Preventive Health Care for Men Who Have Sex with Men

Abstract

Men who have sex with men (MSM) comprise at least 4% of males in the United States. MSM may describe themselves as gay, bisexual, or heterosexual. Because current medical practice does not always facilitate discussion of sexual behaviors, this group of men may face barriers to receiving culturally competent, comprehensive health care, including preventive services. Barriers include a lack of a welcoming clinical environment, lack of adequate health insurance, and sexual minority stress. Health issues that have a disproportionate impact on MSM include mental health and behavioral problems, smoking and illicit substance use, and sexually transmitted infections (STIs). Family physicians must be prepared to ask explicit questions about sexual activities to determine risk levels for STIs. MSM should receive the same immunizations routinely recommended for other patients, as well as for hepatitis A and B viruses. Although anal Papanicolaou testing is available to screen for cytologic abnormalities, there are no consistent guidelines about its effectiveness. Preexposure prophylaxis is an option for MSM who are at very high risk of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection. For MSM who are not taking preexposure prophylaxis and report a recent high-risk exposure to HIV, postexposure prophylaxis should be offered immediately, preferably within 72 hours of exposure. Because STIs are commonly asymptomatic, screening should be based on risk rather than symptoms. Screening for hepatitis C virus infection is recommended for HIV-positive MSM at least annually and more often for high-risk individuals.