Why does hiv impact gay people more

Learn why gay men, bisexual men, and other men who have sex with men are more likely than average to contract HIV. Find strategies for reducing the risk. HIV rates in gay men are higher than in all other groups. Learn about the biological, sexual, social, and psychological causes of this disparity. Gay, bisexual, and other men who reported male-to-male sexual contact are disproportionately affected by HIV.

Social and structural issues—such as HIV stigma, homophobia, discrimination, poverty, and limited access to high-quality health care—influence health outcomes and continue to drive inequities. Addressing these barriers and encouraging safe and supportive communities can help. Does HIV affect gay and bisexual men? In the United States, gay and bisexual men are the population most affected by HIV.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), in , adult and adolescent gay, bisexual and other men who reported male-to-male sexual contact accounted for 71% of the new HIV diagnoses in the United States and dependent areas. What factors put gay. What's behind the higher rates of infection among gay men? Dr. David debunks myths and explains why some groups are and areas are more affected by HIV/AIDS than others.

But no vaccine ever came.

Male-to-male hiv transmission rate

Roughly two dozen states had decriminalized sodomy by , and some activists were already talking about the next frontier: legal recognition for marriage. NBC News Logo. But that year, African-Americans for the first time comprised a greater share of HIV diagnoses than whites — despite the fact that the minority group is significantly smaller.

HIV likely killed a young man in St. As the anti-gay reaction gained steam across America with the election of Moral Majority ally Ronald Reagan, activists found their demands for attention for a growing medical crisis were ignored.

HRC | Debunking Common Myths About HIV

On March 22, , a year before that first MMWR report, evangelical Christian leaders delivered a petition to President Jimmy Carter demanding a halt to the advance of gay rights. In , the Swiss government released a statement of scientific consensus affirming something that had long been theorized but never proven: HIV positive people who are virally suppressed from taking effective HIV drugs cannot transmit the virus to HIV negative people.

While gay men make up just 2 percent of the U. Are You a Workaholic? However, we note some areas where responses differ significantly for some broad categories, including white men compared to members of racial and ethnic minority groups, and younger men ages compared with those ages 35 and older. However, just about a third 35 percent say they are personally concerned about becoming infected, while more than half 56 percent say they are not personally concerned.

I am sure the HIV test is included. What are the obstacles to this population taking greater advantage of them? Accept More Information. Younger gay and bisexual men are twice as likely as older men to say they have never been tested for HIV 44 percent of those under age 35 versus 21 percent of those ages 35 and over.

Prevention tips. Shop Now. Profile My News Sign Out. To help answer these questions, the Kaiser Family Foundation conducted a survey of gay and bisexual men in the U. In , President George W. You must take PEP within 72 hours of possible exposure and continue taking it for 28 days. Most gay and bisexual men are not aware of current treatment recommendations for those who are HIV-positive, or of the latest developments in reducing new infections.

After the Stonewall Riots in , LGBTQ activists across the country made significant civil rights advances and secured some municipal and state-level protections against discrimination in public employment. Test and Treat STIs. Find out how long the window period is for your HIV test and consider getting tested early and often.

The chance of HIV transmission increases with the number of sexual partners a person has. Men ages 35 and older are more likely to support widespread use of PrEP 64 percent say it should be used widely and 35 percent think it should be used on a more limited basis , while those under age 35 lean in the other direction 56 percent say it should be used on a more limited basis and 43 percent think it should be used as widely as possible.

Sections U. Read this next. If you have HIV or another STI, getting treatment and using a condom or other barrier method every time you have sex can reduce the risk of transmission.