Last week I read about an HIV survey where 44% of the participants said they wouldn’t have sex with someone who is HIV+, and it got me thinking about why the epidemic of HIV infection has been so hard to eliminate. Truly, we know so much about how HIV is spread, we ought to be able to stop the spread of HIV. Yet every year more gay and bi men become infected. Why is that? There is a perpetuating cycle of HIV infection.

• Gay men are afraid to sleep with someone who is HIV+ and guys who are HIV+ are afraid to talk openly about their status for fear of being rejected or otherwise humiliated.
• Gay and Bi men don’t get regularly tested because of the fear and stigma associated with being HIV+, so most gay and bi men don’t know their HIV status and if positive, aren’t on treatment medication early enough.
• Gay and bi men don’t use condoms all of the time, because to do so, is an acknowledgment that HIV may be present, so men have unprotected sex, without talking about status, and place themselves at risk.

The vast majoroity of guys who spread HIV do not even know they are HIV+.

The key to stopping the spread of HIV:

• Get tested for HIV every 3 to 4 months.
• If you are HIV+, get on treatment and get your viral load to undectable levels.
• If you become HIV+, get started on treatment immediately.
• Use condoms all of the time when having anal sex.
• For people most at risk, use PrEP