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NCT Number: NCT07509853

Integrating Sexual Pleasure Into Harm Reduction Services for Men Who Have Sex With Men and Transgender Persons Who Engage in Chemsex or Substance Use in Thailand

The study evaluates the integration of a sexual pleasure-based approach into harm reduction services for MSM and transgender persons engaging in chemsex or substance use in Thailand, using the "Pleasuremeter" tool to improve sexual health and related outcomes.

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Key information

Conditions

HIV Prevention Behavior Chemically-Induced Disorders Chemsex Communicable Diseases Disease Attributes Genital Diseases Harm Reduction Infections Mental Disorders Mental Health Pathologic Processes Pathological Conditions, Signs and Symptoms Personal Satisfaction Psychological Well-Being Sexual Behavior Sexually Transmitted Diseases Sexually Transmitted Infections (STIs) Substance Use Substance-Related Disorders Urogenital Diseases

Age range

18 year and older

Sex eligibility

All sexes

Study type

Interventional

Phase

Not applicable

Primary location

About this study

This is a sequential exploratory mixed-methods implementation study conducted at IHRI clinics in Bangkok. The study includes a pre-implementation phase (qualitative interviews) and an implementation phase where the adapted "Pleasuremeter" is integrated into harm reduction services.

Approximately 300 participants will be enrolled and followed at baseline, month 3, and month 6. Outcomes include sexual pleasure, behavioral risk, substance use, HIV/STI testing, mental health, and socio-legal factors. The study also evaluates acceptability, satisfaction, and feasibility of integrating a pleasure-based approach into existing services.

Who can participate

Healthy volunteers accepted: No

Only the study team can determine whether someone qualifies for participation.

Inclusion criteria

  • MSM, transgender women, transgender men, or non-binary persons
  • Age ≥18 years
  • Engaged in chemsex or substance use within past 12 months
  • Able to provide informed consent

Exclusion criteria

  • Unable to communicate in Thai sufficiently to complete study procedures

Treatment and study plan

Pleasuremeter-guided qualitative interview

Behavioral

Semi-structured in-depth interviews guided by the Pleasuremeter framework, covering 7 domains of sexual pleasure:

  • Physical and psychological satisfaction
  • Self-determination
  • Consent
  • Safety
  • Privacy
  • Confidence
  • Communication/negotiation

Pleasuremeter-based sexual pleasure discussion integrated with harm reduction services

Behavioral

Participants will undergo:

  • Sexual pleasure assessment using Pleasuremeter (0-10 scale, 3-month recall)
  • Behavioral risk and substance use assessment
  • HIV/STI testing
  • Mental health screening using Electronic Mental Wellness Tool (e-mwTool)
  • Social and stigma assessment
  • Harm reduction services (drug literacy, counseling, referral, harm reduction kits)

The intervention aims to facilitate structured discussions on sexual pleasure within harm reduction services.

Primary outcomes

  1. Willingness to engage in sexual pleasure discussions assessed using the Pleasuremeter tool

    Time frame: Baseline, Month 3, and Month 6 (over 6 months follow-up)

    The primary outcome is the proportion of participants who agree to engage in structured discussions on sexual pleasure using the Pleasuremeter, a structured assessment tool covering 7 domains:

    • Physical and psychological satisfaction
    • Self-determination
    • Consent
    • Safety
    • Privacy
    • Confidence
    • Communication/negotiation

    Willingness will be assessed at each study visit (baseline, month 3, month 6) based on participant acceptance or refusal to complete the Pleasuremeter assessment.

  2. Sexual pleasure score assessed by the Pleasuremeter (0-10 scale)

    Time frame: Baseline, Month 3, and Month 6

    Sexual pleasure will be measured using the Pleasuremeter, a composite self-reported scale assessing 7 domains of sexual experience.

    • Scale range: 0 to 10
    • Minimum value: 0 (lowest level of sexual pleasure)
    • Maximum value: 10 (highest level of sexual pleasure)
    • Interpretation: Higher scores indicate better sexual pleasure and satisfaction

    Scores may be analyzed as:

    • Overall composite score
    • Domain-specific scores

Study contacts

Contact information is provided by the study sponsor or research team.

Akarin Hiransuthikul, MD,MSc

CONTACT

[email protected]

662 252 7864 ext. 3719

Nittaya Phanuphak, MD,PhD.

CONTACT

[email protected]

6681 825 3544

Sponsors and collaborators

Lead sponsor

Institute of HIV Research and Innovation Foundation, Thailand

Other

Registry information

Acronym: PLEASURE

Important dates

Study start
2025
Primary completion
2027
Study completion
2028
First posted
Apr 3, 2026
Registry last updated
Apr 8, 2026

OpenTrials presents study information sourced from ClinicalTrials.gov. The official registry record should be consulted for the latest information.

View the official ClinicalTrials.gov record (opens in a new tab)

This listing is for discovery and informational purposes only. It is not medical advice, does not guarantee that a study is recruiting, and does not determine eligibility. Contact the study team and a qualified healthcare professional when considering participation.

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