Men
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A LONG-TERM SURVIVOR DISPELS THE MYTH OF EASY TREATMENT

Men and HIV

Heterosexual Men

  How does HIV affect straight men?

HIV and AIDS were originally thought to affect mostly gay men. However, heterosexual men have always been affected, too.  Heterosexual men have been infected through injecting drugs and sexual contact.

What are the prevention challenges for straight men?

MEN (All races) 846 67.7% 553 69.3% 12064 70.2%
MSM* 385 30.8% 259 32.5% 6288 36.6%
White 173 13.8% 108 13.5% 4165 24.2%
African American 607 48.6% 404 50.6% 7252 42.2%
Hispanic / Latino 48 3.8% 26 3.3% 513 3.0%
50+ 140 11.2% 122 15.3% 3786 22.0%
*Men who have sex with men
Because straight men are not the populations mostly heavily impacted by HIV, many straight men do not believe they are at risk of becoming infected or infecting their partner.  As a result, they may feel they do not need to be safe or to be tested.  This can be a dangerous misconception.  Anyone who is sexually active needs to be educated about HIV, take precautions to protect themselves, and to be tested for HIV on a regular basis.

 

What can straight men do?

Get educated!  Educate yourself about the different ways that you can acquire HIV and then all the ways to protect yourself. Learn your status so that you can protect yourself and your partners.  Teach those around you about how HIV can be transmitted and how you can protect yourself from infection.  Work in your community to improve awareness.  You and your partner should get tested for HIV and other STDs so that you are aware of each other's status before you have sex.  Talk about HIV and other STDs with each partner before you have sex.  Ask your partners if they have recently been tested for HIV; encourage those who have not been tested to do so. Use a latex condom and lubricant every time you have sex.  Get tested for HIV once a year. 

     
Alcohol & Drugs Socioeconomic Issues (Poverty) Incarceration Issues
Complacency STDs and Vulnerability to HIV If You Are Infected

Gay/Bisexual Men

 How does HIV affect gay/bisexual men?

In Louisiana the predominant exposure category among males continues to be men who have sex with men ("MSM"), accounting for 80% of all cases in 2008.

What are the prevention challenges for gay/bisexual men? 

Some gay/bisexual men use alcohol and illegal drugs, which contributes to increased risk for HIV infection and other STDs.  The use of substances such as alcohol and illegal drugs can increase the likelihood of risky sexual behavior while under the influence, as well as the likelihood of sharing needles or other injection equipment.  The use of methamphetamines, or "crystal meth," by gay/bisexual men has become a very important health issue. 

HIV has been a threat for 25 years, yet many people believe they are at low risk of becoming infected or infecting their partner. This is especially true of young gay and bisexual men who, unlike their older peers, have not experienced the reality of HIV/AIDS. At the same time, the success of new drug treatments may be contributing to increased risky behaviors among some gay/bisexual men.  For example, some gay/bisexual men may mistakenly believe that they or their partners cannot spread the virus when they take HIV medication or that having HIV is minor condition with no life-threatening consequences. They may not understand that HIV treatment may not work for everyone and that for some, it may work only for a time.

 What can gay/bisexual men do?

Get educated!  Educate yourself about the different ways that you can acquire HIV and then all the ways to protect yourself. Learn your status so that you can protect yourself and your partners.  Teach those around you about how HIV can be transmitted and how you can protect yourself from infection.  Work in your community to improve awareness.  You and your partner should get tested for HIV and other STDs so that you are aware of each other's status before you have sex.  Talk about HIV and other STDs with each partner before you have sex.  Ask your partners if they have recently been tested for HIV; encourage those who have not been tested to do so. Use a latex condom and lubricant every time you have sex.  Get tested for HIV once a year 

     
Alcohol & Drugs Socioeconomic Issues (Poverty) Incarceration Issues
Complacency STDs and Vulnerability to HIV If You Are Infected