Sexual satisfaction in younger women in serodifferent relationships
Research type
Research Study
Full title
Developing a model of sexual satisfaction in younger (18-49), heterosexual women with HIV in serodifferent relationships
IRAS ID
287875
Contact name
Michael Evangeli
Contact email
Sponsor organisation
Royal Holloway, University of London
Clinicaltrials.gov Identifier
N/A, N/A
Duration of Study in the UK
0 years, 9 months, 31 days
Research summary
HIV is a condition that can be sexually transmitted. This may make aspects of a sexual relationship harder for people living with HIV (PLWH) who are in a relationship with someone who does not have HIV. To the researcher's knowledge, there are no qualitative studies investigating the views of younger heterosexual women with HIV regarding sexual satisfaction in their relationships, particularly since the advent of PrEP (a drug taken to reduce exposure to HIV) and findings showing people living with HIV with an undetectable viral load are sexually non-infectious (U=U; Rodger et al., 2016; 2019). Studies to date have explored sexual satisfaction in this client group in an era when U=U and PrEP were not available, and when prevention of mother to child transmission of HIV was not as effective (e.g. Dennis & Sung-Mook, 2003). The aim of this study is to explore how younger women particularly, develop sexual satisfaction in a serodifferent relationship (that is, a relationship where their partner does not have HIV), after they have disclosed their HIV status to their partner. Findings may help in the development of interventions for younger women and couples who might experience problems in this area. Women living with HIV (WLWH), aged 18-49, with good spoken English who received their HIV diagnosis at least 9 months ago and have disclosed this to their partner will be eligible to take part. Interviews lasting 45 minutes to an hour will take place at St Mary's Hospital, St George's Hospital, Bedford Square (Royal Holloway's London base), or over the phone/video call. Participants will also be asked to complete a short demographic questionnaire and a questionnaire screening for anxiety, depression (i.e. the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS)), alcohol use (i.e. the FAST) and drug use (i.e. items from the the Drug Abuse Screen Test (DAST)).
REC name
London - Harrow Research Ethics Committee
REC reference
20/LO/1028
Date of REC Opinion
21 Oct 2020
REC opinion
Further Information Favourable Opinion