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PHYSICAL HEALTH RISKS OF HOMOSEXUALITY
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Active homosexuality involves specific sexual behaviours that come with a higher risk of bodily
harm and disease.
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Certain behaviours are common to homosexuals and lesbians.
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Foundation for AIDS Research (amfAR) lists the following sexual activities as part of the “repertoire”
of homosexuals:-
1. unprotected receptive anal intercourse
2. unprotected insertive anal intercourse
3. anal oral sex
4.anilingus or “rimming”/oral /anal contact
and lesbians :- 1. oral/genital sex
2. vaginal or anal sex using hands/ fingers
3. penetrative sex toys
4. oral anal sex.
Anal Sex Risks
Physical - rectum not designed for sexual intercourse. Rectal tissue, with its thinner walls is more vulnerable
to tearing than vagina during intercourse.
- larger surface area of rectum and colon, with their rich blood supplies, provides more opportunity
for viral penetration and infection.
- more bleeding, lacerations, and perforation of rectum.
- damage to anal sphincter muscles. Anal sores, warts, haemorrhoids, incontinence of faeces.
- greater exposure to fecal matter and so can lead to gastrointestinal infections- proctitis, enteritis
and proctocolitis.
Anal cancer - increased risk. According to the American Cancer Society, risk factors for anal cancer
include human papilloma virus(HPV), multiple sexual partners, and anal intercourse. Some health
professionals now recommend anal Pap Smears.
STDs
- increased risk of contracting a number of dangerous sexually transmitted diseases. HIV/AIDS,
urethritis, proctitis, pharyngitis, prostatitis, hepatitis A and B, syphilis, gonorrhoea, chlamydia,
herpes, genital warts. 2005 CDC report show that gonorrhoea and syphilis infections are increasing
among homosexuals.( gonorrhoea from 4% in 1988 to 20.2% in 2004)
- primary and secondary syphilis rates increased
- receptive anal sex without a condom is at least 10 times more risky for contracting HIV than vaginal
sex without a condom.
In May 2007, US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) renewed its 15-year policy banning men
who have sex with men at anytime since 1977 from donating blood. Cited reasons:
a) HIV prevalence 60 times higher than the general population, 800 times higher than first time blood
Donors, and 8000 times higher than repeat blood donors.
b) MSM also have an increased risk of having other infections tah can be transmitted to others
by blood transfusion.
Lesbians – It is generally assumed that female homosexuality is less risky than male homosexuality. True.
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STD transmission via use of sex toys. Bacterial vaginosis, HPV, trichomoniasis, herpes and syphilis.
Behavioural Risks
Anal sex
Multiple Partners
Substance Abuse – drug and alcohol use.
References
1. The Foundation for AIDS Research (amfAR) Issue Brief, No.4, June 2006, pg2.
2. Medical Institute for Sexual Health, Health Implications Associated with Homosexuality,A Monograph,
1999, pgs.23-24
3. CDC HIV/ AIDS Fact Sheet, May 2007.
4. Journal of the Gay and Lesbian Medical Association. Vol.4, No.3 (2000) pg.111 and 120.
Also check out American Journal of Public Health edition (June 2003, Vol. 93, No.8)
and sexualityandu.ca. The latter has a must read series on the development of sexuality in humans
from infancy to adolescent.