On March 12, federal health officials announced that many cases of sexually transmitted disease are not being detected in gay men because of a lack of testing, and the failure of many doctors and clinics to follow screening recommendations, The New York Times reports (nytimes.com, 3/13).
Researchers from the CDC provided evidence from three studies that show that screening rates among gay men are too low. One study, for example, found that more than a third of rectal infections with gonorrhea, and more than a quarter of throat infections, were missed because of a lack of testing.
According to Dr. Kevin Fenton, director of the CDC’s National Center for HIV/AIDS, Viral Hepatitis, STD and TB Prevention, the sexually transmitted infections gonorrhea, chlamydia and syphilis are all “major threat[s] to gay and bisexual men’s health,” the Times reports, adding that these infections increase the risk of contracting HIV.
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comments 1 - 2 (of 2 total)
Deidre, Tampa, 2008-04-28 16:36:33
As a health and sex educator and a large Florida university, I would like clear cut reccomendations so that I can explain them adequately to my students. It seems that a lot of the data is out there to say that there are certain infections that are not being detected, but there is a deficit in terms of clear cut reccomendations. For example, should anyone who engages in oral sex have a chlamydia/gonorrhea throat culture, just as we would reccomend a genital screenings?
G.E. Mack McRae, Palatka, Florida, 2008-03-20 19:15:14
In regards to the above article; recently the media attention has focus on the fact that evevry 1 of 4 girls in american has an STD. Having once been in the gay life syle and being an AIDS advocate. I know that young gay men; who are in the age same group as the female. Have the same STD's because the young gay men are doing the same sexual acts as the females. The peopel who are safe guarding the community should understand this and take action; completely across the demographic spectrum.
"I'm HIV positive and diabetic (as well as have high cholesterol) and some of my meds specify taking them with 'high fat foods' which I have to do twice a day. I've eaten as healthy as possible, but when it comes to high fat foods, I am in a quandary...about what to eat sometimes..."
