Many cases of sexually transmitted diseases (STDs) are not being detected in the U.S. because people are not being tested annually as advised, the New York Times reports. The Centers for Disease Control (CDC) recommends annual tests for HIV and syphilis, as well as other tests for gonorrhea and Chlamydia. However, three studies conducted by CDC researchers showed that screening rates were too low, especially among men who have sex with men (MSM). According to Dr. Kevin Fenton, a top official with the CDC, incidence of these sexually transmitted diseases continues to increase, and are “a major threat to gay and bisexual men’s health”. He noted that such diseases increase the risk of contracting and spreading HIV.
A study conducted by Dr. Kristen Mahle found that among MSM who showed no symptoms of gonorrhea, many incidences of the disease were missed because some physicians did not test all sites of recent exposure. Further, the CDC recently announced that U.S. syphilis rates in 2007 increased for the seventh consecutive year; MSM accounted for 64% of the new cases and men overall accounted for six times as many cases as women. According to the CDC, communities of color were also highly affected with rates seven times higher for men of color and fourteen times higher for women of color. These sexually transmitted diseases rates could even be higher if more people were tested annually. The Times sites major issues of inadequate budgets and trained staff at sexual disease clinics as reasons why more comprehensive testing has not been done.
In the Capital Region, the AIDS Council of Northeastern New York provides free, confidential HIV and STD (Chlamydia, syphilis & gonorrhea) testing and counseling at a variety of community locations. Check the council’s website, www.aidscouncil.org, or call 518.HIV.TEST for additional testing sites and times.
(Altman, New York Times, 3/13)
