Sexually Transmitted Diseases and Human Immunodeficiency Virus–Discordant Partnerships among Men Who Have Sex with Men

• Published in: Clinical infectious diseases Vol. 35; no. 8; pp. 1010 - 1017
• Main Authors: Whittington, William L. H., Collis, Tarquin, Dithmer-Schreck, Dwyn, Handsfield, H. Hunter, Shalit, Peter, Wood, Robert W., Holmes, King K., Celum, Connie L.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Chicago, IL The University of Chicago Press 15.10.2002; University of Chicago Press
• Subjects: Adult; Aged; AIDS; Biological and medical sciences; Collaboration; Condoms; Gonorrhea; HIV; HIV - immunology; HIV - isolation & purification; HIV Infections - complications; HIV Infections - psychology; HIV/AIDS; Homosexuality; Human sexual behavior; Human viral diseases; Humans; Infections; Infectious diseases; Male; Medical sciences; Men; Middle Aged; Prevalence; Sexual Behavior; Sexually transmitted diseases; Sexually Transmitted Diseases - epidemiology; Sexually Transmitted Diseases - microbiology; Syphilis; Viral diseases; Viral diseases of the lymphoid tissue and the blood. Aids; Infection; Immunopathology; Homosexuality; Sexually transmitted disease; Viral disease; AIDS; Immune deficiency; WHO
• ISSN: 1058-4838; 1537-6591
• DOI: 10.1086/342693

Sexually active men who have sex with men (MSM) at 5 Seattle clinics were assessed for bacterial sexually transmitted diseases (STDs), human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)-discordant partnerships, sexual behavior, and drug use. Of the HIV-positive men, 45% reported having HIV-negative sex partners and 42% reported having sex partners with unknown serostatus during the past 2 months, whereas 14% and 57% of HIV-negative men reported having HIV-positive and unknown-serostatus sex partners, respectively. Correlates of sex partners with unknown serostatus were recruiting sex partners at bathhouses or parks. Gonorrhea, chlamydia, or syphilis was diagnosed in 12% of HIV-positive and 13% of HIV-negative MSM, and the rates did not differ between men with HIV-concordant and HIV-discordant partnerships. High prevalences of bacterial STDs and HIV-discordant partnerships emphasize the need for interventions to foster serostatus discussion, condom use, fewer anonymous partners, and STD screening.