(009) HIGH-RISK HUMAN PAPILLOMAVIRUS AND ASYMPTOMATIC SEXUALLY TRANSMITTED INFECTIONS AMONG THAI TRANSMASCULINE PEOPLE

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Abstract Introduction Transgender medicine is an evolving field addressing essential health concerns, such as hormone therapy, surgical interventions, mental health, and quality of life. However, the sexual health issues of transmasculine individuals (TM) are often overlooked, particularly concerning sexually transmitted infections (STIs) including high-risk human papillomavirus (hr-HPV). Despite their hr-HPV and other STIs, TM often face barriers to regular screening, provider unfamiliarity with TM-specific needs, and the discomfort or stigma associated with gynecologic examination. Objective This study aims to assess (1) the prevalence of hr-HPV infection among TM by self-collected and provider-collected methods, and (2) the prevalence of asymptomatic STIs in this population. Methods A cross-sectional study was conducted at King Chulalongkorn Memorial Hospital, Bangkok, Thailand, from July to October 2024. All eligible participants were provided both self-collected and provider-collected methods for 28 hr-HPV strains and 7 STI organisms. Results A total of 130 TM participants were enrolled with a mean age of 31.6 ± 6.2 years. Among them, 102 (78.5%) reported having female sexual partners, 7 (5.4%) had male partners, 1 (0.8%) had both male and female partners, and 20 (15.4%) reported having no partner. The prevalence of hr-HPV was 20.8% (27/130) in self-collected method and 12.3% (16/130) in provider-collected method, with a kappa agreement of 0.697. The most common hr-HPV types detected by both methods were HPV 42 and 52. HPV 16/18 were detected in 6.15% (8/130) of participants. Among those with positive hr-HPV, infection rates varied by sexual behaviors: 55.6% (15/27) of TM with receptive vaginal intercourse, 37.0% (10/27) of those engaging in non-receptive vaginal sexual activity. Interestingly, hr-HPV were positive in 7.4% (2/27) of who never had sexual activity with partner. Majority of TM, 96.2% (125/130) were unvaccinated for HPV. The prevalence of asymptomatic STIs was 12.3% (16/130) in self-collected method and 10.0% (13/130) in provider-collected method, with a kappa agreement of 0.884. Asymptomatic STIs were positive in 56.3% (9/16) of TM with positive hr-HPV, while asymptomatic STIs were positive in 43.8% (7/114) of TM with negative hr-HPV, p < 0.001. Ureaplasma parvum was the most common detected STIs among TM. Lastly, 66.2% (86/130) of participants preferred self-collected over provider-collected method. Conclusions High-risk HPV and asymptomatic STIs are common among TM in Thailand, underscoring the urgent need for more accessible screening options. Self-collected method yielded promising results and were preferred by most participants, making self-collection a practical, patient-friendly option. These results highlight the need for accessible, inclusive sexual healthcare, including HPV vaccination and increased provider awareness of TM health needs. Disclosure No.

Ce résumé expose les affirmations des auteurs. BNTIC ne l’interprète pas comme une validation indépendante des résultats.