Diagnoses of gonorrhea among men who have sex with men are apparently rising in the United States. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) researchers, in order to determine demographic information, interviewed a random sample of individuals diagnosed with the sexually transmitted infection (STI) in 12 areas across the country between 2010 and 2013. The researchers then used census and Gallup opinion polling data to estimate the respective sizes of the U.S. MSM, heterosexual male, and female populations by age group at the state, county and city levels.

In 2010, there were an estimated 1,169.7 diagnoses of gonorrhea per 100,000 MSM. In other words, about 1.17 percent of MSM contracted the STI that year. This rate rose 26 percent in three years, hitting 1,474.4 diagnoses per 100,000 MSM, or 1.47 percent, in 2013. Looking at MSM according to age bracket, those between 25 and 29 years of age  had the highest diagnosis rate: 3,400 per 100,000, or 3.4 percent.

During the study period, gonorrhea diagnosis rate among MSM was between 10.7 and 13.9 times higher than that of women or heterosexual men.

While the researchers speculate that the rising gonorrhea rates may be indicative of a national trend, they caution that the data in this study is not nationally representative.

Stressing that it is difficult to make broad conclusions about what may be causing the rising rates of gonorrhea among MSM, the CDC speculates that the causes may span social and individual elements, including a high prevalence of infection among what are known as sexual networks, as well as stigma, homophobia and lack of access to health care.

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5 HIV-POSITIVE MEN GIVE ADVICE TO THEIR FORMER SELVES

DAVID DURAN is an accomplished journalist who travels the world writing for a variety of publications. When he tested positive for HIV in 2009, to say he was taken by surprise would be putting it mildly.

“The day I was diagnosed, I was actually helping a friend during his HIV scare and opted to get tested as well, as a sign of solidarity and support. I remember being prepared with words of advice and encouragement, just in case his test came out to be positive. It turned out I was the one with the positive results and I wish I had taken the time to tell myself what I was prepared to tell my friend that day. The reality is, it's not easy, but it's also not hard, at least it's not if you make an effort to take care of yourself and give yourself the proper amount of time to grieve the news, and then move on to living your daily life with this new bit of yourself that doesn't define who you are, but instead is just a tiny piece of what makes you, you. Your life is what you make of it. If you let this one little piece of you take over and dominate you with sadness, regret and anger, you're doing yourself a disservice, because there's more to you than a diagnosis.”