Homosexuality and Syphilis

Syphilis is an infection caused by the bacteria Treponema pallidum

In respect to homosexuality and syphilis, an early publication to propose the link between homosexuality contributing to the spread of the sexually transmitted disease syphilis was the English publication Proceedings of the Royal Society of Medicine in 1962. The Proceedings of the Royal Society of Medicine made the following statement: "The importance of homosexual practices in the spread of venereal diseases has attracted particular attention recently. It almost seems that these practices are keeping syphilis alive in this country."

In respect to homosexuality and syphilis, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) stated the following:

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While surveillance data are not available by risk behavior, a separate CDC analysis suggests that approximately 64 percent of all adult P&S syphilis cases in 2004 were among men who have sex with men, up from an estimated 5 percent in 1999....Syphilis increases, especially among men who have sex with men, demonstrate the need to continually adapt our strategies to eliminate syphilis in the United States,” said Dr. Ronald O. Valdiserri, acting director of CDC’s HIV, STD and TB prevention programs.

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Concerned Women of America reports the following regarding homosexuality and syphilis:

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Medical literature shows homosexuals to be at especially high risk for syphilis. The Archives of Internal Medicine reported on a study in 1991 that found, "Homosexually active men are significantly more likely to report syphilis and less likely to present with primary syphilis than heterosexual men." The British Co-operative Clinical Group noted that homosexuals acquired syphilis at a rate ten times that of heterosexuals. Other journals also note a high correlation of homosexuality and syphilis.

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The abstract for an article in the International Journal of STD & AIDS reported the following about a recent outbreak of syphilis in Europe:

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Since the late 1990s, there has been a resurgence of infectious syphilis, with notable outbreaks in Brighton, Manchester, London and Dublin, predominantly among men who have sex with men (MSM). We report a similar outbreak in Northern Ireland. Genitourinary (GU) medicine clinic attendees were assessed from 1 July 2000 to 30 June 2005 to identify those who met the agreed criteria for primary, secondary or early latent syphilis. In total, 161 individuals were diagnosed with syphilis and 121 were MSM [males having sex with males]. Sixteen individuals indicated a contact in Dublin as the likely source of infection.

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