In the latest
HIV and ID Observations blog post, Dr. Paul Sax and some of his colleagues question the current screening recommendations for men who have sex with men.
CDC guidelines currently recommend annual screening for syphilis, chlamydia, and gonorrhea for all sexually active gay, bisexual, and other men who have sex with men (MSM) and anal cancer screening for HIV-negative MSM every 2 to 3 years. But is this overkill — perhaps because doctors are reluctant to have difficult conversations with their patients? You can modify the screening according to the risk behaviors of the patient, says Dr. Paul Sax in HIV and ID Observations, but only if you take the time for assessment.