September 9, 2010 | Sex Life

Young gay men get it -- and not in a good way

Young, white gay men seem unconcerned with STIs and HIV, becoming increasingly reckless in their sexual behavior, according to the journal BioMed Central (BMC) Infectious Diseases. Despite increased awareness of HIV in the Western world, infections continue to rise each year.

With this in mind, Ghent University in Belgium studied over 500 patients who were newly diagnosed with HIV between 2001 and 2009. Though the study looked at both sexes, and included gay and straight individuals, young homosexual men outnumbered all others.

These same men were also more likely to also have other sexual diseases, like syphilis, increasing concerns the men were being very unsafe during sex.

Terrence Higgins Trust’s Chief Executive, Sir Nick Partridge, said: "Gay men are still the most at risk of HIV infection in the UK. We also know that more than a quarter of people with HIV in the UK are currently undiagnosed, and they're far more likely to pass the virus on than those who know they have it."

What will it take to get young gay men to assume more responsibility for their own health? We just don't know.

Risky sexual practices of gay men fuelling HIV epidemic, says new study [Pink Paper]