new study: 80% of young gay men in London have had bareback sex with a stranger.

[wood]

A shocking new study by the University of Westminster found that 8 out of 10 young men in London have had unprotected sex with a stranger and 94 percent said they were more likely to have unprotected sex “with a good looking guy.”

The study published by UK’s PinkNews found that 70% of young gay men believe that sex without condoms (bareback sex) is more pleasurable and exciting. A total of 160 men were interviewed for the study.

This doesn't really surprise me at all, but IMO it does underscore how important things like PrEP are if we are going to get a handle on the HIV epidemic among gay men. Condoms dont get used, and it doesn't seem like behavior modification works either, so I cant see anything else besides PrEP at this point.

http://www.thegailygrind.com/2014/02/24/study-finds-80-young-gay-londoners-bareback-sex-likely-bareback-good-looking-guy/

[bb1991]

I can't see PrEP working personally. That study is not that 8 out of 10 are committed barebackers, it is 8 out of 10 have had some form of unprotected sex. It's most likely casual or one off, and most are probably not the educated and committed barebackers like on websites like this. You'll find a similar if not higher statistic for young straight people (and lets not even play credence to ideas that its gay porn or hook up apps that are causing it).

This is not a gay problem -I always remember the poster at school that said 1 in 4 16-24 year olds (straight/gay male/female) in the UK have chlamydia at any one time (a more recent study suggests 1 in 10 do).

Nor is it a problem for the UK alone -lots of other countries are seeing rises in STDs

Nor is it a problem related to youth alone -I've read a few things that suggest the highest rates of STDs are among the over 40s; especially people coming out of long term relationships or marriages who have had little or no knowledge of condoms.

Although I think PrEP should be available for those who want it... the widespread, uneducated and casual nature of most unprotected sex and the potential side-effects of PrEP make me think it would never have a large enough take up to stop that tide of infections.

Condoms are unnatural things; but arguably nature didn't intend the widespread promiscuity of the modern age.

The issue will never be solved when it is compartmentalized into being a gay problem or a young person problem. The majority of the population do not use condoms regularly, and it needs that wider approach in order to make whatever solution there may be work.

[Titus]

What I find shocking is the 30% of young gay men who don't believe that sex without condoms is more pleasurable and exciting.

I mean, I get why people choose to use condoms, but I think it should be nearly unanimous that barebacking is more pleasurable and exciting.

[bbottom26]

education and medication are and will be the only solution until an actual "cure" is manufactured in my opinion.

Someone who knows the risks and consequences of what they are doing (ie having bb sex, getting tested regularly, taking prep, etc) will likely lead a much healthier life than someone who has unprotected sex and ignores the risks. The "educated" risk taker will find out he is poz shortly after it happens nad can start taking medication to (hopefully) avoid a lot of the dangerous / worst symptoms while the ignorant / uneducated risk taker won't discover their status until they get sick.

[bearbandit]

Also PinkNews isn't the most reliable source of information. Some of their HIV coverage is truly shocking in it's distance from the truth!