PrEP status is a significant factor for HIV-negative men who have sex with men (MSM) when selecting sexual partners, but not when choosing friends or romantic partners for dating, according to an American study published in AIDS Care. The authors investigated whether use of pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) influenced partner selection on an online dating application. PrEP status was not a significant factor for HIV-positive men when it came to selecting sexual partners.

The authors suggest that ‘PrEP sorting’ – selection based on PrEP status – may work in the same manner as HIV serosorting works: men choose partners in a way they hope will reduce sexual infection risk. PrEP usage has had divisive effects, either being seen as a responsible preventative measure or an enabler of risky sexual behaviour amongst MSM. Some men using dating apps may be pro-PrEP and thus see the benefits in terms of reduced risk of HIV infection and PrEP users being regularly monitored for other STIs. Other men may be anti-PrEP, believing that men who use PrEP are promiscuous, engage in riskier behaviours with multiple partners and have more STIs.

The authors used vignettes in order to assess social attitudes of MSM on a popular geo-location sex app. Participants were presented with stories depicting gay male characters as either sexually promiscuous or monogamous and either taking PrEP or not. None of the characters used condoms. Participants were asked whether they would be friends, date, or have sex with the characters. Read more via AIDSmap