Sexually transmitted infections and men who have sex with men in the UK: 2008 report

Authors:

HPA

Publication date: November 2008

Synopsis

Of all new HIV diagnoses in 2007, 41% (3,160 adjusted) were among men who have sex with men (MSM), and 82% of these infections were probably acquired in the UK.
An estimated 32,000 MSM were living with HIV, with at least one in four of those aged 15-59 unaware of their infection.
A total of 23,990 HIV diagnosed MSM were seen for HIV-related care, more than double the number accessing services in 1998.
Surveillance indicates that a high proportion of MSM with an acute STI were also infected with HIV, for example 32% of those diagnosed with gonorrhoea, 40%of those with syphilis,78% with lymphogranuloma venereum and 97% with hepatitis C.
In genitourinary medicine (GUM) clinics the uptake of HIV testing among MSM continues to increase reaching 86%, compared to 84% in 2006.
Despite increases in HIV testing, almost one in five MSM are still diagnosed after the point at which treatment would normally begin.

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Last reviewed: 30 April 2010