Health and Homosexuality
There are significant health issues involved in the homosexual lifestyle... for both men and women.
It is vital that the whole community, as well as those in the homosexual lifestyle, know about these health issues.
In Australia there has been a rise in both HIV/AIDS and STDs in recent years. A large majority of cases of HIV in Australia occur in men who have sex with men. There has also been a large increase in STDs in the homosexual community in recent years.
Homosexual websites
Some homosexual websites list the additional health risks faced by homosexual men and lesbians.
The Gay and Lesbian Medical Association has listed the 'Ten Things Homosexuals Should Discuss with Their Healthcare Providers'.
Click here.
There are separate documents for homosexual men, lesbians and transgender persons.
10 Things Gay Men Should Discuss with Their Healthcare Providers
10 Things Lesbians Should Discuss with Their Healthcare Providers
10 Things Transgender Persons Should Discuss with Their Healthcare Providers
Homosexual health
The most obvious, and most talked about, risk for homosexual men is that of getting HIV/AIDS. The rates of HIV and other STDs are increasing in the homosexual community in Australia.
The Australian homosexual website National LGBT Health Alliance says that Australia has had a good response to the HIV/AIDS situation but goes on to say:
"Despite this, in Australia, as in many other countries which have similar epidemics (North America, Europe), there have been steady increases in new HIV infections in the last six years or so. Following a sustained decline in the annual rate of new HIV diagnoses that started in 1985, from 2000 onwards the rate has steadily increased, particularly in Victoria and Queensland. It is estimated that between 2000 and 2005 the number of new HIV diagnoses in Australia increased by 41%. As has been the case since the start of the epidemic, the large bulk of all new infections occur among gay and other homosexually active men.
The current state of play with sexually transmitted infections
"In recent years there has been a significant increase in new syphilis infections among gay men in NSW and Victoria2, with gonorrhoea also rising steadily3 and chlamydia in epidemic proportions. Research also suggests that same-sex attracted young Australians are five times more likely to have contracted an STI than their heterosexual peers.4 [Source]
AIDS
In Australia the vast majority of those who have acquired AIDS are homosexual men.
The official body monitoring the transmission and spread of the virus is the National Centre in HIV Epidemiology and Clinical Research (NCHECR).
They publish Annual Surveillance Reports.
The 2010 Surveillance Report contains the latest data...
The 2010 Surveillance Report says "Transmission of HIV in Australia continues to occur primarily through sexual contact between men (Figure 5)." [Page 11]
It went on "In 2005 - 2009, 66% of new HIV diagnoses occurred among men who have sex with men, 23% were attributed to heterosexual contact and 3% to injecting drug use. Men who have sex with men accounted for 85% of diagnoses of newly acquired HIV infection. Heterosexual contact and injecting drug use was the reported source of exposure to HIV in 10% and 1%, respectively."
The report says "In 2009, the estimated number of people living in Australia with diagnosed HIV infection was 20 171."
The report notes "Sexual transmission between men accounted for a higher proportion of diagnoses of newly acquired HIV infection (90%) than total HIV diagnoses (76%) among men." [Page 18] Of those with HIV, 79.5% of cases are attributed to homosexual sex (or homosexual sex plus injecting drug use). [Table 1.1, Page 35]
By comparison, the 2008 Report says "Men with a history of homosexual contact continue to make up the majority of people diagnosed with HIV infection in Australia." (Page 18) The Report goes on to say "Sexual transmission between men accounted for a higher proportion of diagnoses of newly acquired HIV infection (89%) than total HIV diagnoses (75%) in 2007." Regarding the total number of AIDS diagnoses in Australia, Table 1, Page 35 shows that a total of 84.9% identify male homosexual contact as the means of exposure to HIV (5.2% of these also listed injecting drug use as a factor).
From 1999 there was an increase in HIV infection rates, mostly in the homosexual community, which has led to government campaigns to try and get homosexual men to practice 'safe sex' by using condoms. This rate of HIV infection has levelled off in the past couple of years.
The 2010 Surveillance Report says "The annual number of new HIV diagnoses in Australia has remained relatively stable at around 1 000 cases in the past four years, 2006 - 2009, following a steady increase from the lowest annual count of 718 cases in 1999 (Figure 1)." [Page 9]
The Department of Health and Ageing has a website page on 'HIV/AIDS' which contains the National Strategy and national initiatives along with associated documents.
The official Department page on HIV/AIDS (under 'Trends') says that 88% of HIV infections from 2000 to 2006 were caused "through sexual contact between men".
The current Sixth National HIV Strategy 2010-2013 outlines risk groups and strategies.
The page also has information on the 'Sexually Transmissible Infections' strategy.
HIV/AIDS - Overseas
In some overseas countries more heterosexuals than homosexuals have contracted HIV/AIDS.
However, a recent report by the Western Pacific Branch of the World Health Organization(WHO) has warned that homosexual sex is leading to a rapid increase in HIV/AIDS in Asia. The report said "Studies show that at present, the proportion of HIV infections being transmitted among men who have sex with men is larger and more significant than we had originally believed," said Dr Massimo Ghidinelli, WHO Regional Adviser in HIV/AIDS and Sexually Transmitted Infections. "Action needs to be taken now if a major increase in HIV/AIDS cases is to be averted. We need to target HIV prevention strategies, together with better access to health services, for men who have sex with men (MSM)."
"The release cites a 2007 report showing an increase in AIDS infections across Asia, and mentions China in particular, where the risk of infection by active homosexual men is 45 times higher than for men in general. The WHO noted that Asia is thought to have the world's largest number of actively homosexual men, estimated at 10 million."
Article: Male Homosexual Sex Fuelling Spread of HIV in Asia, Warns World Health Organization, Lifesite News , 17/2/2009.
STDs
There has been an increase of STDs within the homosexual community in Australia within recent years. The following list some of those...
Syphilis: This STD is on the increase in homosexual communities in Australia.
Current data on this and other STDs is provided in the HIV/AIDS, VIRAL HEPATITIS AND SEXUALLY TRANSMISSIBLE INFECTIONS IN AUSTRALIA ANNUAL SURVEILLANCE REPORT. [2010 Report - as listed above]
Syphilis Epidemic Among Inner Sydney Gay Men
Australian Medical Association, August 2005.
"Syphilis has reached epidemic proportions among homosexual men in inner Sydney, leading to calls for frequent screening to curb the transmission of both syphilis and HIV, according to research published in the current issue of the Medical Journal of Australia..."
Click here for Report published in MJA , Aug 2005.
The Victorian AIDS Council/Gay Men's Health Centre (VAC/GMHC) says "Infectious syphilis rates are increasing rapidly in Victoria with more than one person being diagnosed every day. This is more than double the rate in 2006 and more than thirty times the rate in 2000. Most of these diagnoses are in gay men and other men who have sex with men. If you are having sex with men, we recommend that you have a syphilis test every three months during the current outbreak." Click here
STIs Amongst Gay Men: Rethinking the Gay "Community" Role
Discussion Paper, November 2004.
Australian Federation of AIDS Organisations.
The paper outlines the increase in sexually transmitted infections that was already evident by 2004 and the link between HIV, STIs and sexual practices.
Range of STDs
STDs on increase among gay men
AAP, October 10, 2007
"THE old-fashioned sexually transmitted infections, syphilis and gonorrhoea, are having a grand resurgence in Australia 's gay community, a new report shows. . ."
From Gay and Lesbian Health Victoria:
Syphilis, Gonorrhea and Chlamydia in Gay Men
Jeff Lin. "Syphilis is becoming re-established in the gay male population in Australia 's cities. The prevalence of gonorrhoea and Chlamydia, and incidence of syphilis, is high among HIV negative gay men in Sydney...."
MRSA: Jan 2007 - A staph infection, MRSA. has been found to be more prevalent in the homosexual community in the USA.... The reporter who reported the study has been under attack. Click hereto read Matt Barber's analysis in Townhall.
Shigellosis: The Victorian Aids Council stated, in January 2009, "Currently in Victoria there is an outbreak of Shigellosis among men who have sex with men and it's not pleasant." (Southern Star, 14/1/2009)
A special ad campaign ran in homosexual media, alerting homosexuals to the problem and it transmission by certain sexual practices.
Click herefor US CDC description of Shigellosis.
Amebiasis: New Disease Among HIV-Infected Gay Men
Article published in ScienceDaily (Nov. 30, 2009)
"A rare parasitic disease, which normally only is transmitted by contaminated water, has been shown to be transmitted by gay sex between hiv-positive men. In the industrial world the disease is virtually absent, but that could change. For this observation, Taiwanese researcher Chieng-Ching Hung received a doctorate from the University of Antwerp and the Institute of Tropical Medicine Antwerp.
Amebiasis, an infection with the single-celled amoeba Entamoebia histolytica, normally is very rare. . . "
Domestic violence
Various studies have reported on domestic violence or abuse in homosexual relationships.
New Study Shows 32% of Homosexuals Have Suffered Abuse by their "Partner"
Lifesite, 9 Nov 2007.
They say "A study published in the most recent edition of the Journal of Urban Health , which is published by the New York Academy of Medicine, has found that over 32% of active homosexuals report that they have suffered "abuse" by one or more "partners" during the course of their lives......."
The study was done in Chicago and published in July 2007.
The Report: Intimate Partner Abuse among Gay and Bisexual Men: Risk Correlates and Health Outcomes (abstract online)
Australia
Private Lives: A report on the health and wellbeing of GLBTI Australians
Gay and Lesbian Health Victoria investigated the level of 'intimate partner abuse' in same sex relationships. Over 5400 people were surveyed - the study found that "32.7% of respondents had experienced violence or abuse". The statistics were 41% of women and 28% of men.
Fair's Fair
"A Snapshot of violence and abuse in Sydney LGBT relationships 2006".
This report says "It has been argued that domestic violence is the third most severe health problem for gay men, following HIV/AIDS and substance abuse".
The findings:
"Overall, including responses from participants of all genders and for both previous and
current relationships, the types of abuse indicated ranged from: controlling-jealous
behaviour (47.7%); humiliation (45.1%); physical abuse (34.4%); social isolation (30.8%); financial control (17.8%); sexual abuse (16.8%) and outing (16.8%)."
Lesbian Health
A recent study from WA highlights higher health risks for lesbians:
WA study rates lesbians less healthy than heterosexual women
Article from: AAP - November 08, 2007.
STDs
A 2007 study done in a community setting in the UK found that women who identified as lesbians have a 2.5-fold increased likelihood of the STD bacterial vaginosis (BV) compared with heterosexual women. Of 189 heterosexuals and 171 lesbians, 25.7 per cent of lesbians compared with 14.4 per cent of heterosexuals had BV.
Sexually Transmitted Infections 2007;83 :470-475.
Domestic Violence
A feature article on lesbian domestic violence from Australia:
The Second Closet: Domestic Violence in Lesbian and Gay Relationships: A Western Australian Perspective,
Lee Vickers, E-LAW, Murdoch University Electronic Journal of Law, Volume 3, Number 4, (December 1996)
Coming Forward
A recent study (Dec 2008) by Victorian Gay and Lesbian Health, titled 'Coming Forward', notes that 42 % of lesbian couples report abuse from their lesbian partner.
Articles from Christian authors
The Negative Health Effects of Homosexuality
Family Research Council, Insight, Issue No.: 232
by Timothy J. Dailey Ph.D.
A 10 page article documenting all the health risks including STDs and AIDS. Fully referenced.
The Health Risks of Gay Sex
JOHN R. DIGGS, JR. M.D.
Published on Catholic Education Resource Centre.
Thorough overview of health issues and homosexuality.
Dr Diggs says "As a physician, it is my duty to assess behaviors for their impact on health and wellbeing. When something is beneficial, such as exercise, good nutrition, or adequate sleep, it is my duty to recommend it. Likewise, when something is harmful, such as smoking, overeating, alcohol or drug abuse, and homosexual sex, it is my duty to discourage it."
'Gay marriage' and homosexuality: some medical comments
By John Shea, MD, FRCP (C), John K. Wilson MD, FRCP (C), Paul Ranalli, MD, FRCP (C), Christina Paulaitis MD, CCFP, Luigi Castagna MD, FRCP (C), Hans-Christian Raabe MD, MRCP MRCGP, and W. André Lafrance MD, FRCP (C)
Issued: June 2005 - revised Dec. 2006.
Why Isn't Homosexuality Considered A Disorder On The Basis Of Its Medical Consequences?
By Kathleen Melonakos, M.A., R.N. Posted on Leadership U.
Media Reports
STDs on the rise in Australia: report
The Age, October 12, 2006
"Chlamydia rates have soared fourfold in the past decade and other sexually-transmitted diseases are climbing at an alarming pace, a new national report has revealed....
"A paper released by the National Centre in HIV Epidemiology and Clinical Research (NCHECR) shows the number of new HIV diagnoses increased 41 per cent between 2000 and 2005....
"The increases in gonorrhoea, syphilis and HIV/AIDs occurred predominantly in the gay community...."
STDs on increase among gay men
AAP, October 10, 2007.
"THE old-fashioned sexually transmitted infections, syphilis and gonorrhoea, are having a grand resurgence in Australia 's gay community, a new report shows. . ."
HIV And Gonorrhoea On The Rise In Australia
Medindia, Tuesday, March 16, 2010.
"Sexually transmitted diseases, including HIV, seem to be running rampant in Australia.
While Queensland Health says the number of reported HIV cases in the state is climbing, health authorities of Newcastle, the port city, are warning of an alarming spike in gonorrhoea cases.
There were 178 new cases of HIV reported in Queensland last year compared with 166 the year before...."
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