More gay and bisexual men got tested for HIV than ever before in England last year
Last year saw record amounts of HIV testing among gay, bisexual and other men who have sex with men (GBMSM) in England, according to the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA).
Sexual health services recorded 192,503 tests in 2022 alone in this group, up from 156,865 in 2019. The number of heterosexual adults getting tested for HIV continues to remain below pre-COVID-19 pandemic levels (792,875 in England in 2022 compared with 1,051,391 in 2019).
The number of people taking PrEP, which reduces the risk of getting HIV from sex by about 99 per cent when taken correctly, rose between 2021 and 2022 from 61,510 to 86,324 people, respectively – though the UKHSA noted that there are still disparities in uptake when it comes to sexual orientation.
The data also showed a decrease in the number of GBMSM diagnosed with HIV in England last year, down from 784 in 2021 to 724 in 2022. READ MORE: HIV diagnoses in heterosexuals overtake those in gay and bi men in Scotland However, these rates increased in heterosexual adults from 870 in 2021 to 976 in 2022, particularly in women living outside of London and ethnic minority groups.
