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HIV-diagnosed men who have sex with men: mixed picture for STI diagnoses in 2019

HIV-diagnosed men who have sex with men (MSM) have higher diagnosis rates of chlamydia, gonorrhea and syphilis than other men and women, according to Public Health England’s newly published review of sexually transmitted infection data for England for 2019.

Diagnoses of chlamydia in HIV-diagnosed MSM showed a marked upward trend, contrasting with a plateau in heterosexual diagnoses. Rates in other MSM also rose, but less sharply. Diagnoses of gonorrhoea rose in all groups but MSM with HIV had by far the highest rates. However, rates of syphilis diagnosis in MSM with HIV fell slightly.

The report reiterates recommendations for sexual health screening:

  • everyone should have an STI screen, including an HIV test, annually if having condomless sex with new or casual partners.
  • men who have sex with men (MSM) should test annually for HIV and STIs, and every three months if having condomless sex with new or casual partners

The number of sexual health screens (tests for chlamydia, gonorrhoea, syphilis and HIV) is increasing, rising 10% from 2018 to 2019 to 2,175,525. Rising screening rates are being driven by internet-based services, which rose 69% to 419,046 and accounted for 19% of all sexual health screens in England, up from 13% in 2018 and 4% in 2017.

HIV infection statistics are not included in the report.


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