Black South African MSM can be supported to reduce pain during RAI in ways that reduce their HIV/STI risk. Culturally-specific sexual health education, supportive sexual health services, and improved access to condom-compatible lubricants are important components of HIV/STI interventions for this population.
Sexual pain has been studied mainly in the context of heterosexual vaginal sex, and as a consequence, there has been limited study of painful anal intercourse in either women or men ( Sandfort & de Keizer, 2001 Štulhofer & Ajduković, 2011).