In 2010, an estimated 40,100 men who have sex with men were living with HIV in the UK. An estimated 26% were unaware of their infection.

How many men who have sex with men have been diagnosed and are receiving HIV specialist care?

In 2010 an estimated 29,600 men who have sex with men received HIV care in the UK.†

How has this been changing over time?

The number of men who have sex with men seen for HIV care has increased every year in the last decade, from 13,400 in 2001 to 29,600 in 2010.

 

For further information, please click here: http://www.hpa.org.uk/web/HPAweb&HPAwebStandard/HPAweb_C/1203064766492

What about men who have sex of different ethnicities?

The majority of men who have sex with men living with a diagnosed HIV infection  are white.

†Ethnicity	†% of total men who have sex with men in HIV care in the UK in 2010
†White	†87%
†Black Caribbean	†2%
†Black African	†1%
†Other/Mixed	†8%
†Unknown	†0.7%
†	†100%

For further information, please click here: http://www.hpa.org.uk/web/HPAweb&HPAwebStandard/HPAweb_C/1203064766492

 

What about men who have sex with men of different ages?

The overall age profile of men who have sex with men living with a diagnosed HIV infection  is slightly older than the average age of those living with diagnosed HIV in the UK
†

†Age	†% of total men who have sex with men in HIV care in the UK in 2010
†15-24	†3%
†25-34	†18%
†35-44	†36%
†45-54	29%
†55 and over	†13%
†	†100%

*Please note that all percentages are rounded so some may not add up to 100%

 

How does the number of men living with a diagnosed HIV infection vary between nations in the UK?

The vast majority of men who have sex with men living with a diagnosed HIV infection in the UK live in England.  The distribution of diagnosed HIV positive MSM between England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland is the same as for people living with a diagnosed HIV infection generally.
†

†Nation	†% of total men who have sex with men in HIV care in the UK in 2010
†England	†92%
†Scotland	†5%
†Wales	†2%
†Northern †Ireland	†1%
Other/Unknown	1%
†	†100%

*Please note that all percentages are rounded so some may not add up to 100%

How does the number of men living with a diagnosed HIV infection in England vary between regions?

Nearly half of all men who have sex with men in HIV care in England live in London. This is in line with the distribution of people living with a diagnosed HIV infection in England generally.
†

Region	†% of total men who have sex with men in HIV care in the UK in 2010
†London	†47%
†North West	†11%
†South East Coastal	†8%
†West Midlands	†5%
†South West	†5%
†East of England	†4%
†Yorkshire & The †Humber	†4%
†South Central	†3%
†East Midlands	†3%
†North East	†2%
†Total England	†92%

*Please note that all percentages are rounded so some may not add up to 100%

For further information, please click here: http://www.hpa.org.uk/web/HPAweb&HPAwebStandard/HPAweb_C/1203064766492

How many men who have sex with men have HIV but don’t know it?

Over one quarter of men who have sex with men living with HIV are unaware of their infection. This is about the same proportion as that of people living with HIV generally.

†	†% of total men who have sex with men living with HIV in the UK in 2010
†Diagnosed	†74%
†Undiagnosed	†26%
†	†100%

This information is based on the Health Protection Agency’s estimates of the number of men who have sex with men living with HIV in the UK in 2010, found in their Sexually transmitted infections in men who have sex with men in the United Kingdom: 2010 Report.

How many men who have sex with men who live in the UK are newly diagnosed with HIV each year?

After adjusting for missing information, 3,000 men who have sex with men who live in the UK were newly diagnosed with HIV during 2010.  This is the highest number of gay men newly diagnosed with HIV ever reported.   Overall, new diagnoses among men who have sex with men accounted for about 45% of new all diagnoses.

How has this been changing over time?

Significant numbers of men who have sex with men are being diagnosed with HIV each year in the UK. In the last decade the number newly diagnosed has increased from 1,820 in 2001 to 3,000 in 2010, which is the largest ever annual number of new diagnoses recorded among men who have sex with men.

The data reflect the adjusted number of diagnoses reported to the Health Protection Agency by 15 July 2011, sourced from their HIV New Diagnoses Surveillance Tables: Table 2 (2011).