In the United States, gay men are at a disproportionately high risk of getting HIV and AIDS. In 2015, 68 percent of all U.S. HIV infections affected men who have sex with men. The risk is even higher for gay black men.1 Why are gay men more likely to get HIV?
There are several reasons why gay and bisexual men are at higher risk of HIV than their straight counterparts. Some of the reasons are biological. Certain types of sex are more likely to transmit HIV than others.2 Other reasons reflect social realities about how men who have sex with men (MSM) live in the world and are treated by society.
Biological HIV Risks
Not all gay men enjoy anal sex. However, anal sex is one of the main reasons that gay men have higher rates of HIV.3
Scientists have estimated that the average HIV transmission rate during anal sex is 18 times higher than the rate during vaginal intercourse. The risk of acquiring HIV during an act of unprotected anal intercourse is estimated to be 1.4 percent.
Some heterosexual men and women also enjoy anal sex. However, there's another biological factor that makes anal sex riskier for gay men. They are much more likely to engage in both "topping" and "bottoming", or penetrating and receiving. This is known as role variability, and it has been shown to increase HIV transmission risk.
Why? Men who practice receptive, unprotected anal intercourse are at higher risk of contracting HIV.4 Men who practice insertive, unprotected anal intercourse are more likely to transmit HIV to their partners. When men do both, the combination of behaviors optimizes the spread of HIV in a way not seen in heterosexual couples.
https://www.verywellhealth.com/why-d...of-hiv-3132782
Geplaatst door Stijnsansbarbe 
