Why is hiv more prevalent in gay men

From the earliest days of the HIV epidemic, gay and bisexual men have been among the hardest-hit groups in the United States. While gay men make up just 2 percent of the U. Gay men are the only group in the country among whom new infections are on the rise; between , new infections rose 12 percent overall among gay men, and 22 percent among younger gay men ages People living with HIV can reduce the risk of transmitting the infection to others by up to 96 percent if they are taking consistent ARV treatment 5 , and for those who are HIV negative, new pre-exposure prophylaxis PrEP offers a daily pill that can help them to stay negative.

Why Do Gay Men Have a Higher Chance of Getting HIV?

This cuts off access to preventive HIV care for these individuals. Stigma plays a significant role in HIV transmission, despite advances in prevention and treatment. Even in areas where same-sex activity is legal, the fear of stigma and discrimination that comes along with it can drive men to hide their sexual identity from healthcare professionals.

Issue Brief: Ending the HIV Epidemic Among Gay Men in the United States

HIV/AIDS In The Lives Of Gay And Bisexual Men In The United States

In , President George W. It is the largest ever government program devoted to fighting a single disease — 14 million are on treatment today because of it. 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.