Recruiting participants for sex research: How social media has broadened—and severely limited—our reach

First, though: “sex research”. What exactly is it and what do sex researchers do?

Sex research is a science. It follows the scientific method, a process for experimentation used to explore observations and answer questions. The scientific method consists of making hypotheses, deriving predictions, and carrying out experiments (or systematic, research-based observations) based on those predictions. Data are analyzed with statistical software packages, knowledge is advanced, more questions are asked, and some questions are answered so that people’s quality of life can improve. In this way, sex research follows the same steps and has similar real-world significance as other forms of scientific inquiry. Sex research, as a science, is as rigorous and serious as research in cancer or cardiovascular disease, for example. Yet, sex research is often relegated to being “fringe”—it is just not taken as seriously as other areas of research—sometimes to the point that sex researchers have difficulty getting funding for their studies or have to avoid calling themselves sex researchers in order to be taken seriously. Why? Because there is still a lot of stigma attached to the word “sex”, unfortunately—even when porn is freely available to anyone with an Internet connection, and even when sex is used in advertising to sell things. Somehow, it is ok to capitalize on sex, but studying it is “weird”.

Let’s talk a little about what sex researchers do. Sex researchers study numerous aspects of sexuality. It is a widespread field of study; the science of sex research can vary from studying sexual behaviours in animals to studying physiological processes during sexual arousal in humans. Sex researchers use many different methods to study questions within their field of study, from self-report measures (questionnaires) to brain imaging technology. The hope is that, no matter what we study and how we do it, in the end, we will likely “help” people in some way, for example, through advancing knowledge or impacting health care so that people can receive treatment for sexual dysfunctions more quickly.

One example of health care significance—and the issues that we face—is based on a condition that we study, Persistent Genital Arousal Disorder (PGAD). PGAD is characterized by the experience of persistent, unwanted, and distressing physiological genital arousal (in other words, genital sensitivity, swelling, feeling on the verge of orgasm) in the absence of sexual thoughts, fantasies or desire. Many people with this condition are so highly distressed that they think about suicide much more so than people in the general population (Jackowich et al., 2018); this distress results partly from the fact that the condition is not taken seriously by many health care providers or members of the public. Why might that be? Well, the simple existence of this condition challenges some assumptions about sexual arousal—namely that arousal is always something wanted, positive, and pleasurable. The result? When we post ads to recruit participants for a study, we see  comments/responses that often include misunderstanding about unwanted genital arousal, humour, or sarcasm; for example “isn’t this just hypersexuality?” or “I wish my wife experienced this!”, or “glad someone is finally solving this ‘problem’ ”. These invalidating reactions are disheartening, especially since they are often mirrored in the clinical setting: oftentimes, when people with PGAD disclose their symptoms to a health care provider to get help, they don’t get help because they are not believed. Sex researchers can play a really important role in translating research findings to health care providers and the public to help change perceptions of conditions like PGAD—so that it can be taken seriously. We did that with vulvodynia. How? By doing excellent science that is relevant and meaningful (Bornstein et al., 2015; Goldstein et al., 2016; Pukall et al., 2016).

But, in order to do all the science-y studies that we do so well with real people, we need to recruit real people. One might think that because of all the stigma out there, we might have real issues recruiting people, because… well, who on earth would participate in sex research studies? On the other hand, some people might think that people will line up for hours to participate in our studies, especially the ones involving porn (like this one). Of course, neither extreme is correct. We certainly do get participants for our studies and we have lots of strategies for recruitment. But the one we want to focus on for this blog is the social media—and our experiences recruiting via social media over the last 10 years.

The Internet has given researchers a wonderful platform to quickly and cost-effectively recruit participants. At times, we have had great success, depending on the study title, mind you. A recent study (an MRI study investigating clitoral structural changes during arousal) that we were recruiting for invited some interesting responses, like several “Haha” reactions and other comments, such as [men] saying “Ooh I'm interested in researching female sexual arousal ;)”, or “I know everything there is to know about clitoral arousal; just ask me, I have all the answers, I’m that good!” Ok, ok, we get it: you think the study on clitorises is funny, you like sex, and you think you are so good at sex that you want to announce this “fact” about yourself on social media.

But, it can be really frustrating to see comments that  mock the study, or worse, make fun of people who have a particular condition. Some commenters even think they have all the answers already (if we did, then we wouldn’t need to do research on the topic, right?). For a recent study on female genital pain, someone stated: “something is wrong with them if it hurts, they should have a glass of wine”. Yes, something is wrong, and it is not with the person, it is with their genitals. And the glass of wine part? Not only is it dangerous and irresponsible to suggest that someone get drunk to engage in penetrative sexual activity (consent, anyone?), it is useless information. Of course that doesn’t work. Why would it? Is alcohol a cure for chronic pain? Nope.

Part of our job these days is to monitor comments when we post new studies, so we can delete rude and inappropriate comments. Sometimes, we also have to ban people from our social media sites.  

And there is another layer to this social media topic, and it is truly disappointing. Recently, Marketplace on Facebook took down our ads because of “crude language”. Sure, “clitoris” might not be a word that you hear over dinner (unless you are having dinner with us!), but it is an anatomical term that refers to a body part—but because it is a “sexual” body part, it is apparently not ok. And there is only so much creativity that we can do to meet the “standards” while being honest about our research study. I mean, how else can we be honest about the point of the study? Call the clitoris the “happy button”? The “lovebud”? Who would know what we were actually talking about?

The same thing happened when we posted on Facebook to recruit prostate cancer survivors and patients for a sexual health study. Our ad was immediately rejected due to “sexual content.” When the student appealed the decision, we were able to reach an actual person who reversed the decision. But we had no such luck with the French ad for the same study, unfortunately. We reached no one, even after multiple attempts, and to this day, we have not been able to advertise on Facebook for the French version of this study. We’ve been completely cut off and there is nothing we can do about it.

Other online avenues have also proven difficult. Many social media platforms will not let us post words that are considered “lewd” or “offensive”, so our website and lab name alone get flagged constantly (sexlab.ca). If a study title and description contains words like “genitals”, vulvar” sexuality”, and “sexual health”, we are immediately rejected from posting. Don’t even ask what happened with our “anal pain” study!  

More recently, all of our lab’s study ads were removed from Kijiji. Upon investigating the policy cited by Kijiji for removing our ad, we were baffled to find out that the same policy also covered ads for prostitution and human trafficking. We get that these words are triggers for “bad things related to sex”, but not all “sex stuff” is predatory or involves selling or buying sex. Sometimes, the word “sex” signals a real attempt to do serious scientific research on an issue affecting real people. But how do we get this message across to the people who run these sites? Where ARE the people who run these sites? We have had very little luck finding anyone.

What can we do? Good question. The issue is a much bigger one than our advertising woes. Our society both loves and hates sex (free unregulated porn is available but solid sexual health education is not, so many young adults are using porn as “sex ed”, which is not a great idea—we need another blog on this topic, that’s for sure), and this ambivalence translates into discomfort about sex. That discomfort comes out in many ways; some people deny the importance of sexuality knowledge/education/research, make fun of sex, or belittle it. We need to create a culture of acceptance of sex and frank conversations about it, to start breaking down the stigma associated with it. And a large part of that culture involves conducting sex research, translating the findings of the study to the people, and sites and other people being open to supporting this research.

 

Caroline Pukall, Shannon Coyle, Robyn Jackowich, Meghan McInnis, Lindsey Yessick

 

References

Bornstein, J., Goldstein, A. T., Stockdale, C. K., Bergeron, S., Pukall, C., Zolnoun, D., . . consensus vulvar pain terminology committee of the International Society for the Study of Vulvovaginal Disease (ISSVD), the International Society for the Study of Womenʼs Sexual Health (ISSWSH), and the International Pelvic Pain Society (IPPS). (2016). 2015 ISSVD, ISSWSH and IPPS consensus terminology and classification of persistent vulvar pain and vulvodynia. Obstetrics & Gynecology, 127(4), 745-751. doi:10.1097/AOG.0000000000001359

Goldstein, A. T., Pukall, C. F., Brown, C., Bergeron, S., Stein, A., & Kellogg-Spadt, S. (2016). Vulvodynia: Assessment and treatment. The Journal of Sexual Medicine, 13(4), 572-590. doi:10.1016/j.jsxm.2016.01.020

Jackowich, R., Pink, L., Gordon, A., & Pukall, C. (2017). 059 health care experiences of women with symptoms of persistent genital arousal. The Journal of Sexual Medicine, 14(6), e369-e369. doi:10.1016/j.jsxm.2017.04.057

Pukall, C. F., Goldstein, A. T., Bergeron, S., Foster, D., Stein, A., Kellogg-Spadt, S., & Bachmann, G. (2016). Vulvodynia: Definition, prevalence, impact, and pathophysiological factors. The Journal of Sexual Medicine, 13(3), 291-304. doi:10.1016/j.jsxm.2015.12.021

“A Truly Invisible Species”: What we know about GBTQ+ prostate cancer patients—and what we don’t!

“If prostate cancer, in general, is off most people’s radar screen, then gay men with prostate cancer are a truly invisible species.” [Vincent & Lowe, 2005, p. 2]

Prostate cancer is the most commonly diagnosed cancer and the third-leading cause of cancer death among Canadian males [1]. Prostate cancer is very treatable, so most individuals diagnosed with prostate cancer survive. This is great news, since it means that most patients live with prostate cancer, and aren’t dying from it. However, this also means that prostate cancer patients live with the many effects of the cancer itself and the side effects of the treatments undertaken. As such, one area of research has focused on the experiences of patients, and how the cancer and its treatments impact their lives. This work has been really useful in terms of creating supports and resources for prostate cancer patients.

But there is a problem: much of the research on prostate cancer patient experiences has been restricted to heterosexual (i.e., straight) men. This means that gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer prostate cancer patients, as well as prostate cancer patients of other sexual orientations and/or gender identities, have largely been left out of previous studies. In fact, from 2000 to 2015, only 30 studies on gay and bisexual prostate cancer patients were published [2]. And while there are likely many similarities between prostate cancer patients of different sexual orientations and gender identities, we obviously can’t assume that their experiences are completely identical.

In fact, the research that has focused specifically on gay and bisexual prostate cancer patients tells us that there are many differences. For one, the sexual side effects of prostate cancer treatment might impact gay and bisexual men differently than heterosexual men. To name one example, firmer erections are required for anal penetration than for vaginal penetration, so treatment-induced erectile difficulties might cause men who typically assume the insertive (or “top”) role in anal intercourse to change sexual roles to being the receptive partner (or “bottom”) [3]. A man’s sexual role can be strongly tied to his identity, so having to switch roles is not necessarily a simple solution to this problem [4; 5; 6].

It’s not just sexual issues that prostate cancer patients have to deal with. A minority of prostate cancer patients report significant depression and/or anxiety [7; 8]. When gay and bisexual prostate cancer patients are compared to previously published data from (heterosexual) prostate cancer patients, they report worse mental health functioning [5]. However, it’s important to note that gay and bisexual men generally tend to report worse mental health functioning than heterosexual men [9]. Still, this difference between heterosexual and gay and bisexual prostate cancer patients shouldn’t be dismissed; worse mental health in prostate cancer patients has been shown to have a negative impact on their quality of life [8]. On the other hand, positive social support, such as from friends and family, has been associated with better mental and physical health-related quality of life [10].

So, even though the research is limited, we know that gay and bisexual prostate cancer patients have unique experiences. In a perfect world, their healthcare providers would address their specific needs and tailor their care to suit them. Unfortunately, not all LGBT (lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender) cancer patients choose to disclose their sexual orientation or gender identity to their healthcare providers, and about half of those who do disclose only do it to correct assumptions made by their healthcare providers that they are straight [11]. In other research, many gay and bisexual prostate cancer patients reported that their healthcare professionals were either unable or unwilling to discuss their sexual concerns [12]. Unfortunately, this isn’t limited to gay and bisexual prostate cancer patients; cancer patients in general report unmet needs when it comes to their healthcare providers talking to them about sexuality after cancer [13].

You’ve probably noticed that I’ve spent this entire blog speaking only of gay and bisexual prostate cancer patients. What about prostate cancer patients of other sexual orientations? What about transgender prostate cancer patients? Unfortunately, the research just isn’t there yet. Previous research suggests that prostate cancer is pretty rare in transgender women who have undergone gender affirming care (specifically, the surgical removal of testicles and estrogen therapy), but also possibly more aggressive [14; 15]. But we don’t know anything about their experiences. There are so many questions to answer.

I’m getting ready to launch the study that will serve as the basis of my Master’s thesis, and it’s going to focus on the experiences of prostate cancer patients of all sexual orientations and gender identities, in order to be able to make comparisons between groups. We are the SexLab, so of course I am particularly interested in sexual functioning and sexual and relationship satisfaction in this patient population, but I also want to know about their mental and physical wellbeing, their sense of social support, and their experiences with the healthcare system. As I hope you’ve learned from reading this blog post, there are a lot of unanswered questions when it comes to prostate cancer patients of different sexual orientations and gender identities, and I’m hoping to answer as many of them as I can.

Our study will be launching within the next month. If you were diagnosed with non-metastatic prostate cancer within the past five years and are interested in participating, or you would like more information about the study, please contact us at sex.lab@queensu.ca. If you know someone who might be interested in participating, have them get in touch with us.

Meghan K. McInnis, BScH MSc Student, Clinical Psychology Sexual Health Research Laboratory

  1. Canadian Cancer Society’s Advisory Committee on Cancer Statistics (2017). Canadian cancer statistics 2017. Canadian Cancer Society: Toronto, ON.
  2. Rosser, B. R. S., Merengwa, E., Capistrant, B. D., Iantaffi, A., Kilian, G., Kohli, N., … West, W. (2016). Prostate cancer in gay, bisexual, and other men who have sex with men: A review. LGBT Health, 3(1), 32–41.
  3. Goldstone, S. E. (2005). The ups and downs of gay sex after prostate cancer treatment. Journal of Gay & Lesbian Psychotherapy, 9, 43–55.
  4. Asencio, M., Blank, T., Descartes, L., & Crawford, A. (2009). The prospect of prostate cancer: A challenge for gay men’s sexualities as they age. Sexuality Research and Social Policy, 6(4), 38–51.
  5. Hart, T. L., Coon, D. W., Kowalkowski, M. A, Zhang, K., Hersom, J. I., Goltz, H. H., … Latini, D. M. (2014). Changes in sexual roles and quality of life for gay men after prostate cancer: Challenges for sexual health providers. The Journal of Sexual Medicine, 11, 2308–2317.
  6. Thomas, C., Wootten, A., & Robinson, P. (2013). The experiences of gay and bisexual men diagnosed with prostate cancer: Results from an online focus group. European Journal of Cancer Care, 22(4), 522–529.
  7. Sharpley, C. F., & Christie, D. R. (2007). An analysis of the psychometric profile and frequency of anxiety and depression in Australian men with prostate cancer. PsychoOncology, 16, 660-667.
  8. Punnen, S., Cowan, J. E., Dunn, L. B., Shumay, D. M., Carroll, P. R., & Cooperberg, M. R. (2013). A longitudinal study of anxiety, depression and distress as predictors of sexual and urinary quality of life in men with prostate cancer. British Journal of Urology International, 112(2), E67-E75.
  9. Cochran, S. D., Mays, V. M., & Sullivan, J. G. (2003). Prevalence of mental disorders, psychological distress, and mental health services use among lesbian, gay, and bisexual adults in the United States. Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology, 71, 53–61.
  10. Mehnert, A., Lehmann, C., Graefen, M., Huland, H., & Koch, U. (2010). Depression, anxiety, post-traumatic stress disorder and health-related quality of life and its association with social support in ambulatory prostate cancer patients. European Journal of Cancer Care, 19(6), 736–745.
  11. Kamen, C., Smith-Stoner, M., Heckler, C., Flannery, M., & Margolies, L. (2015). Social support, self-rated health, and lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender identity disclosure to cancer care providers. Oncology Nursing Forum, 42(1), 44–51.
  12. Rose, D., Ussher, J. M., & Perz, J. (2017). Let’s talk about gay sex: Gay and bisexual men’s sexual communication with healthcare professionals after prostate cancer. European Journal of Cancer Care, 26, e12469.
  13. Gilbert, E., Perz, J., & Ussher, J. M. (2016). Talking about sex with health professionals: The experience of people with cancer and their partners. European Journal of Cancer Care, 25, 280–293.
  14. Gooren, L., & Morgentaler, A. (2014). Prostate cancer incidence in orchidectomised male-to-female transsexual persons treated with oestrogens. Andrologia, 46(10), 1156–1160.
  15. Hoffman, M. A., DeWolf, W. C., & Morgentaler, A. (2000). Is low serum free testosterone a marker for high grade prostate cancer? Journal of Urology, 163, 824-827.