Malattie sessualmente trasmissibili nelle comunità gay e MSM: prevenzione, test e notifica al partner

According to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), sexually active gay, bisexual, and other men who have sex with men – MSM are at greater risk of getting a sexually transmitted infection. Syphilis is said to be more common in MSM, and more than half of newly diagnosed HIV patients are MSM. This increasing gay sex STI epidemic is why STI awareness is crucial for MSM.

In this post, we will discuss common STIs in gay and MSM communities, the signs & symptoms, prevention practices, essential testing procedures, and effective partner notification techniques.

Most Common STIs in Gay/MSM Sex

For gay/MSM, the most common sexually transmitted infections are syphilis, HIV, gonorrhea, and herpes.

1. Sifilide

Syphilis is number one on the list of common gay sex diseases. It is a bacterial infection caused by Treponema pallidum, which is transmitted during unprotected anal or oral sex, and can lead to serious health problems.

Findings from a study led by the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine (LSHTM) in partnership with the World Health Organization (WHO) show that MSM have a high number of syphilis infection.

💊Symptoms

• Painless genital ulcer
• Body rashes
• Swollen glands
• Mouth ulcer
• Patchy hair loss

❇️Preventive Measures

• Use of a condom
• Avoid sharing sexual toys
• Use of dental dams during oral sex

2. HIV

Another STI linked with MSM sex is Human Immuno-deficiency Virus (HIV) infection. It is the virus that causes Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome (AIDS).

HIV can be transmitted through blood and sexual body fluids during oral and anal sex by MSM. According to WHO, the risk of acquiring HIV is 26 times higher among MSM compared to the global population. 

💊Symptoms

• Fever
• Muscle ache
• Weight loss
• Diarrhea
• Night sweats

❇️Preventive Measures

• Correct and consistent use of condoms during sex
• Avoid sharing needles, syringes, or other sharp objects
• Use of Pre-Exposure Prophylaxis (PrEP) drugs

3. Gonorrea

This is another common MSM sexual infection that causes pain and an inability to pee. It is transmitted during sexual intercourse with an infected person.

According to the CDC, MSM have reported much higher cases of gonorrhea than heterosexual men. Also, data showing an increase in STIs across Europe in recent times shows that gonorrhea has had the highest increase (+131%).

💊Symptoms

• Testicular pain
• Pain during urination
• Colored penis discharge
• Sore throat
• Anal itching

❇️Preventive Measures

• Use of condoms and dental dams
• Limit sexual partners
• Don’t have sex with someone showing gonorrhea symptoms

4. Herpes

This is another common gay sex STI, which is caused by the herpes simplex virus (HSV) type 1 (oral herpes) and type 2 (genital herpes). Herpes is transmitted through oral sex, anal sex, or genital contact.

Herpes facts as stated show that 48% of people in the U.S. are living with oral herpes, while 12% of people between 14-49 years have genital herpes. MSM accounts for the highest proportion of genital herpes infection (48.9%).

💊Symptoms

• Painful blisters or sores on genitals
• Burning sensations in the genital area
• Itching
• Fever
• Headache

❇️Preventive Measures

• Limiting sexual partners
• Consistent use of condoms and dental dams
• Do not share sex toys

Key Signs of STIs in Gay Men

Signs and symptoms of STIs may not be evident immediately after the infection is contracted. In fact, the infected person may not experience any noticeable symptom (asymptomatic). Therefore, as a sexually active gay or MSM person, it is necessary to get tested often.

👉Albeit major signs of STD in gay men that can be noticed after a while (approximately 20 days) include:

• Genital sores and bumps.
• Rashes
• Blisters.
• Pain or itching in the penile or anal area.
• Skin discoloration of the penis or anus.
• Pain when urinating or ejaculating.
• Increased rate of urination.
• Colored and smelly penile or anal discharge.
• Fever.
• Fatigue.
• Swelling of lymph nodes.
• Bleeding from the anus or penis.
• Yellowing of the skin or eyes.
• Pain and swelling of the testicles.
• Headache and muscle ache.

Essential STI Testing for MSM

The latest Annual Epidemiological Reports on STIs released by the ECDC (European Center for Disease Prevention and Control) states that STI cases continue to increase across Europe. Studies have also shown historically that the highest rates of STIs have occurred among MSM. So, in order to prevent further transmission and reduce the impact of STIs on public health, there is a need for increased STI testing among MSM.

How to Get Tested

• Visit a Clinic or Health Center: Contact and inquire about the services of any reputable STI-oriented clinic or health center close to you. Afterwards, you can book an appointment.
• Discuss With Your Healthcare Provider: Tell your doctor or healthcare provider about your STI concerns and discuss your sexual history with him/her. They are in the best position to provide an STI test guide for you and advise you about available treatment or management options.
• Follow-Up: After receiving your STI test result (positive or negative), ensure that you follow up with your doctor or healthcare provider for further instructions.
• Follow Testing Instructions of At-Home Kits Carefully: If you choose to use at-home testing kits for STIs like gonorrhea, HIV, syphilis, and chlamydia, ensure you follow the kit instructions religiously to avoid false results.

Where to Get Tested

Here is a list of places where you can get an STI test and treatment in Australia, Europe, and other parts of the world.

• Sexual Health Clinics: You can visit any sexual health clinic that specializes in STI testing and treatment. They are available to everyone, regardless of age, gender, or sexuality. Examples are the Greenwich sexual health and the UK’s National Health Service sexual health clinics.
• Family Planning Centers: Oftentimes, family planning centers offer STI testing and treatment services. You can visit anyone close to you.
• Community Healthcare Centers: Most community-based organizations or centers offer affordable STI testing and care services.
• Aboriginal Community-Controlled Health Organizations (ACCHOs): These organizations provide culturally safe STI testing in local communities. 

Partner Notification: A Critical Step

If you tested positive, the next step is to inform your partner(s). This step is essential because it helps to prevent further transmission and complications. As stated earlier, some gay STD are asymptomatic, hence, it is best to inform your partner(s) so they can get tested and treated.

Traditional partner notification methods (which involve you or your healthcare provider directly notifying your partner) can be challenging. Some of the reasons why they can be difficult to achieve are: potential discomfort, stigma, fear of negative consequences, and inadequate communication resources (for healthcare services or clinics).

The most effective solution to partner notification then becomes the use of anonymous STI notification services like Anonimi TellYourPartner. It helps you send streamlined yet comprehensive, free STI text messages to your partner anonymously. Aside from anonymity, the fact that it can send messages to multiple recipients at a time is why it is a good choice for MSM (who sometimes have multiple sexual partners).

👉Follow these simple steps:

• Vai al Anonimi TellYourPartner website and click on Avvisare un partner.

• Select the STI you tested positive for.

• Pick the time you contracted the STI.

• Enter your partner’s information (name and phone number). Click Aggiungi altro to send to multiple recipients.

• Clic Preview Message per vedere il messaggio che verrà inviato.

• Effettua il pagamento e invia.

STI Prevention for MSM Sex & Resources

The measures discussed below can help reduce a MSM’s risk of contracting an STI.

• Use Condoms: Correct and consistent use of condoms & dental dams during anal or oral sex, efficiently reduces the risk of STI transmission.
• Vaccination: Being vaccinated can protect you from STIs like Hepatitis A, Hepatitis B, and HPV.
• PrEP (Pre-Exposure Prophylaxis): PrEP involves taking medications like Truvada, Descovy, and Apretude before sex to prevent HIV infection by blocking the virus’ life cycle.
• Doxy PEP (Doxycycline Post-Exposure Prophylaxis): These medications can help prevent the development of bacterial STIs, such as gonorrhea and syphilis. They are to be taken 24-72 hours after sex.
• Limiting Partners: You can decrease the risk of being exposed to STI if you reduce the number of sexual partners you have.

🌟Other Useful Resources

Siti web come www.cdc.gov, www.hiv.gov, www.naccho.org, and www.cdph.ca.gov, provide useful information about the testing, prevention, and treatment of various STIs among MSM. 

Conclusione

Gay sex STI prevention, testing, and partner notification is very important to prevent further transmission and reduce the impact of STIs on the gay & MSM community.

However, traditional partner notification methods can be difficult to accomplish, so it is best to confidentially inform them using Anonsms TellYourPartner. It is easy to use, delivers 100% anonymity, and can be used to send STI notifications to multiple recipients anywhere in the world.

FAQs About Gay Sex STI

Do you still have further questions? Get answers to some frequently asked questions on gay sex STI below.

1. What percent of gay men have an STl?

The percentage of gay men who have an STI changes every now and then. But studies have shown that of all populations, gay men account for about 71% of HIV cases and the highest percentage of syphilis cases every year.

2. What STl tests should gay men get?

CDC recommends that sexually active gay men should get tested for HIV, syphilis, hepatitis B & C, gonorrhea, and chlamydia.

3. What are the risks of gay unprotected sex?

Unprotected sex between gay men increases the risk of getting STIs like HIV, chlamydia, syphilis, genital herpes & warts, gonorrhea, and hepatitis B.

4. Is topping safer than bottoming?

Yes, considering the risk of STI transmission (like HIV), topping (insertive anal sex) is considered safer than bottoming (receptive anal sex).