According to new figures for England from the UK Health Security Agency, for the first time in a decade, the number of new HIV diagnoses among heterosexual people is higher than for gay and bisexual men. Nearly half (49 percent) of all new HIV diagnoses in England in 2020 were heterosexual people, compared to 45 percent in gay and bisexual men.
GB News notes that this, in part, highlights the changing shape of the HIV epidemic and a drop in testing due to the COVID-19 pandemic, as HIV testing by sexual health services among heterosexuals during 2020 fell by a third (33 percent), compared to a 7 percent decrease among gay and bisexual men. The lack of testing among heterosexuals also make the number of diagnoses in this group passing gay and bisexual men more significant.
The report also notes that heterosexual people were far more likely to be diagnosed late, meaning they were more likely to already have damage to their immune systems. More than half (51 percent) of women, 55 percent of heterosexual men, and 66 percent of people 65 and older diagnosed with HIV were diagnosed at a late stage, in comparison to 29 percent of gay and bisexual men. The difference is likely driven by a belief among heterosexual people that they are not at risk for HIV, which is often reinforced by healthcare professionals.
Jackie, a heterosexual woman living with HIV, tells GB News, “Not only did I never consider I could be living with HIV, neither did my doctor. I had no idea that women could get HIV until I tested positive. If you have ever been sexually active you should test regularly; it only takes once unprotected. Knowing your status is best for you and everyone else in your life.”
She also nods to recent developments surrounding testing, which is “free, quick, and easy,” alongside HIV treatment, which is effective at controlling the virus and can ensure folks positive for HIV cannot pass the virus to a partner.
However, the data doesn’t necessarily mean that cases among heterosexuals are rising. In fact, Guardian op-ed writer Ian Green says that the data instead shows that cases are falling among gay and bisexual men—down 71 percent in the UK since 2014—largely due to preventative care.
PrEP (pre-exposure prophylaxis) has become increasingly more available in recent years to minimize risk of contracting HIV, with a new injectable version on the market that, rather than daily, only requires a new shot every two months.
