Men who have sex with men (MSM) can be at high risk for HIV, but accurate estimates of this population are hard to obtain. This systematic review sought to summarise population-based methods for estimating MSM, which accounted for 0.03 to 6.5% of men among all studies. Estimating of the number of MSM is important to plan HIV and STI prevention efforts for this group.

Men who have sex with men attending university in China are facing a high risk of HIV infection, so it’s necessary to understand epidemic situation and behaviour characteristics for effective measures. This study found a high HIV infection epidemic, a young age of first anal intercourse and a high rate of risk behaviours in this population, highlighting the need for enhanced, targeted and combination HIV prevention programs and further studies.

Effective strategies are needed to address unacceptably high rates of sexually transmissible infections (STIs) in Australian Aboriginal communities. Since a sexual health program commenced in nine South Australian Aboriginal community-controlled health services in 2009, there has been an increase in the number of people tested and a decrease in STI positivity. This study adds to evidence that a sustained, comprehensive approach to sexual health in communities with a high burden of STIs can reduce disease prevalence.

Condom use among women using long-acting reversible contraceptives (LARC) or non-LARC hormonal contraceptives is the most effective way to protect against unwanted pregnancy and sexually transmissible infections (STIs). In women attending a sexual and reproductive health clinic in Australia, we found that condom use was low and did not vary between women using LARC or non-LARC hormonal contraceptives. Condoms must be promoted prescribing contraceptives to reduce STI risk.

Amidst a sharp increase in rates of sexually transmissible infections (STIs), there is little research on STI knowledge, risk perception and concern about infection among men who have sex with men (MSM) and transgender women (TGW) at high risk of infection. Participants in this study had limited knowledge of STIs and perceived themselves to be at low risk of infection, with many expressing low concern about infection. Dissemination of targeted information about STI prevention, routinising of STI testing and STI self-testing may contribute to decreasing STI infection rates among this population.

This study assessed men who have sex with men (MSM) for 12 months and found that their frequency of condomless anal sex was not stable or predictable – this raises issues about screening MSM for pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) use. The study identified the portion of MSM rarely engaging in condomless anal sex and thus potentially being able to benefit from condom use as an alternative to PrEP. As the US healthcare system continues to be challenged economically, it may be important to consider condoms as a prevention alternative to PrEP for MSM rarely having anal receptive sex and wishing to adopt this less intensive method of HIV prevention.

Pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) is an important HIV prevention strategy. In this retrospective review, we estimated HIV risk, PrEP uptake and missed opportunities to prescribe PrEP. We identified missed opportunities in a minority of cases and recommend that PrEP discussions become standard component of care for all patients who may be at risk.

Sexual practices among heterosexual men may differ between female sex workers and casual partners. We surveyed 203 heterosexual men in Singapore and found that alcohol use during sex and an early age of sexual debut was associated with inconsistent condom use with female sex workers, but not with casual partners. Socioecological factors may explain such differences.

Little is known about skin conditions affecting HIV-negative men who have sex with men (MSM). This study examined skin conditions in immunocompetent HIV-negative MSM, with comparison to male heterosexual controls, showing folliculitis, herpes simplex virus, nonmelanoma skin cancer and syphilis may occur at higher rates. This is an important consideration for all practitioners treating MSM.

Men who have sex with men (MSM) with symptomatic secondary syphilis frequently attend sexual health clinics with characteristic symptoms including rash and fever. Clinicians have to decide whether to await test results (causing delayed treatment) or to treat with antibiotics based on their clinical judgement at presentation. We reviewed our cases of secondary syphilis over a 2-year period; 16 of 36 MSM (44%) were treated at presentation and 20 (56%) had delayed treatment with a median delay of 7 days. Introduction of point-of-care testing will prevent delayed treatment and the overuse of antimicrobials, as well as reducing onward transmission.

This study investigated whether partner-related issues among men who have sex with men (MSM) were associated with condomless anal sex and whether this was altered by alcohol or marijuana. Partner barriers were only related to receptive anal sex, and this was magnified by drunkenness, but not by marijuana. Alcohol and marijuana may interact very differently among MSM relative to their effects on partner-related barriers to condom use for anal receptive sex.