Sexually transmitted diseases in hetero-, homo- and bisexual males in Copenhagen

This study is a mapping of intestinal protozoal and pathogenic bacterial infections, and sexually transmitted urethral and anorectal infections among 365 consecutive male patients attending a veneric disease (VD) clinic in Copenhagen. The profile of diseases was strongly correlated to sexual life-style. Amoebiasis and giardiasis were found respectively in 31.9% and 13.8% of homosexuals. None of the heterosexuals had pathogenic protozoa. Protozoal infections were correlated to anilingus. Forty-five percent of the patients were infected in Denmark. Travelling to endemic areas was of no obvious importance. Among males with homosexual partners, 14% had rectal infections. Gonococcal and chlamydial infections were equally frequent. Three percent had symptomatic anorectal herpes simplex infection and 11% anal warts. Gastrointestinal symptoms were not reliable indicators of gastrointestinal infection; symptoms were claimed frequently among homosexuals without infections compared to heterosexuals. Urethral gonorrhoea and/or chlamydia infections were diagnosed in 39% of the heterosexuals compared to only 10% of the homo-bisexuals. Twelve percent of the homosexuals had untreated early syphilis, whereas syphilis was exceptional among heterosexuals. The total burden of infections expressed as the actual number of infections was largest among homosexuals, 40.4%, 22.4%, and 5.3% having one, two, and three infections respectively.