In a recent study, the majority of HIV– Negative gay men, who were sexually active, tested positive for HPV:
“HPV DNA was found in the anal canal of 57% of study participants. The prevalence of anal HPV infection did not change with age or geographic location. Anal HPV infection was independently associated with receptive anal intercourse…”1.
The chances of contracting HPV, which causes anal cancer, increased once becoming HIV+ Positive:
“Ninety-two percent of HIV-positive MSM had at least 1 anal HPV type, 80% had at least 1 oncogenic HPV type, and 42% had HPV 16.”2.
Yet, even those gay men who are in a “registered” relationships were also at an increased risk of contracting anal cancer; according to a Danish study:
“Women in homosexual partnerships had cancer risks similar to those of Danish women in general…Overall, men in homosexual partnerships were at elevated cancer risk…Anal squamous carcinoma also occurred in excess.”3.
1. "Age-Specific Prevalence of Anal Human Papillomavirus Infection in HIV-Negative Sexually Active Men Who Have Sex with Men: The EXPLORE Study"
Peter V. Chin-Hong, Eric Vittinghoff, Ross D. Cranston, Susan Buchbinder, Daniel Cohen, Grant Colfax, Maria Da Costa, Teresa Darragh, Eileen Hess, Franklyn Judson, Beryl Koblin, Maria Madison and Joel M. Palefsky
Presented in part: Human Papillomavirus 21st International Conference, Mexico City, Mexico, 20–26 February 2004 (abstract 538).
2. "Risk factors for anal human papillomavirus infection type 16 among HIV-positive men who have sex with men in San Francisco."
Hernandez AL1, Efird JT, Holly EA, Berry JM, Jay N, Palefsky JM.
J Acquir Immune Defic Syndr. 2013 Aug 1;63(4):532-9. doi: 10.1097/QAI.0b013e3182968f87.
3. "Cancer in a Population-based Cohort of Men and Women in Registered Homosexual Partnerships"
Morten Frisch1, Else Smith2, Andrew Grulich3 and Christoffer Johansen
Oxford Journals Medicine & Health American Journal of Epidemiology Volume 157, Issue 11Pp. 966-972.