Browsing by Author "Fu, Tsung-Chieh"

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    Association of Frequent Sexual Choking/Strangulation With Neurophysiological Responses: A Pilot Resting-State fMRI Study
    (Mary Ann Liebert, 2023) Hou, Jiancheng; Huibregtse, Megan E.; Alexander, Isabella L.; Klemsz, Lillian M.; Fu, Tsung-Chieh; Fortenberry, J. Dennis; Herbenick, Debby; Kawata, Keisuke; Pediatrics, School of Medicine
    Being choked or strangled during partnered sex is an emerging sexual behavior, prevalent among young adult women. The goal of this study was to test whether, and to what extent, frequently being choked or strangled during sex is associated with cortical surface functioning and functional connectivity. This case-control study consisted of two groups (choking vs. choking-naïve). Women who were choked 4 or more times during sex in the past 30 days were enrolled into the choking group, whereas those without were assigned to the choking-naïve group. We collected structural and resting-state functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) data and analyzed the data for amplitude of low-frequency fluctuation (ALFF) and regional homogeneity (ReHo) using cortical surface-based resting-state fMRI analysis, followed by static and dynamic resting-state fMRI connectivity analysis. Forty-one participants (choking n = 20; choking-n-aïve n = 21) contributed to the analysis. An inter-hemispheric imbalance in neuronal activation pattern was observed in the choking group. Specifically, we observed significantly lower ALFF and ReHo in the left cortical regions (e.g., angular gyrus, orbitofrontal gyrus) and higher ALFF and ReHo in the right cortical regions (e.g., pre-central/post-central gyri) in the choking group compared with the choking-naïve group. A significant group difference was found in static functional connectivity between the bilateral angular gyrus and the whole brain, in which the choking group's angular gyrus showed hyperconnectivity with, for example, the post-central gyrus, pre-central gyrus, and Rolandic operculum, relative to the choking-naïve group. The dynamic analysis revealed hyperconnectivity between the left angular gyrus and the bilateral postcentral gyrus in the choking group compared with the choking-naïve group. Taken together, our data show that multiple experiences of sexual choking/strangulation are associated with an inter-hemispheric imbalance in neural activation pattern and hyperconnectivity between the angular gyrus and brain regions related to motor control, consciousness, and emotion. A longitudinal study using multi-modal neurological assessments is needed to clarify the acute and chronic consequences of sexual choking/strangulation.
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    Do Adolescents and Young Adults Learn About Condoms from Healthcare Providers? Findings from a US Probability Sample
    (Springer, 2022-06) Beckmeyer, Jonathon J.; Patterson, Callie L.; Fu, Tsung-Chieh; Hensel, Devon J.; Dodge, Brian; Herbenick, Debby; Medicine, School of Medicine
    Introduction Using data from the 2018 National Survey of Sexual Health and Behavior, we determined the prevalence and content of adolescents’ and young adults’ communication with healthcare providers about condom use. Methods Adolescents (14–17 years old; n = 283) and young adults (18–24 years old, n = 225), who discussed sexual health with a healthcare provider in the past year, reported if they had discussed condom use with a healthcare provider, and among those who did, they also reported why healthcare providers recommended condoms, if they demonstrated correct condom use, and/or provided condoms. Data collection occurred in February and March 2018. Results Most adolescents (71.0%) and young adults (66.7%) who discussed sexual health with a healthcare provider reported discussing condom use. Condoms were most often recommended for both pregnancy and STD prevention. Fewer adolescents and young adults were shown how to use condoms (11.4% of adolescents; 5.7% of young adults) or provided condoms (14.9% of adolescents; 14.7% of young adults). Only 3.2% of adolescents and 1.3% of young adults had healthcare providers who discussed, demonstrated, and provided condoms. Conclusions Sexual health conversations with healthcare providers are likely to include condoms. But few adolescents and young adults were shown how to use condoms or provide condoms.
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    Relationships between Penile-Vaginal Intercourse Frequency and Condom/Contraceptive Use from 2009 to 2018: Findings from the National Survey of Sexual Health and Behavior
    (Taylor & Francis, 2022) Fu, Tsung-Chieh; Rosenberg, Molly; Golzarri-Arroyo, Lilian; Fortenberry, J. Dennis; Herbenick, Debby; Pediatrics, School of Medicine
    Objectives: To examine changes over time in event-level condom/contraceptive use and the association between past year penile-vaginal intercourse frequency and event-level condom/contraceptive use. Methods: Data were from the 2009 and 2018 National Survey of Sexual Health and Behavior, an online probability survey of U.S. adolescents and adults. Results: Use of condoms and highly effective hormonal contraceptives decreased while long-acting reversible contraceptive use increased from 2009 to 2018 among adults. Increased penile-vaginal intercourse frequency was associated with decreased use of most contraceptive methods but an increase in condom use for adolescents. Conclusions: Sexual frequency should be considered when assessing condom/contraceptive use.
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    Sex and Relationships Pre- and Early- COVID-19 Pandemic: Findings from a Probability Sample of U.S. Undergraduate Students
    (Springer, 2022-01-03) Herbenick, Debby; Hensel, Devon J.; Eastman-Mueller, Heather; Beckmeyer, Jonathon; Fu, Tsung-Chieh; Guerra-Reyes, Lucia
    In the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic, most U.S. colleges closed their campuses-including residence halls-causing significant disruption to students' lives. Two waves of data were collected from undergraduate students enrolled at a large U.S. Midwestern university: Wave 1 was a confidential online survey of 4989 randomly sampled undergraduate students collected in January/February 2020; Wave 2 was collected in April/May 2020 following campus closure. Our research aimed to: (1) assess how the COVID-19 related campus closure affected college students' romantic/sexual relationships, (2) examine students' past month sexual behaviors prior to the pandemic in comparison with their sexual behaviors during campus closure, and (3) compare participants' pre-pandemic event-level sexual behaviors with those occurring during campus closure. Of 2137 participants who completed both waves (49.8% women, mean age = 20.9), 2.6% were living at home in Wave 1 compared to 71.0% at Wave 2. Of those in relationships, 14.5% experienced a breakup and 25.3% stayed in their relationship but returned home to different cities. There were no statistically significant differences in participants' prior month reports of solo masturbation or sending/receiving nude/sexy images between Waves 1 and 2; however, participation in oral, vaginal, and anal sex significantly decreased across waves. Examining participants' most recent sexual events, Wave 2 sex more often occurred with a cohabiting or relationship partner and was rated as more wanted, emotionally intimate, and orgasmic. Implications for sexual health professionals are discussed.
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    Structural brain morphology in young adult women who have been choked/strangled during sex: A whole‐brain surface morphometry study
    (Wiley, 2023) Hou, Jiancheng; Huibregtse, Megan E.; Alexander, Isabella L.; Klemsz, Lillian M.; Fu, Tsung-Chieh; Rosenberg, Molly; Fortenberry, James Dennis; Herbenick, Debby; Kawata, Keisuke; Pediatrics, School of Medicine
    Introduction: Being choked/strangled during partnered sex is an emerging sexual behavior, particularly prevalent among young adult women. Using a multiparameter morphometric imaging approach, we aimed to characterize neuroanatomical differences between young adult women (18-30 years old) who were exposed to frequent sexual choking and their choking naïve controls. Methods: This cross-sectional study consisted of two groups (choking [≥4 times in the past 30 days] vs. choking-naïve group). Participants who reported being choked four or more times during sex in the past 30 days were enrolled in the choking group, whereas those without were assigned to the choking naïve group. High-resolution anatomical magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) data were analyzed using both volumetric features (cortical thickness) and geometric features (fractal dimensionality, gyrification, sulcal depth). Results: Forty-one participants (choking n = 20; choking-naïve n = 21) contributed to the final analysis. The choking group showed significantly increased cortical thickness across multiple regions (e.g., fusiform, lateral occipital, lingual gyri) compared to the choking-naïve group. Widespread reductions of the gyrification were observed in the choking group as opposed to the choking-naïve group. However, there was no group difference in sulcal depth. The fractal dimensionality showed bi-directional results, where the choking group exhibited increased dimensionality in areas including the postcentral gyrus, insula, and fusiform, whereas decreased dimensionality was observed in the bilateral superior frontal gyrus and pericalcarine cortex. Conclusion: These data in cortical morphology suggest that sexual choking events may be associated with neuroanatomical alteration. A longitudinal study with multimodal assessment is needed to better understand the temporal ordering of sexual choking and neurological outcomes.
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    Truth Be Told: Adolescents’ Disclosure of Sexual Activity to Healthcare Providers
    (Elsevier, 2021) Liddon, Nicole; Pampati, Sanjana; Steiner, Riley J.; Hensel, Devon J.; Fu, Tsung-Chieh; Beckmeyer, Jonathon; Herbenick, Debby; Pediatrics, School of Medicine
    Purpose: The purpose of this study was to describe whether adolescent and young adult patients truthfully disclose sexual activity to providers during a sexual history and explore associations between disclosure and receipt of recommended services. Methods: Data from the 2018 National Survey of Sexual Health and Behavior were used to describe self-reported disclsoure of sexually active 14- to 24-year-olds who had a health care visit in the previous year where a sexual history was taken (n = 196). We examined bivariate associations between disclosure and age, race/ethnicity, sex, sexual identity, and receipt of sexual health services. Results: Most (88%) respondents reported telling their provider the truth about sexual activity. A higher proportion of the younger adolescents (14- to 17-year-olds) did not disclose compared with the 18- to 24-year-old respondents (25.4% vs 3.9%; p < .001). A higher proportion of patients who disclosed reported having a sexually transmitted disease test (69.6% vs 26.7%; p < .001); being offered a sexually transmitted disease test (44.3% vs 4.5%; p < .001); and being asked by providers about number of partners (54.3% vs 15.4%; p < .01). Conclusions: Most young patients disclose their sexual history to their provider, but younger patients might be less likely to do so. Positive patient-provider relationships may encourage disclosure of sexual activity and support receipt of indicated sexual and reproductive health services.