What's happening in your community

Men Who Have Sex With Men (MSM) & HIV/AIDS

	(800) FLA-AIDS Florida's hotline Info, referrals, and counseling Text your ZIP code to 477493 for HIV test sites near you

In the United States, HIV and AIDS have had a tremendous impact on men who have sex with men (MSM). In 2005, MSM still accounted for about 53% of all new HIV/AIDS cases and 71% of cases in male adults and adolescents.

Centers for Disease Control & Prevention

Know Your Risk

The term Men who have Sex with Men (MSM) refers to all men who have sex with other men, regardless of how they identify themselves (gay, bisexual, or heterosexual).  The HIV epidemic has had a disproportionate impact on MSM, especially young MSM.  Young MSM have had higher rates of new HIV infections than older MSM, and recently released HIV surveillance data suggest that the number of new HIV infections may be increasing among the youngest MSM. 

Risky Behavior
According to the CDC, many MSM, especially young MSM, engage in risky behaviors that increase their risk of contracting HIV.  Such behaviors include having unprotected sex and using illegal drugs.

Unknown HIV Status
According to the CDC, approximately 25% of people infected with HIV in the US do not know they are infected. In a study of young MSM, 77% of those who tested HIV-positive mistakenly believed that they were not infected.

• What MSM Can Do  Risky Behaviors & How to Avoid them  [CDC]

RESOURCES & MORE INFORMATION:

• HIV/AIDS and Men who have Sex with Men (MSM)   Resources, Links, Fact Sheets, Videos [CDC]
• We Make the Change / MSM   Information, resources, articles, community
• GLMA (Gay & Lesbian Medical Association) 
•   Fact Sheet:  Men Who Have Sex With Men and HIV/AIDS [2010 - FL DOH]
•   "Out in the Open: The Continuing Crisis of HIV/AIDS Among Florida's MSM" [FL DOH]
• "Prevalence and awareness of HIV infection among MSM" [CDC]
• PrEP (Pre-Exposure Prophylaxis) Fact Sheet [CDC]