CDC: Increased Syphilis Rates Among Gay, Bisexual, and Other Men Who Have Sex with Men

[KaraBulut]

The Centers for Disease control released new surveillance reports last week. The reports indicate that, during the 4 years between 2013-2017, syphilis cases reached their highest rate since 1993. The group that had the largest increase was men who have sex with men (MSM). The increase in MSM was also associated with increases in meth use.

Increased Methamphetamine, Injection Drug, and Heroin Use Among Women and Heterosexual Men with Primary and Secondary Syphilis — United States, 2013–2017

During 2013–2017, the national annual rate of reported primary and secondary (P&S) syphilis cases in the United States increased 72.7%, from 5.5 to 9.5 cases per 100,000 population. The highest rates of P&S syphilis are seen among gay, bisexual, and other men who have sex with men (collectively referred to as MSM), and MSM continued to account for the majority of cases in 2017...

Since reaching a historic low in the United States in 2000–2001, the annual national rate of reported P&S syphilis cases has increased, and the rate in 2017 (9.5 per 100,000 population) was the highest reported since 1993. Until 2013, the increase was primarily among MSM, and rates of P&S syphilis among women remained low and relatively stable. However, during 2013–2017, the P&S syphilis rate increased among both men and women. This report demonstrates that, during this same period, the prevalences of methamphetamine use, sex with a person who injects drugs, injection drug use, and heroin use within the past 12 months more than doubled among MSW and women with P&S syphilis, but not among MSM with P&S syphilis.

 

[mbamike]

Does this mean that my chances of getting syphilis is lower if I stay away from guys that do meth and inject drugs?

 

[KaraBulut]

Does this mean that my chances of getting syphilis is lower if I stay away from guys that do meth and inject drugs?

Practically speaking, the lower risk comes with lower number of partners and with consistent condom use. These are the two things that the party-and-play crowd aren't doing.

When PrEP was originally rolled out, we emphasized that PrEP didn't mean you didn't have to use condoms. That message is hopelessly lost and now we're seeing the effects.