Gay hiv
New HIV diagnoses in gay and bisexual men at their lowest in 20 years
The number of queer and bisexual men (GBM) with newly diagnosed HIV fell to the lowest point in 20 years, according to a new state from Public Health England (PHE) published today.
The report shows there were 1,700 new HIV diagnoses in GBM in 2019 compared to 1,500 in 2000.
Overall, the number of people with a new HIV diagnoses fell by 10% (from 4,580 in 2018 to 4,139 in 2019). There was also a 34% decline from a peak of 6,312 new diagnoses in 2014.
There were 1,700 new HIV diagnoses in queer and bisexual men (GBM) in 2019 compared to around 1,600 cases in heterosexual adults. This is the lowest number of brand-new HIV diagnoses in GBM since the year 2000 (1,500) and since 1998 in heterosexual adults (1,600).
HIV transmission in GBM has fallen by 80%; newly acquired HIV infections fell from an estimated peak of 2,700 cases in 2011 to an estimated 540 in 2019 (see background information).
While the proportion of people diagnosed late remained tall at 42%, the overall number decreased from around 1,900 in 2015 to 1,300 in 2019. People diagnosed delayed in 2019 had an eight-fold exposure of death compared to those diagno
HIV infection may become exceptional in UK gay men by 2030, researchers say
An analysis of HIV diagnoses and incidence in English gay and pansexual men by Dr Francesco Brizzi and colleagues from the Medical Research Council has found that recent HIV infections fell by more than two-thirds between 2013 and 2018. If this trend continues, modern HIV infections could turn into a rare event in the gay population, and there is a 40% chance that England could hit the World Health Corporation (WHO)/UNAIDS target of only one HIV infection in 10,000 gay men per year by 2030. Given that the estimated HIV-negative lgbtq+ male population of England is about 475,000, this would imply only 80 new cases of HIV per year.
The researchers provide a more detailed examination of the data from the 2019 Public Health England HIV surveillance describe, which aidsmap covered in January 2020.
Using a more urbane method to estimate the annual number of modern infections in gay men, they were able to stratify the population by age. This analysis reveals that although HIV infections in gay men acquire fallen in all age groups, they have fallen more slowly in men over the age of 45, such that they now have higher rates of bo
What led to the tumble in HIV cases in UK gay men?
HIV incidence in gay and bisexual men in the UK has fallen to such an extent that new diagnoses among heterosexuals exceeded those in queer and bisexual men for the first time in a decade in 2020.
A poster presented at this week’s Conference on Retroviruses and Opportunistic Infections (CROI 2022) by Dr Valentina Cambiano and colleagues from University College London (with input from the UK Health Security Agency and community organisations, including aidsmap.com), estimates that there were 669 new HIV infections in gay and double attraction men in 2021.
In 2011 there had been about 3000 infections. Cambiano and colleagues estimate that this 75% drop in a decade will continue if current prevention measures are maintained, leading to recent cases of HIV in gay and bisexual men becoming rare by 2040.
This is new infections, not diagnoses. During 2020, 976 gay or bisexual men tested HIV positive and 1067 heterosexuals. But this includes people diagnosed with a low CD4 compute who may have had HIV for years and people who caught it outside the UK. In fact, while substantial falls in diagnoses in homosexual men were first reported in 2016, epidemiolog
Debunking Common Myths About HIV
Read responses to myths that 'HIV is a gay disease' or a 'death sentence,' and find other important communication about getting tested.
Myths about who contracts HIV
MYTH: “HIV is a ‘gay’ or ‘LGBTQ+’ disease.”
REALITY: While rates of HIV are disproportionately higher among members of the LGBTQ+ community, HIV is by no means confined to LGBTQ+ people. Anyone—regardless of sexual orientation, gender identity, gender verbalization or other factors—can get HIV. Calling HIV a “gay” or “LGBTQ+” disease is medically untrue and only serves to perpetuate harmful stereotypes about people living with HIV and members of the Diverse community.
MYTH: “I am over 50! I don’t dependency to worry about HIV.”
REALITY: HIV transmission is about behavior; not how ancient you are. Moreover, according to the CDC, older Americans are more likely to be diagnosed with HIV at a later stage of the disease.
MYTH: “I am in a monogamous relationship. I don’t have to worry about HIV.”
REALITY: It is still important to get tested for HIV even if you’re in a monogamous relationship. According to the latest estimates, 68 percent of new HIV transmissions among gay and
Why Do Gay Men Have a Higher Chance of Getting HIV?
HIV is preventable. Here are a few ways to reduce the peril of transmission.
1. Utilize a barrier technique during sex
Condoms and other barrier methods can protect against HIV and other sexually transmitted infections (STIs).
If you possess HIV or another STI, getting treatment and using a condom or other barrier method every time you hold sex can decrease the risk of transmission.
If you don’t have an STI, you can protect yourself from acquiring an STI by using a condom or other barrier method every time you contain sex.
Also, it’s essential to buy the right size condom for you and to use it properly.
2. Choose alternative sexual activities
Some activities carry a higher risk of HIV transmission than others.
The chance of transmission is tall during anal sex without a condom or other barrier method.
The chance of transmission is low during oral sex or activities that don’t involve contact with bodily fluids.
3. Limit your number of sexual partners
The chance of HIV transmission increases with the number of sexual partners a person has.
4. Get testing and treatment
If you’re an MSM, consider getting