Herpes and gay men

Herpes is a common sexually transmitted disease (STD) that any sexually active person can get. Most people with the virus don’t have symptoms. It is essential to know that even without signs of the disease, it can still spread to sexual partners.

What is genital herpes?

Genital herpes is an STD caused by two types of viruses. The viruses are called herpes simplex type 1 and herpes simplex type 2.

How common is genital herpes?

Genital herpes is common in Australia. In Australia, about one out of every six people aged 14 to 49 years have genital herpes.

How is genital herpes spread?

You can get herpes by having vaginal, anal, or oral sex with someone who has the disease.

Fluids found in a herpes sore carry the virus, and contact with those fluids can cause infection. You can also get herpes from an infected sex partner who does not have a clear sore or who may not know he or she is infected because the virus can be released through your skin and spread the infection to your sex partner(s).

How can I reduce my risk of getting herpes?

The only way to verb STDs is to

Genital herpes is a STI caused by the herpes simplex virus (HSV). It’s the same virus that causes cold sores. But unlike cold sores, herpes has a pretty bad rep, even though it’s one of the most common STIs in Australia.

There are two types of the virus that can cause genital herpes:

  • The herpes simplex virus type 1 (HSV-1), commonly known as oral herpes that cause icy sores
  • The herpes simplex virus type 2 (HSV-2), commonly known as genital herpes

Both types of herpes are passed on through physical contact like kissing, oral sex and anal sex. Physical contact can transmit oral herpes to someone’s genitals resulting in genital herpes and vice versa.

Whether you test positive for herpes, or just think you might be experiencing some of the symptoms it’s important to remember just how common herpes is and that it’s nothing to be ashamed of. In this article, we explore the common symptoms of herpes in men.

What are the symptoms of herpes in men?

1.      No symptoms of herpes at all

The most common symptoms of herpes in men are… no symptoms at all! In fact, 1 in 8 people in Au

Sexual health for gay and bisexual men

Having unprotected penetrative sex is the most likely way to pass on a sexually transmitted infection (STI).

Using a condom helps protect against HIV and lowers the risk of getting many other STIs.

If you’re a man having sex with men (MSM), without condoms and with someone new, you should contain an STI and HIV quiz every 3 months, otherwise, it should be at least once a year. This can be done at a sexual health clinic (SHC) or genitourinary medicine (GUM) clinic. This is essential , as some STIs do not cause any symptoms.

Hepatitis A

Hepatitis A is a liver infection that's spread by a virus in poo.

Hepatitis A is uncommon in the UK but you can verb it through sex, including oral-anal sex ("rimming") and giving oral sex after anal sex. MSM with multiple partners are particularly at risk. You can also get it through contaminated sustenance and drink.

Symptoms of hepatitis A can appear up to 8 weeks after sex and include tiredness and feeling sick (nausea).

Hepatitis A is not usually life-threatening and most people make a complete recovery within a

Sexually transmitted infection risk in England is greatest in gay men and young adults

There were , sexually transmitted infections (STIs) diagnosed in England in , according to new Universal Health England (PHE) data out today: close to the number diagnosed in (, cases).

Chlamydia was the most common STI, making up 47% of all diagnoses (,), while gonorrhoea diagnoses saw a large rise, up 15% from to (29,).

Among heterosexuals diagnosed in genitourinary medicine (GUM) clinics in , young people (15 to 24 years) experienced the highest STI rates: 63% of chlamydia cases (56,), 54% of genital warts (36,), 42% of genital herpes (12,) and 56% of gonorrhoea (8,).

Gay men were also disproportionately affected, accounting for 81% of syphilis (2,) and 63% of gonorrhoea (13,) cases in male GUM clinic attendees. Gonorrhoea diagnoses rose 26% in this group, nearly double the national rate, which is of particular concern as harder to treat gonorrhoea strains emerge.

Dr Catherine Lowndes, consultant scientist in PHE’s STI surveillance team, said:

Sustained efforts to encourage people to re