Why aids is prevalent in gay men

Treatment with antiretroviral therapy prevents progression to AIDS. People at higher risk of HIV may benefit from more frequent testing, such as every 3 to 6 months. Not all MSM follow these recommendations. As a result, some may have HIV without realizing it. This can lead to delays in treatment and increase the chances of transmission.

If someone without HIV is at a higher risk of contracting the virus, taking PrEP daily significantly lowers that risk. This greatly reduces the risk of transmission. Despite the availability of these medications, usage remains low among gay and bisexual men, particularly Black or Hispanic men, according to the CDC.

Medical care can be limited for some people as not everyone has access. Even for those who do, not all medical professionals are comfortable prescribing these medications. 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. People who have sex with multiple partners or partners of unknown HIV status should consider getting tested more frequently, such as every 3 to 6 months.

Taking antiretroviral medication will lower the risk of complications and help prevent HIV transmission. You must take PEP within 72 hours of possible exposure and continue taking it for 28 days. After initial infection, people may not have any symptoms for years.

HIV can be controlled with the right medical treatment and care. Skip directly to site content Skip directly to page options Skip directly to A-Z link. Gay and Bisexual Men's Health. Section Navigation. However, there are signs that things may be improving.

When powerful data was released showing that reducing viral load reduces the likelihood of sexual transmission of HIV, policies changed. Large cities started recommending universal access to HIV treatment. They removed restrictions related to CD4 count which previously meant that individuals with HIV had to wait to start treatment. This change could be a great boon to serodiscordant gay couples. Reducing an infected person's viral load is not only a very effective form of treatment, but it also helps keep their sexual partners safe from infection.

The discovery of this effect, known as " treatment as prevention " continues to reshape HIV policy in the U. It is also changing the way doctors and scientists look at HIV prevention around the world. Get information on prevention, symptoms, and treatment to better ensure a long and healthy life. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Estimating per-act HIV transmission risk: a systematic review.

Heterosexual anal intercourse: a neglected risk factor for HIV? Am J Reprod Immunol. HIV transmission risk through anal intercourse: systematic review, meta-analysis and implications for HIV prevention. Int J Epidemiol. Access to health services by lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender persons: systematic literature review.

Published Jan The role of acute and early HIV infection in the spread of HIV and implications for transmission prevention strategies in Lilongwe, Malawi: a modelling study. Elevated HIV prevalence despite lower rates of sexual risk behaviors among black men in the District of Columbia who have sex with men. J Black Psychol. Global epidemiology of HIV. Infect Dis Clin North Am. Global epidemiology of HIV infection in men who have sex with men. Scand J Infect Dis.

Realizing the potential of treatment as prevention: global ART policy and treatment coverage. Beyrer, C. Get Counselling. Living with HIV. Free Condoms. Free HIV test. Book a Test. There are already a lot of gay and bi Kiwis living with HIV.

Now go get tested! An ode to my vagina.