June 5, 2013
Report: Gay Men Have Almost 80% of Syphilis Cases in England
Kilian Melloy READ TIME: 1 MIN.
Newly released results on the number of people affected by sexually transmitted diseases in England put gay men at the top of the list.
According to governmental agency Public Health England, gay and bisexual men make up 79 percent of all syphilis cases in England and they've seen a 37 percent rise in gonorrhea.
A total of 10,754 men who have sex with other men were diagnosed with the bacteria, commonly known as "the clap." Bringing the number of infected people up to 58 percent since the last study in 2009.
The PHE said that the high numbers are in part the results of increased testing, but unprotected sexual behavior has also contributed to the rise.
"There have been significant improvements in screening in recent years, particularly for gonorrhea and chlamydia among young adults and men who have sex with men, so we are diagnosing and treating more infections than ever before," said Dr. Gwenda Hughes, PHE head of Sexually Transmitted Infection surveillance, as quoted by the Gay Star News.
"However, these data show too many people are continuing to have unsafe sex, put themselves at risk of STIs and the serious consequences associated with infection, including infertility."
MSM also make up 17 percent of chlamydia cases, 11 percent of genital herpes diagnoses and 9 percent of all the genital warts diagnosed.
Kilian Melloy serves as EDGE Media Network's Associate Arts Editor and Staff Contributor. His professional memberships include the National Lesbian & Gay Journalists Association, the Boston Online Film Critics Association, The Gay and Lesbian Entertainment Critics Association, and the Boston Theater Critics Association's Elliot Norton Awards Committee.
