Re: A higher probability of contracting HIV among MSM?

[Guest guest]

Dear Supreeta Singh,

The question is not whether MSM have a higher probability of contracting HIV,

but more, what 'behavior' leads to them contract HIV more frequently.

Since there is a stigma attached to men having sex with men, they perform

sexual acts in parks, public restrooms and other such places. Since it is done

in a hurry and more often than not, done without condoms, there is a radical

increase in chances of contracting HIV. Since most of these encounters are " one

night stand' or more appropriately 'fifteen minute stand', there are more such

chance encounters with multiple people, and each encounter branches 'in' like a

tree, leading to a particular MSM man, which radically increases the probabilty

of contracting the virus.

If MSM had long term relationships (without stigma), like gay relationships,

this probability would be the same as with a heterosexual couple, who have

societal approval.

Also, do not call them 'alternative sexuality' since that would lump lesbians in

with them, and they have the lowest rates of HIV transmission, since they are

generally more monogamous, and there is no exchange of semen, the main culprit

for transmission of HIV.

Sorry, cannot give you statistics, but logic says it is so.

Now that gay relationships have much more societal approval in most countries,

the statistics of HIV transmission among gay and heterosexual men should be

about the same.

Hope it makes more sense.

Sincerely,

Priyadarshi Datta

e-mail: <thurpu@...>