In 2006, MSM (Men who have sex with men) accounted for more than half (53%) of all new HIV infections in the United States, and MSM with a history of injection drug use (MSM-IDU) accounted for an additional 4% of new infections. At the end of 2006, more than half (53%) of all people living with HIV in the United States were MSM or MSM-IDU. Since the beginning of the US epidemic, MSM have consistently represented the largest percentage of persons diagnosed with AIDS and persons with an AIDS diagnosis who have died. [2]

In 2007, MSM were 44 to 86 times as likely to be diagnosed with HIV compared with other men, and 40 to 77 times as likely as women. [2]

While CDC estimates that MSM account for just 4 percent of the U.S. male population aged 13 and older, the rate of new HIV diagnoses among MSM in the U.S. is more than 44 times that of other men (range: 522–989 per 100,000 MSM vs. 12 per 100,000 other men). [3]

MSM are the only risk group in the U.S. in which new HIV infections are increasing. While new infections have declined among both heterosexuals and injection drug users, the annual number of new HIV infections among MSM has been steadily increasing since the early 1990s. [3]

AIDS continues to claim the lives of too many MSM. Since the beginning of the epidemic, more than 279,000 MSM with AIDS have died. [3]

Q: Are condoms strong enough for anal intercourse?

The Surgeon General (C. Everett Koop, Surgeon General 1982-1989) has said, "Condoms provide some protection, but anal intercouse is simply too dangerous to practice". Condoms may be more likely to break during anal intercourse than during other types of sex because of the greater amount of friction and other stresses involved. Even if the condom doesn't break, anal intercourse is very risky because it can cause tissue in the rectum to tear and bleed. [4]

In a scholarly article entitled "Health Risks: Homosexuality And Other Practices", written by Michelle A. Cretella (MD) and Philip M. Sutton (PhD, LMFT, LP), it says "the estimated HIV risk with a single sexual exposure through receptive anal intercourse (2%) is 20 times greater than for receptive vaginal intercourse (0.1%)". [5]

In addition, in the abstract of an Internation Conference on AIDS on July 9-14, 2000 it says "Analysis of data from various European and US studies indicates per-act HIV infectivity of receptive anal sex is approx. 20 times greater than vaginal sex". [6]

STD's

Sexually Transmitted Diseases (STDs) have been increasing among gay and bisexual men. Recent increases in syphilis cases have been documented across the country. In 2008, men who have sex with men (MSM) accounted for 63% of cases in the United States. MSM often are diagnosed with other bacterial STDs, including chlamydia and gonorrhea infections. [7]

In 2004, overall median clinic gonorrhea positivity in MSM was 15% (range: 11-17%) at any anatomic site. [8]