Syphilis Rates Rising Among Men Who Have Sex with Men

In the 1990s, U.S. syphilis rates were highest among heterosexual men and women in racial and ethnic minority groups. In a recent epidemiologic shift, the rate of primary and secondary syphilis has been highest among men who have sex with men (MSM) — 62% of cases in 2003. To evaluate trends in primary and secondary syphilis among MSM, researchers analyzed data from 27 states.

From 2005 through 2008, the rate of increase in primary and secondary syphilis was greatest among black MSM (from 11.2 to 18.9 cases per 100,000 males), relative to Hispanic MSM (4.7 to 7.3 per 100,000) and white MSM (3.4 to 4.0 per 100,000). The steepest relative increases in rates were among Hispanic and black MSM teens (248% and 180% increases, respectively).