged 18-60 years (84 % heterosexual and 16 % with a minority sexual orientation) answered an ad hoc online questionnaire about sexual behavior during April 2020. Compared to heterosexual women, sexual minority women showed a greater increase in sexual frequency, masturbated more, had more sex with a housemate, and engaged in more online sexual activities during lockdown. The emotional impact of the pandemic, having privacy, and age showed a relationship with the quality of sexual life, but not sexual orientation. Based on these results, women's sexual lives are not as closely related to their sexual orientation as they are to other variables. Therefore, it seems more necessary to address issues affecting women in general during lockdown than to focus on their specific sexual orientation.

Trends in HIV sexual prevention: Attitudinal beliefs and behavioral intention in Spanish young people over the past two decades (1999-2020).

Despite preventive efforts, HIV exposure is still a concern for public health. The current prevalence is related to unsafe sex, which is based on socio-cognitive variables. Therefore, information about these variables is required to verify whether the past preventive strategies have been effective and improve the future ones. However, there is not updated information to adjust future preventive interventions. For this reason, this study analyzes trends by gender in Spanish young people over the past two decades in perceived susceptibility to HIV, severity perceived to HIV, condom confidence and the intention of condom use, from 1999 to 2020. For this purpose, 11,665 Spanish young people (from 17 to 40 years old) completed the AIDS Prevention Questionnaire in each year. Following our results, in general, the socio-cognitive variables have revealed an unsatisfactory trend: a low perceived susceptibility to HIV and a behavioral intention that have remained stable or even declined slightly over the past years. Particularly, men are more likely to report a riskier level in socio-cognitive variables although, in the latest evaluations, women would decrease condom use intention largely than men. In general, regarding age, young adult would report better levels of condom confidence, but early youth would get higher results in perceived severity, as well as better scores in the latest evaluations of condom use intention. Considering these results, policies should make an effort in HIV prevention programs, and emphasize the attention to attitudinal beliefs and behavioral intention to improve their effectiveness.