Self-reported anal symptoms and their association with anal pathology among gay and bisexual men: a cross-sectional observational analysis

Background: Anal symptoms may indicate serious pathology. Receptive anal intercourse (RAI) and sexually transmissible infections (STIs) may contribute to a higher prevalence of symptoms among gay and bisexual men (GBM). This study investigated associations with anal symptoms among GBM. Methods: The Study of the Prevention of Anal Cancer was a longitudinal study of anal human papillomavirus and related lesions in Sydney, Australia. GBM aged >= 35 years were recruited from community settings between September 2010 and August 2015. Information about anal symptoms (discharge, itch, pain defecating, lump, bleeding, 'sores', tearing, tenesmus), STIs and sexual behaviours was collected. High-resolution anoscopy (HRA) and STI testing were performed. Logistic regression analyses on baseline data were performed to assess associations with each symptom. Results: Among 616 participants (median age 49 years, 35.9% HIV positive), 35.3% reported at least one anal symptom within the past week and 65.3% were diagnosed with fistula, fissure, ulcer, warts, haemorrhoids and/or perianal dermatoses at HRA. Anal symptoms were not associated with anal chlamydia, gonorrhoea, warts or syphilis. Self-reported 'sores' were associated with previous anal herpes simplex virus (HSV; P < 0.001). 'Sores' (P < 0.001), itch (P = 0.019), discharge (P = 0.032) and lump (P = 0.028) were independently associated with ulceration. Among participants diagnosed with fissure, fistulae, haemorrhoids and perianal dermatoses, 61.9%, 100%, 62.0% and 63.9% respectively were asymptomatic. Only self-reported anal tear was independently associated with recent RAI. Conclusions: Previous anal HSV was the only STI associated with any symptom. Anal pathology was highly prevalent, but often asymptomatic. Anal symptoms do not appear to be useful markers of most anal pathology in GBM.

Automated summary

Anal symptoms are common among gay and bisexual men, but most anal pathologies are asymptomatic. Only anal herpes simplex virus was found to be associated with any symptoms.