Sexually Transmitted Diseases (STDs)

Below are links to information related to sexually transmitted diseases (STDs). Scroll down to view this and other men's health topics.

ACIP recommends all 11-12 year-old males get vaccinated against HPV
CDC’s Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices approved recommendations for routine vaccination of males 11 or 12 years old with 3-doses of HPV4 to protect against Human Papilloma Virus.

Are Your Kids Protected from HPV-related Cancers?
Protect your sons and daughters from human papillomavirus (HPV)-related cancer and other diseases associated with HPV by getting them the HPV vaccine.

Atlas on HIV, Viral Hepatitis, STD, and TB Data
This Atlas was created to provide an interactive platform for accessing HIV, Viral Hepatitis, sexually transmitted disease, and tuberculosis. Currently, the Atlas provides interactive maps, graphs, tables, and figures showing geographic patterns and time trends of HIV, AIDS, chlamydia, gonorrhea, and primary and secondary syphilis surveillance data. TB and viral hepatitis are slated to be included in 2012.

Be Smart. Be Well. STD Videos
These six videos, produced by Be Smart Be Well, raise awareness of sexually transmitted diseases.

CDC Analysis Provides New Look at Disproportionate Impact of HIV and Syphilis Among U.S. Gay and Bisexual Men
A data analysis by CDC underscores the disproportionate impact of HIV and syphilis among gay and bisexual men in the United States. The data finds that the rate of new HIV diagnoses among men who have sex with men is more than 44 times that of other men and more than 40 times that of women.

CDC STD Surveillance Report
The report tracks reported cases of chlamydia, gonorrhea and syphilis in the United States. The report finds that adolescent girls continue to bear a major burden of common sexually transmitted diseases and a disproportionate impact on racial minorities persists.

Clinic-Based Testing for Rectal and Pharyngeal Neisseria gonorrhoeae and Chlamydia trachomatis Infections by Community-Based Organizations- Five Cities, United States, 2007
This report found that approximately 30,000 tests were performed; 5.4 percent of rectal gonorrhea, 8.9 percent of rectal chlamydia, 5.3 percent of pharyngeal gonorrhea, and 1.6 percent of pharyngeal chlamydia tests were positive. These results demonstrate that gay-focused community-based organizations can detect large numbers of gonorrhea and chlamydia cases and might reach MSM not being tested elsewhere.

Get Yourself Tested (GYT) Campaign
By the age of 25, one in two young people will get a sexually transmitted disease. Most won't know it. GYT is about taking control of YOUR (sex) life by getting tested - and talking openly about it. Getting tested is easier than ever before.

Highlights of CDC Activities Addressing HIV Prevention among African American Gay, Bisexual, and Other Men Who Have Sex with Men
Since the beginning of the US epidemic, MSM have consistently represented the largest percentage of persons diagnosed with AIDS and persons with an AIDS diagnosis who have died. Among MSM, African American/Black MSM is the subgroup most disproportionately affected.

HIV/AIDS
Learn more about HIV/AIDS.

HIV Risk, Prevention, and Testing Behaviors Among Men Who Have Sex With Men - National HIV Behavioral Surveillance System, 21 U.S. Cities, United States, 2008
Although many men who have sex with me had been tested for HIV infection, many had not received hepatitis vaccinations or syphilis testing, and only a small proportion had recently participated in a behavioral intervention.

HIV Risk-Related Behaviors in the United States Household Population Aged 15-44 Years: Data from the National Survey of Family Growth, 2002 and 2006-2010
Approximately 10% of men and 8% of women in 2006-2010 reported at least one of the HIV risk-related behavioral measures examined in this report, representing 6.5 million men and 4.9 million women in the general U.S. household population.

HIV Screening of Male Inmates During Prison Intake Medical Evaluation - Washington, 2006-2010
In this report, inmate acceptance of HIV testing increased following changes to the testing policy. HIV testing increased from 5% to 72% to 90% when the testing policy was changed from on request to opt-in to opt-out.

HIV Testing Among Men Who Have Sex with Men - 21 Cities, United States, 2008
The findings from this analysis suggest that adherence to annual HIV testing recommendations for MSM is low and that even among MSM who reported being tested during the past 12 months, a substantial proportion were newly infected.

HPV and Men
Genital human papillomavirus (HPV) is a sexually transmitted virus. There are more than 30 types of genital HPV that can infect the genital area of men, including the skin on and around the penis or anus.

Increase in Newly Diagnosed HIV Infections Among Young Black Men Who Have Sex with Men - Milwaukee County, Wisconsin, 1999-2008
In October 2009, the City of Milwaukee Health Department (MHD), WDPH, and CDC investigated whether the increase in HIV infections among young black MSM in Milwaukee represented increased HIV transmission or simply better identification of prevalent infections. The findings highlight the need for new or improved interventions promoting prevention education, early HIV detection, and entry to care for young HIV-infected and at-risk black MSM in Milwaukee.

Interim Guidance: Preexposure Prophylaxis for the Prevention of HIV Infection in Men Who Have Sex with Men
This report provides interim guidance to health-care providers based on the reported results of that trial, which indicated that TDF plus FTC taken orally once a day as preexposure prophylaxis (PrEP) is safe and partially effective in reducing HIV acquisition among men who have sex with men when provided with regular monitoring of HIV status and ongoing risk-reduction and PrEP medication adherence counseling.

Lymphogranuloma Venereum (LGV) Project
LGV is a systemic, sexually transmitted disease (STD) caused by a type of Chlamydia trachomatis that rarely occurs in the United States and other industrialized countries. However, the Netherlands and other European countries have reported increases in LGV proctitis among men who have sex with men (MSM).

More Teen Males Using Condoms
The percentage of teen males aged 15-19 years in the United States who used a condom the first time they had sex increased between 2002 and 2006-2010, according to a CDC report.

New Data Show Syphilis Threatens the Health of a New Generation of Gay and Bisexual Men
The analysis found that recent increases in primary and secondary (P&S) syphilis in this population are occurring mostly among young men who  have sex with men, aged 15-29 years. P&S syphilis reflects recent infection with the sexually transmitted disease, and can facilitate HIV transmission.

Sexually Transmitted Diseases Fact Sheets
Learn about different kinds of sexually transmitted diseases. The surest way to avoid transmission of sexually transmitted diseases is to abstain from sexual contact or to be in a long-term mutually monogamous relationship with a partner who has been tested and is known to be uninfected.

Sexually Transmitted Diseases Treatment Guidelines
These guidelines for the treatment of patients who have sexually transmitted diseases (STDs) were developed by CDC after consultation with a group of professionals knowledgeable in the field of STDs.

Statement by CDC Director Thomas R. Frieden, M.D., M.P.H., on Early End of HPTN 052 Study
The study, known as HPTN 052, showed that early initiation of anti-retroviral therapy (ART) for HIV-positive people who were heterosexual led to a dramatic reduction in HIV transmission to the HIV-uninfected partner.

Status of CDC Male Circumcision Recommendations
CDC is employing a deliberative, evidence-based process for developing the circumcision recommendations, which allows for both external and internal CDC experts to provide input. CDC will also publish draft recommendations for public comment before the content will be finalized.

STD Brochures
Brochures are available on bacterial vaginosis, Chlamydia, genital herpes, genital HPV, gonorrhea, pelvic inflammatory disease, STDs and pregnancy, and trichomoniasis.

STD Health Disparities
STD health disparities are differences in disease rates that occur by gender, race or ethnicity, education or income, disability, geographic location, or sexual orientation. This page provides a quick glance of these disparities for 2002-2007.

STD Surveillance and Statistics
Learn more about STD surveillance and statistics from these annual reports.

Syphilis Profiles, 2008
The profiles provide an overview of syphilis morbidity in each of the 50 states, the District of Columbia, Guam, Puerto Rico, and the Virgin Islands. The profiles consist of figures and tables of data on syphilis from the U.S. states and territories through 2008.

Update on Sexual Health in Men Who Have Sex with Men (MSM)
June 7, 2012 from 12:00 pm to 1:30 pm ET. This live webinar is for clinicians who provide care for men who have sex with men (MSM). The webinar will review critical diagnostic and management challenges for specific STDs and an overview of the epidemiology of STDs among MSM.

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HIV/AIDS

Cases of HIV Infection and AIDS in the United States and Dependent Areas, 2007
This report presents estimated numbers of cases of diagnosed HIV infection, including cases that progressed to AIDS, from the 39 areas (34 states and 5 U.S. dependent areas) that have had confidential name-based HIV infection reporting for a sufficient length of time. From 2004 through 2007, the estimated number of newly diagnosed HIV/AIDS cases increased approximately 18% among males and 8% among females.

Cases of HIV Infection and AIDS in the United States and Dependent Areas, by Race/Ethnicity, 2003-2007
In this report, CDC presents estimated numbers of cases of HIV infection, including cases of HIV infection that progressed to AIDS. In 2007, the largest percentage of AIDS cases in men were among black/African American men (40 percent), followed by white men (31percent) and Hispanic/Latino men (21 percent).

CDC Statement on Results of iPrEx Trial Examining Pre-Exposure Prophylaxis (PrEP) for HIV Prevention among Men Who Have Sex with Men
These findings add to a growing body of knowledge regarding the use of treatment drugs for HIV prevention and provide hope that PrEP may also prove effective for other hard hit groups of people around the world.

Fact Sheet: HIV/AIDS among Men Who Have Sex with Men
In the United States, HIV infection and AIDS have had a tremendous effect on men who have sex with men (MSM). MSM accounted for 72% of all HIV infections among male adults and adolescents in 2005.

HIV/AIDS
Learn more about HIV/AIDS.

HIV/AIDS and Men Who Have Sex with Men
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). In the United States, HIV and AIDS have had a tremendous impact on MSM.

HIV/AIDS among Hispanics/Latinos
In 2006, Hispanic/Latino men made up three quarters (76%) of new infections among all Hispanics/Latinos. The rate of new infections among Hispanic/Latino men was more than double that of white men (43/100,000 vs. 20/100,000).

HIV Surveillance in Men Who Have Sex with Men  – Updated Slide Set
Slides on diagnosis of HIV infection among adult and adolescent males by transmission category, race/ethnicity, and age; deaths; AIDS diagnosis; and living with an AIDS diagnosis.  

HIV Testing among High School Students- United States, 2007
Results indicated that nationwide, 12.9 percent of all high school students had ever been tested for HIV. The prevalence of HIV testing increased with increasing grade and decreased with increasing age at first sexual intercourse. Prevalence of HIV testing was higher among female students (14.8 percent) than male students (11.1percent).

HIV Testing and Diagnosis Among Adults - United States, 2001-2009
The number of persons in the United States who report ever being tested for HIV is increasing, and fewer persons are being diagnosed late in their infection. However, nearly one third of diagnoses still occur late. Increased testing efforts are needed, particularly among populations that account for most HIV diagnoses.

Late HIV Testing- 34 States, 1996-2005
To characterize late HIV testing, CDC examined data from 1996-2005 from 34 states with confidential name-based HIV and AIDS reporting (the most recent data available) to determine the percentage of persons who received an AIDS diagnosis within 3 years after receiving their initial HIV diagnosis. At 3 years after their initial HIV diagnosis, 46.9 percent of men had an AIDS diagnosis compared with 41.5 percent of women. A similar pattern was observed by HIV transmission category.

National HIV Testing Resources (hivtest.org)
Find out if you are at risk of getting HIV, why testing is important, where you can get tested, and answers to frequently asked questions.

Questions and Answers: Men on the Down Low and HIV/AIDS
View questions and answers about men on the down low (men who have sex with men).

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