Health4Men on Cliff Central’s Health Hour
Health4Men join Dr Sindi van Zyl on Cliff Central to discuss men who have sex with men. The stigma that surrounds it, the taboo and unanswered questions.
South African health organisation heralds new era in HIV prevention
The Anova Health Institute, the lead organisation addressing HIV among gay men and other men who have sex with men (MSM) in South Africa, welcomes the announcement of exciting developments regarding HIV prevention at the 2015 Conference on Retroviruses and Opportunistic Infections. The conference is currently taking place in Seattle, Washington
French Letters and Chocolate Hearts
Despite being the shortest month of the year, February can be a testy month for many of us. This is because, if you’re single, the 14th of February can seem like a hungry mosquito whose imminent and no doubt aggravating arrival cannot be stopped. Valentine’s Day practically spits glitter into the single gay man’s eye.
New aggressive strain of HIV can progress to AIDS in just three years, scientists warn
An aggressive new strain of HIV has been identified, scientists have warned.
A new study found the strain, called CRF19, is capable of transforming from an infection to full-blown aids within just three years.
That is considerably faster than the average conversion time of around 10 years - and can be so quick that a person may not even realise they are infected.
Primate Studies Raise Hope of Eventual Quarterly Injected PrEP
Researchers from two primate studies reached conclusions that quarterly injected PrEP (four times a year) may one day become a reality for humans.
New HIV Treatment, Antiretroviral Cabotegravir, Lasts For Three Months
Today, HIV infections are completely treatable thanks to antiretroviral medication. Only problem is these drugs must be taken on a regular basis for them to remain effective, and for many HIV-positive individuals throughout the world, this simply isn’t possible. A new antiretroviral drug called cabotegravir, however, may solve this widespread problem, since it only requires injection once every three months.
Scientists train immune system to spot and destroy cure-defying mutant HIV
Luring dormant HIV out of hiding and destroying its last cure-defying holdouts has become the holy grail of HIV eradication, but several recent attempts to do so have failed. Now the findings of a Johns Hopkins-led study reveal why that is and offer a strategy that could form a blueprint for a therapeutic vaccine to eradicate lingering virus from the body.
The surprising link between HIV and hearing loss
Adults who are HIV-positive are more likely to experience hearing loss than adults who do not have HIV, according to research published online December 26 in JAMA-Otolaryngology-Head & Neck Surgery. Researchers report that adults with HIV were more likely to experience difficulty hearing both high and low tones, regardless of the severity of HIV disease progression or the use of and adherence to HIV medications. Funded by the National Institutes of Health (NIH), the new findings expand upon earlier research that has suggested an increased risk of hearing loss in adults with HIV.
And…Cut! (A double circumcision story)
Circumcision is a controversial topic. Pros and cons exist for men who are cut, and men who are not. In 2007, I decided to get cut. I had a number of reasons, amongst them that I prefer the way cut dicks look, personal hygiene, and that I’d heard that I would have 60% less chance of contracting HIV, should I ever have unprotected sex.
Ground breaking website launched in Africa for men who have sex with men
Men who have sex with men (MSM) living in East Africa, where homophobia is on the rise, now have access to a unique website, Afya4Men.info, which contains comprehensive sexual health information targeted to their specific needs.